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

Hardt, 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 Hardt surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Hardt in America

Hardt is the 11524th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Hardt surname appeared 2,729 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Hardt.

We can also compare 2010 data for Hardt 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 Hardt

The surname Hardt is of German origin, derived from the Middle High German word "hart," meaning "hard" or "solid." It likely emerged as an occupational name for someone who worked with hard materials, such as a stonemason or blacksmith.

The earliest recorded instances of the name can be traced back to the 13th century in various regions of present-day Germany. One of the earliest known bearers of the name was Henricus Hardt, mentioned in the records of the city of Cologne in 1274.

In the 14th century, the name appeared in various forms, such as Harde, Harte, and Hartte, reflecting the variations in spelling and pronunciation common in that era. The Hardt family was particularly prominent in the region of Saxony, where they held land and titles.

One notable bearer of the name was Johann Hardt, a German scholar and theologian born in 1700. He was a professor at the University of Helmstedt and authored several works on church history and theology.

During the 17th and 18th centuries, the Hardt name spread across Europe as families migrated and settled in other regions. In the Netherlands, the Hardt family established themselves in Amsterdam, where they were successful merchants and traders.

Another significant figure was Hermann von der Hardt, a German historian and theologian born in 1660. He served as a professor at the University of Helmstedt and is known for his contributions to the study of early Christian literature.

As the name spread, it also took on various spellings and variations, such asHardt, Hartt, and Hardtke, reflecting local linguistic influences and preferences.

In the 19th century, the name gained prominence in the United States as German immigrants settled in various regions. One notable American bearer of the name was Ernest Hardt, born in 1876, who was a successful businessman and philanthropist in New York City.

Throughout history, the Hardt surname has been associated with individuals from various walks of life, including scholars, artists, and professionals, reflecting the diverse backgrounds and accomplishments of those who have carried this name.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Hardt

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

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 Hardt 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 Hardt 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 Hardt was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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