The surname Harnet was first found in Yorkshire where they held a family seat for many centuries and were recorded in the Domesday Book, [1] a census taken by King William, Duke of Normandy in 1086 A.D.
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Harnet research. Another 91 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1212, 1273, and 1296 are included under the topic Early Harnet History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
It is only in the last few hundred years that the English language has been standardized. For that reason, early Anglo-Saxon surnames like Harnet are characterized by many spelling variations. As the English language changed and incorporated elements of other European languages, even literate people changed the spelling of their names. Scribes and monks in the Middle Ages spelled names they sounded, so it is common to find several variations that refer to a single person. The variations of the name Harnet include: Harnett, Harnott, Arnold, Ernold, Arnot, Arnott, Aernold and many more.
More information is included under the topic Early Harnet Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Some of the Harnet family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. More information about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Many English families tired of political and religious strife left Britain for the new colonies in North America. Although the trip itself offered no relief - conditions on the ships were extremely cramped, and many travelers arrived diseased, starving, and destitute - these immigrants believed the opportunities that awaited them were worth the risks. Once in the colonies, many of the families did indeed prosper and, in turn, made significant contributions to the culture and economies of the growing colonies. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families has revealed a number of immigrants bearing the name Harnet or a variant listed above:
Some of the first settlers of this family name were: