The Harthill surname is derived from the Old English words "heorot," which means "hart" and "hyll," meaning hill, and the surname no doubt comes from one of several places so named in England and Scotland. [1]
Harthill, in Southern Yorkshire, was given to William de Warrenne in 1086, as part of his reward for his role in the Norman Conquest. There is also a Harthill in Cheshire and Derbyshire. [2]
The surname Harthill was first found in Warwickshire where they held a family seat as Lords of the Manor. One of the first records of the family was Ralph Hardel, who was Lord Mayor of London (1254-1257.)
Another source claims a different forename: "Richard Hardell was joint-sheriff of London and Middlesex: and from 1254 to 1257 Lord Mayor. " [3]
"William Hardell was of Kent, and Robert Hardell of Buckinghamshire, in the reign of Ed. I. - Rotuli Hundredorum. At nearly the same date we find in Essex a Sir John Hardel, the husband of Lady Alice Beaumont, who had two daughters and coheirs: Helen, married to Sir William de Hareburgh: and Alice, the wife of William Fitz Warin, then Valectus, or gentleman of the Bedchamber, to Edward I. Robert Hardell occurs in the Norman Exchequer Rolls between 1198 and 1203." [3]
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Harthill research. Another 126 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1510, 1600, 1100, 1167, 1455 and 1487 are included under the topic Early Harthill 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 Harthill 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 Harthill include: Harthill, Harthull, Hartgill, Hartgull, Harthall, Hartgall, Hartill, Hartull and many more.
More information is included under the topic Early Harthill Notables 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 Harthill or a variant listed above: