Harkan History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland
Scotland

Etymology of Harkan

What does the name Harkan mean?

Viking settlers in ancient Scotland were the ancestors of the first people to use the name Harkan. It comes from Henry. Further research revealed that the name is derived from the diminutive Harry; it is a double diminutive of Harry in the form Har-kin.

Early Origins of the Harkan family

The surname Harkan was first found in Norfolk, where Edwinus and Roger filius Hardekin was listed in the Pipe Rolls of 1175. Years later, John Hardekyn, Herkyn was listed in the Subsidy Rolls for Essex in 1327. 1

Henry Harkeley (fl. 1316), was Chancellor of the University of Oxford from 1313 to 1316 and Doctor of Divinity; he taught at Oxford in the early part of the fourteenth century. 2

Early History of the Harkan family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Harkan research. Another 69 words (5 lines of text) covering the year 1890 is included under the topic Early Harkan History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Harkan Spelling Variations

Translation and spelling were non-standardized practices in the Middle Ages, so scribes had only their ears to rely on. This was a practice of extremely limited efficiency, and spelling variations in names, even within a single document, were the result. Over the years, Harkan has appeared Harkin, Harken, Harkins, Hacon, Hakon, Haken and many more.

Early Notables of the Harkan family

More information is included under the topic Early Harkan Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Harkan family to Ireland

Some of the Harkan family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 83 words (6 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Harkan migration to Canada +

The fertile east coast of what would become US and Canada was soon dotted with the farms of Scottish settlers. Some of them remained faithful to the crown and called themselves United Empire Loyalists, while others had the chance to pay back their old oppressors in the American War of Independence. That brave spirit lives on today in the highland games that dot North America in the summer. Passenger and immigration lists indicate that members of the Harkan family came to North America quite early:

Harkan Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

John Harkan, aged 20, a labourer, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Billow" in 1833

Sources +

Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print