Show ContentsHartill History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The Hartill 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]

Early Origins of the Hartill family

The surname Hartill 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]

Early History of the Hartill family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Hartill research. Another 126 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1100, 1167, 1455, 1487, 1510 and 1600 are included under the topic Early Hartill History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Hartill Spelling Variations

Before the last few hundred years, the English language had no fast system of spelling rules. For that reason, spelling variations are commonly found in early Anglo-Saxon surnames. Over the years, many variations of the name Hartill were recorded, including Harthill, Harthull, Hartgill, Hartgull, Harthall, Hartgall, Hartill, Hartull and many more.

Early Notables of the Hartill family

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


United States Hartill migration to the United States +

To escape oppression and starvation at that time, many English families left for the "open frontiers" of the New World with all its perceived opportunities. In droves people migrated to the many British colonies, those in North America in particular, paying high rates for passages in cramped, unsafe ships. Although many of the settlers did not make the long passage alive, those who did see the shores of North America perceived great opportunities before them. Many of the families that came from England went on to make essential contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. Research into various historical records revealed some of first members of the Hartill family emigrate to North America:

Hartill Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Enoch Hartill, who was naturalized in Oregon in 1876
Hartill Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Richard Hartill, aged 22, originally from Sheffield, England, who arrived in New York in 1903 aboard the ship "Umbria" from Liverpool, England [4]
  • Samuel William Hartill, aged 22, originally from Langley, England, who arrived in New York in 1923 aboard the ship "Olympic" from Southampton, England [4]
  • Edison Hartill, aged 27, who arrived in New York in 1924 aboard the ship "Olympic" from Cherbourg, France [4]
  • Richard Hartill, who arrived in New York City, New York in 1924 aboard the ship "Leviathan" from Southampton, England [4]

Contemporary Notables of the name Hartill (post 1700) +

  • William Norman Hartill (1911-1971), English cricketer who played a single first-class match for Worcestershire against Somerset in July 1935
  • William John Hartill (1905-1980), English footballer who played from 1928 to 1938
  • Mark Hartill (b. 1964), Australian former Rugby Union prop
  • Robert Hartill (b. 1969), Welsh computer programmer and web designer, best known for his work on the Internet Movie Database (IMDB) website
  • Brenda Hartill, British painter/printmaker


  1. Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
  2. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  3. Cleveland, Dutchess of The Battle Abbey Roll with some Account of the Norman Lineages. London: John Murray, Abermarle Street, 1889. Print. Volume 2 of 3
  4. Ellis Island Search retrieved 15th November 2022. Retrieved from https://heritage.statueofliberty.org/passenger-result


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