Hardwicke
A locational surname referring to a hard enclosed village.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 308 Americans carry the last name Hardwicke. That puts it at #69,996 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.09 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 1,112,839 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Hardwicke surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
308
1 in 1,112,839
Census rank
#69,996
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.1
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
280
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 280 bearers of the surname Hardwicke in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.09 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 69996th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Hardwicke, the largest self-reported group is White at 91.4%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (3.9%) and Hispanic (2.9%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Hardwicke
The surname Hardwicke originated in England during the medieval period. It is a locational name derived from the place name Hardwick, which has several locations scattered across various counties in England. The name Hardwick itself is composed of the Old English elements "hær" meaning hare and "wīc" meaning a specialized farm or dwelling.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Hardwicke can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Hardwic" in reference to landholdings in Derbyshire. This indicates that the surname likely emerged from this area during the 11th century.
During the 13th and 14th centuries, various spellings of the surname appeared in historical records, such as Hardwik, Hardwyk, and Hardwycke. These variations reflect the inconsistencies in spelling conventions of the time.
Notable individuals with the surname Hardwicke include Sir Thomas Hardwicke (1556-1589), an English politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Northamptonshire. Another prominent figure was Sir Cedric Hardwicke (1893-1964), a renowned English actor who appeared in numerous films and stage productions throughout his career.
In the literary world, Philip Hardwicke (1592-1670) was an English clergyman and author who wrote several religious works, including "The Christian's Ark" published in 1639. Additionally, Thomas Hardwicke (1755-1835) was a renowned British naturalist and artist, known for his contributions to the study of insects and shells.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname in its modern spelling, "Hardwicke," can be found in the parish records of St. Mary's Church in Nottingham, where a William Hardwicke was documented in 1621.
Overall, the surname Hardwicke has a long and rich history, originating from the Old English place name Hardwick and spanning centuries of recorded instances across various regions of England, with notable individuals contributing to fields such as politics, literature, acting, and natural sciences.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Hardwicke
Among Census respondents with the surname Hardwicke, the largest self-reported group is White at 91.4%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (3.9%) and Hispanic (2.9%).
The bar chart below shows how Hardwicke bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Hardwicke surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White91.4%
- Two or more races3.9%
- Hispanic or Latino2.9%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Hardwicke surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2010 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #69,996 | #69,996 | 0.0% |
| Count | 280 | 280 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.09 | 0.09 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Hardwicke bearers went from 280 to 280 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #69,996 to #69,996.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Hardwicke
FAQ
Hardwicke surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Hardwicke?
The surname Hardwicke holds position #69,996 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 308 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.09 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Hardwicke surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Hardwicke, the largest self-reported group is White at 91.4%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (3.9%) and Hispanic (2.9%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.