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

Hartnell, 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 Hartnell surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Hartnell in America

Hartnell is the 44034th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Hartnell surname appeared 489 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Hartnell.

We can also compare 2010 data for Hartnell 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 Hartnell

The surname Hartnell has its origins in England, with the earliest recorded instances dating back to the 12th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old English words "heort" meaning deer or stag and "hyll" meaning hill, suggesting that the name may have referred to a location where deer were found in abundance on a hill.

One of the earliest known references to the name Hartnell is found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from 1195, where a certain Reginald de Hertenhull is mentioned. This spelling variation suggests the name's close connection to the Old English words from which it originated.

In the 13th century, the name appeared in various forms such as Hertenhull, Hertinghill, and Hertinghull, reflecting the regional variations in spelling and pronunciation of the time. It is worth noting that many of these early spellings incorporate the place name element, indicating that the surname may have originated as a locational name.

The Hartnell name can also be found in the Hundred Rolls of Bedfordshire from 1273, where it is recorded as Hertinghull. This document provides valuable insight into the geographic distribution of the name during the medieval period.

One notable figure from history bearing the Hartnell surname is Sir Thomas Hartnell (1640-1713), an English politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Cambridgeshire in the late 17th century.

Another prominent individual was Edward Hartnell (1796-1859), a British naval officer and explorer who served as the first Governor of the Falkland Islands from 1834 to 1842.

In the 19th century, the name Hartnell gained recognition through the life of William Edward Hartnell (1798-1854), an English architect who designed several notable buildings in London, including the Royal Albert Hall.

The literary world also saw the rise of Phyllis Hartnell (1906-1986), an English novelist and short story writer who published numerous works during the mid-20th century.

Finally, one cannot overlook the contribution of William Hartnell (1908-1975), the celebrated British actor best known for his portrayal of the First Doctor in the iconic television series "Doctor Who" from 1963 to 1966.

While these are just a few examples, the Hartnell surname has a rich history that spans centuries and encompasses individuals from various walks of life, each leaving their mark on the world through their respective fields and endeavors.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Hartnell

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

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

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

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