Hardy Surname Meaning & Origin
What the Hardy last name means, where the surname began and how it spread.
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Meaning and origin of the Hardy last name
Meaning of the Hardy last name: bold, courageous. Hardy comes from a nickname meaning bold or courageous. It is common in England and France. A curious detail: the novelist Thomas Hardy made the name famous in English literature. It was often given to someone admired for bravery, and many Hardy families later settled in America and Australia.
Arms associated with the Hardy name
Medieval English knights painted their arms on shields and surcoats so they could be recognised in battle, a tradition the Hardy name belongs to.
Get your full Hardy family history
This is only a glimpse of the Hardy story. The full Hardy history report goes much deeper into where the name began, who carried it and how the family spread, and it comes with a museum-style painted Hardy coat of arms. Get the full Hardy report.
Hardy name FAQ
What does the Hardy name mean?
Bold, courageous. Common variants include Hardie, Hardey, Hardee.
Where does the Hardy surname come from?
It originates in England, and is also found in the United States, Scotland and France.
Is there a Hardy coat of arms?
Arms were granted to individuals rather than to everyone with a surname. Herald Lab paints a personalized Hardy coat of arms in museum style, based on historic heraldry.
Researched by Herald Lab Research Studio, since 1993. Sources: Reaney & Wilson, Dictionary of English Surnames; Dictionary of American Family Names (Oxford); US Census Bureau 2010.