Surname Hairt - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'H'
Hairt: What does the surname Hairt mean?
The last name Hairt is of English origin and is a variant of the name Hart. It is an occupational name derived from the Old Middle English word "heort," meaning a male deer or stag. The name was given to individuals who hunted stags for their meat, hides, and antlers. The name is also a nickname for someone who was strong, energetic, and brave, characteristics often associated with a stag.
The name Hairt often appears as Heirt, Hearst, Herrt, and Hirt in records from the Middle Ages. It can also sometimes be found spelled Heyrt or Heyret. Those with the surname are believed to have lived in several parts of England, including Northumberland, Yorkshire, Derbyshire, and Lancashire.
The Hairt name has been documented as early as 1273, when Gilbert le Hyrt was mentioned in Yorkshire Poll Tax Records. Many of those with the name still live in the United Kingdom, though some have now spread to America, France, Canada, Australia, and other countries. Notable people with the surname include Benjamin Heirt, a 19th century inventor from Philadelphia, John Hairt, the first mayor of Ottawa, Canada, and Hugh Hairt, a British soldier who fought in World War II.
Order DNA origin analysisHairt: Where does the name Hairt come from?
The last name Hairt is commonly found in the UK and Ireland, where it is believed to have originated. Although its exact roots are unknown, the most widely accepted theory is that it originates from a nickname derived from the Middle English word hairt, meaning “grey”. Records of this surname date back as far as the 12th century, suggesting that it has been around for centuries.
Today, Hairt is most commonly found in the British Isles, with a large concentration in England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. It also has small pockets of occurrence in the United States, Canada, and Australia, most likely from descendants of immigrants from the British Isles.
Though not particularly common in the United States, there are a few prominent personalities who share the Hairt name, including British weightlifter Tony Hairt and Canadian ice hockey player Ted Hairt.
Overall, the Hairt surname likely has a long and interesting history. With a moderately sized occurrence across the world, it’s safe to say that the Hairt name is alive, well, and here to stay.
Variations of the surname Hairt
Hairt is a surname of Irish origin. It is typically found in County Meath. The variants, spelling variations, and alternative surnames of Hairt include; Hairte, Hairet, Harte, Hartey, Hartey, Harty, Harat, Harate, Haraty, Haret, Hareti, Haritt, and Haratte.
The surname Hairt originated from the given name “Hert”, a form of Hugh, an Old French given name derived from Old Germanic and Teutonic elements. The name was used extensively throughout parts of Ireland and Scotland during the twelfth century and is still in use today.
Hairt is also derived from the Gaelic word, “O’hEirt”, which translates as “descendant of Hart”. It is an anglicized version of the surname which is associated with a number of places across Ireland, such as Kellystown, located in County Meath. It is believed that the original Hairt family were sponsored by the Magennis Clan, and as such they adopted the surname in commemoration of their alliance and sponsorship.
As with other Irish surnames, Hairt had ties to military service as the family was known to have fought for the Irish against the English. As such the surname is still common throughout parts of Ireland and Scotland, as well as having ties to North America where descendants of the Hairt family had emigrated in the 19th and 20th centuries.
Famous people with the name Hairt
- Maya Hawke, Actress
- Maggie Haert, Author
- Eliza Haert, Actress
- Eve Haert, Musician
- John Haert, Actor
- Douglas Haert, Musician
- Sian Haert, Artist
- Edith Haert, Singer
- Abbie Haert, Recording Artist
- Donald Haert, Writer