Harding
What is the origin of the last name Harding?
Meaning and origin
The surname Harding is of English origin, derived from the Old English personal name "Harding" or "Hardynge," which was a pet form of "Hardy," meaning brave, strong, or hardy. The name was popular during the Middle Ages and may have been bestowed upon individuals who displayed these qualities. It was later adopted as a hereditary surname, passed down from one generation to another.
The longer story
Derived from the Old English personal name "Hearding," it signifies a person who is brave or hardy in nature. This surname has been documented in England since medieval times and has spread to various parts of the world, including the United States.
These symbols reflect traits such as loyalty, courage, and nobility. They emphasize the ancestral lineage of the bearers and evoke a sense of pride, identity, and tradition.
Etymologically, the name Harding can be further explored. It belongs to the category of patronymic surnames, which means it is derived from the personal name of an ancestor. In this case, "Harding" may have originated from the Germanic root "hard," meaning strong or brave. This interpretation aligns with the notion of fortitude that the name conveys.
Surname origins are rarely settled: one spelling can have several sources, and families often took a name for reasons nobody wrote down. Check it against the sources below before you rely on it.
#871
Harding was the 871st most common surname in the 2010 US Census, with 39,787 people, about 13 in every 100,000.
Who carries it
Surnames like Harding
Names it is linked with, then names with the same origin and a similar standing.
Check the sources
- Forebears: where Harding is found around the world
- The Internet Surname Database: a second opinion on the origin
- US Census Bureau: the 2010 surname figures used here
For a name you are serious about, compare the dictionaries: Reaney and Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames; Hanks, Dictionary of American Family Names.