Hathaway
What is the origin of the last name Hathaway?
Meaning and origin
The last name Hathaway has its origin in the old English language. It is believed to be a locational surname derived from the place called Hathaway, meaning "enclosure" or "hedge enclosure," which could refer to a geographical feature or a settlement. While its precise etymology remains uncertain, the name Hathaway has been associated with various regions in England, including Warwickshire and Gloucestershire.
The longer story
The last name Hathaway has its origins in England and is primarily associated with the country. The name is derived from two Old English words: hæth (meaning heath or moor) and weg (meaning road or path).
It is believed to have originated in the county of Warwickshire in England, specifically in the region surrounding the town of Stratford-upon-Avon. Historical records indicate that the name was prevalent in this area as early as the 13th century.
Anne Hathaway was born in Shottery, a village near Stratford-upon-Avon, in the late 16th century. While there is no direct evidence linking her to the specific Hathaway family, it is likely that she shares a common ancestral lineage with others who bear the same last name.
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.
#1,966
Hathaway was the 1,966th most common surname in the 2010 US Census, with 18,401 people, about 6.0 in every 100,000.
Who carries it
Surnames like Hathaway
Names it is linked with, then names with the same origin and a similar standing.
Check the sources
- Forebears: where Hathaway 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.