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

Harkness, 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 Harkness surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Harkness in America

Harkness is the 5953rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Harkness surname appeared 5,783 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 Harkness.

We can also compare 2010 data for Harkness 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 Harkness

The surname Harkness originated in England, deriving from the Old English words "hara" meaning "hare" and "næss" meaning "headland" or "promontory." This name likely referred to a physical feature of the landscape, suggesting a headland or hill where hares were found. The earliest recorded instances of the name date back to the late 12th century in Yorkshire.

One of the earliest documented references to the Harkness name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from 1166-1167, where a person named Radulfus de Harenesse is mentioned. This spelling variation, "Harenesse," provides insight into the name's evolution over time. Another early record comes from the Curia Regis Rolls of 1208, which mentions a William de Harenesse.

The Harkness name has also been linked to various place names in England, such as Harnesse in Yorkshire and Harness in Staffordshire. These place names likely originated from the same Old English roots as the surname, further reinforcing the name's connection to the landscape.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the Harkness surname. One of the earliest recorded was Sir Robert Harkness (c.1510-1592), an English merchant and politician who served as Lord Mayor of London in 1585-1586. Another notable figure was Sir William Harkness (1597-1671), an English lawyer and judge who served as Chief Justice of the Common Pleas from 1662 to 1671.

In the literary world, Edward S. Harkness (1874-1940) was an American philanthropist and patron of the arts, best known for his substantial donations to Yale University and the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. Additionally, George Harkness (1882-1963) was a Scottish-American theologian and professor at various universities, including Syracuse University and the University of Chicago.

One of the most remarkable individuals with the Harkness surname was Margaret Harkness (1854-1923), an English novelist and social reformer. She was a prominent voice in the late 19th century, advocating for improved living conditions for the working class through her writing and activism.

The Harkness name has a rich history rooted in the English landscape and has been carried by individuals from diverse backgrounds, ranging from merchants and politicians to philanthropists and social reformers. Its enduring presence throughout the centuries serves as a testament to its significance in British genealogy and cultural heritage.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Harkness

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

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

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

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