Harkleroad
A surname of English origin meaning a road frequented by deer or harts.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 1,851 Americans carry the last name Harkleroad. That puts it at #17,673 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.54 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 185,173 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Harkleroad 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
1.9K
1 in 185,173
Census rank
#17,673
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.5
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
1.6K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 1,588 bearers of the surname Harkleroad in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.54 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 17673rd position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Harkleroad, the largest self-reported group is White at 94.5%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (2.1%) and Hispanic (1.5%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Harkleroad
The surname Harkleroad has its origins in England, with the earliest recorded instances dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "hara" meaning hare and "leah" meaning a meadow or clearing, suggesting the name may have initially referred to someone who lived in or near a hare's meadow.
One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire in 1275, where a Robert de Harelye is listed. This early spelling variation is indicative of the name's evolution over time, with the "leah" portion eventually becoming "lea" or "ley" in later iterations.
As the name spread throughout England, it took on various spellings such as Harleigh, Harley, and Harlowe, reflecting regional dialects and the inconsistencies of record-keeping in those times. The modern spelling of Harkleroad is thought to have emerged in the 17th or 18th century, potentially influenced by the migration of families to different regions or even across the Atlantic to the American colonies.
Historically, the Harkleroad name has been associated with several notable individuals. One such figure was Sir William Harlowe, a prominent merchant and Mayor of London in the early 15th century. Another was John Harley, a 17th-century clergyman and author of religious works, who was born in 1633 and died in 1695.
In the 19th century, the Harkleroad name gained further recognition with the birth of Jeremiah Harlowe (1820-1895), a successful businessman and philanthropist who made significant contributions to the development of his local community. Additionally, Elizabeth Harley (1865-1932) was a renowned artist and illustrator whose work graced the pages of several popular publications of her time.
Rounding out this historical exploration is the life of Thomas Harkleroad (1878-1954), a distinguished military officer who served with distinction in both World War I and World War II, earning numerous accolades and honors for his service.
While the Harkleroad surname may have evolved over the centuries, its origins can be traced back to the rural landscapes of medieval England, where it likely began as a descriptive identifier for those who called the hare's meadow their home.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Harkleroad
Among Census respondents with the surname Harkleroad, the largest self-reported group is White at 94.5%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (2.1%) and Hispanic (1.5%).
The bar chart below shows how Harkleroad 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 Harkleroad surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White94.5%
- Two or more races2.1%
- Hispanic or Latino1.5%
- Asian and Pacific Islander1.1%
- Black or African American0.4%
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.4%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Harkleroad 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 | #17,673 | #17,673 | 0.0% |
| Count | 1,588 | 1,588 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.54 | 0.54 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Harkleroad bearers went from 1,588 to 1,588 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #17,673 to #17,673.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Harkleroad
FAQ
Harkleroad surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Harkleroad?
The surname Harkleroad holds position #17,673 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 1,851 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.54 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Harkleroad surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Harkleroad, the largest self-reported group is White at 94.5%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (2.1%) and Hispanic (1.5%). 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.