Find out how popular the last name Hardaway is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Hardaway.

Hardaway, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Hardaway surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Hardaway in America

Hardaway is the 6562nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Hardaway surname appeared 5,163 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 2 people would have the surname Hardaway.

We can also compare 2010 data for Hardaway to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Hardaway

The surname Hardaway is believed to have originated in England, likely during the medieval period. It is thought to be a locational name, derived from a place name that incorporated the Old English words "hord" meaning a hoard or treasure, and "weg" meaning a way or road. This suggests the name may have referred to someone who lived near a road or path where valuables were hidden or stored.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273, which mention a John de Hordwey in Oxfordshire. This early spelling variation highlights the locational roots of the name. The Subsidy Rolls of Yorkshire from 1297 also include a reference to a William de Hordeway.

By the 16th century, the spelling had evolved closer to the modern form, as evidenced by records such as the Feet of Fines for Essex in 1554, which mention a William Hardaway. Other early bearers of the name include John Hardaway, who was listed in the Visitation of Somerset in 1623, and Edward Hardaway, whose son Thomas was baptized in St. Michael's Parish, Barbados, in 1678.

One notable individual with the Hardaway surname was Robert Hardaway, an English colonist who settled in Virginia in the 17th century. He was granted land in York County in 1635 and served as a member of the House of Burgesses.

Another historical figure was Thomas Hardaway, a British naval officer born in 1725. He served in the Royal Navy and rose to the rank of Admiral, commanding several ships during his career.

In the 19th century, William Armstrong Hardaway was a prominent lawyer and judge in Mississippi, born in 1816. He served as a circuit judge and was involved in several high-profile cases.

Among the more recent bearers of the name was Sir Cedric Hardwicke, an English actor born in 1893 and known for his roles in films such as The Hunchback of Notre Dame and Les Misérables. He was knighted in 1934 for his contributions to the stage and screen.

While the exact origins of the Hardaway surname may be obscured by time, its history can be traced back to medieval England, where it likely referred to a specific location associated with a hoard or treasure along a well-traveled road.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Hardaway

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Hardaway.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Hardaway was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Hardaway has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Hardaway was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Hardaway, please contact us.

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