Hartnett
A surname of Irish origin, derived from Ó hAirtnéada, meaning "descendant of Airtnéad" (a person's name of unknown meaning).
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 7,438 Americans carry the last name Hartnett. That puts it at #5,450 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 2.17 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 46,082 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Hartnett 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
7.4K
1 in 46,082
Census rank
#5,450
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
2.2
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
6.4K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 6,387 bearers of the surname Hartnett in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 2.17 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 5450th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Hartnett, the largest self-reported group is White at 94.1%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.9%) and Black (1.2%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Hartnett
The surname Hartnett originates from Ireland and can be traced back to the 12th century. It is derived from the Gaelic words "ard" meaning high or noble, and "neit" meaning a champion or warrior. The name was first found in County Cork, where the family was part of the Dalcassian sept.
In ancient Irish records, the name appears as "O'hArdnety" or "O'Hartnettie", indicating it was a prominent surname in the region. The earliest known record of the name is found in the Annals of the Four Masters, a medieval Irish chronicle, which mentions an O'Hartnettie as a member of the Dál gCais clan in the year 1171.
The Hartnett family played a role in the Irish Confederate Wars of the 1640s, with several members fighting alongside the Catholic Confederates against the English Parliamentarians. One notable figure was Sir Donough Hartnett, who commanded a regiment of foot soldiers during the siege of Limerick in 1651.
The surname can also be found in various historical documents from the 16th and 17th centuries, such as the Fiants of the Tudor Sovereigns, which record land grants and appointments. In the 1630s, a John Hartnett was granted lands in County Cork by Charles I.
In the 18th century, a branch of the Hartnett family settled in the town of Millstreet, County Cork, where they became prominent landowners and merchants. One member, William Hartnett (1720-1795), served as the High Sheriff of County Cork in 1772.
Other notable individuals with the surname include:
1. Catherine Hartnett (1848-1910), an Irish-born American labor organizer and suffragist.
2. John Joseph Hartnett (1858-1926), an American prelate who served as the Bishop of Omaha from 1916 to 1923.
3. Cornelius Hartnett (1875-1944), an Irish politician and member of the First Dáil Éireann.
4. John Hartnett (1915-1975), an Irish hurler who played for Cork Senior Hurling Team and won three All-Ireland medals.
5. Peter Hartnett (born 1948), an Australian actor known for his roles in films such as "Breaker Morant" and "The Lighthorsemen".
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Hartnett
Among Census respondents with the surname Hartnett, the largest self-reported group is White at 94.1%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.9%) and Black (1.2%).
The bar chart below shows how Hartnett 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 Hartnett surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White94.1%
- Hispanic or Latino2.9%
- Black or African American1.2%
- Two or more races1.1%
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.6%
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.1%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Hartnett 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 | #5,450 | #5,450 | 0.0% |
| Count | 6,387 | 6,387 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 2.17 | 2.17 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Hartnett bearers went from 6,387 to 6,387 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #5,450 to #5,450.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Hartnett
FAQ
Hartnett surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Hartnett?
The surname Hartnett holds position #5,450 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 7,438 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 2.17 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Hartnett surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Hartnett, the largest self-reported group is White at 94.1%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.9%) and Black (1.2%). 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.