Surname Hartnell - Meaning and Origin

Hartnell: What does the surname Hartnell mean?

Hartnell is an English surname. It is believed to have been derived from an older, Anglo-Saxon given name Hearding. It is a good example of the many early English surnames that were gradually created from the habitual use of personal names. The last element "-ing" was commonly added to the forenames of the original bearers of such names, thus Hearding became Harting. The suffix "-hill" or "-hall" was later added to some variants of the name. In Middle English, this suffix was used to denote someone who lived by a hall or manor house, so those named Hartnell likely originally lived near such a feature. Over time, it evolved to its current form Hartnell. It is also thought that the family may have originally hailed from the town of Hartnell in Devonshire in the UK. Like other surnames, it would have been passed down through generations. Names can often provide valuable clues about the history, location, and lineage of a family.

Hartnell: Where does the name Hartnell come from?

The surname Hartnell is believed to have originated from England and was first recorded in the country's southwestern region, particularly in the county of Devon. It is thought to be derived from the Old English personal name 'Heoruwulf,' which combines the elements 'heoru,' meaning 'sword,' and 'wulf,' meaning 'wolf.'

Hartnell is considered a habitation surname, indicating that the original bearers likely lived or worked in a place named Hartnell. There are locations in Devon known as North Harton and South Harton, which could possibly be linked to the origin of the name. Alternatively, it may have been a topographic name for someone who lived by a horn-shaped projection of land.

In the present day, Hartnell is not a highly common surname in the U.S. It is still somewhat prevalent in the United Kingdom, particularly the southwestern counties, where the name originated. It is also seen in Canada, Australia and New Zealand, likely brought to these places by English emigrants. Some wearers of the name Hartnell may be descendants of the early American settlers who brought the name over from Europe during the colonial period.

Variations of the surname Hartnell

Hartnell is believed to originate from Northern England. It is derived from the old northern dialect, with "hart" referring to a stag and "-nell" possibly derived from old personal names like Arnell or Arnel. It could also be an occupational name for a hunter or a topographic surname for someone living near where stags are found.

The spelling has mostly been stable over the years, but some possible derivatives or variations might include Hartnel, Hartnall, Hartnoll, Hartknell, Harnell, Hernell, Hartneil, Hartnelle, Hertnell, Hertnall.

Surnames that may share similar origins might be Hartley, Hartsell, Hartson, and Harter. Surnames deriving from Arnel or Arnell, like Arnel, Arnold or Arnould, could also potentially be related. However, it's worth noting that surnames often evolve from a variety of factors, including geographical location, occupation, personal characteristics, or even a patriarch's or matriarch's name. Therefore, these are mostly speculative and may not cover all possible variants.

Given the rather unique combination of elements in "Hartnell," extensive variations are somewhat limited compared to other surnames.

Famous people with the name Hartnell

• William Hartnell: He was an acclaimed English actor who is best remembered for his role as the first incarnation of the Doctor in the popular British science fiction television serial, "Doctor Who."
• Jessica Hartnell: She is a British producer known for her work on "The Undateables."
• Scott Hartnell: He is a Canadian former professional ice hockey left winger who played 17 season in the NHL. He is currently an NHL network analyst.
• Suzanne Hartnell: She is a British television actress known for her work in "EastEnders" and "The Bill."
• Noah Hartnell: He is a Canadian child actor renowned for portraying Ethan Hardy in "Mrs. America."
• David Hartnell: He is a New Zealand celebrity gossip columnist, often regarded as New Zealand's first full-time professional gossip columnist.
• Heather Hartnell: She was the wife of William Hartnell and is remembered for her work as a costume supervisor for television series during the 1950s.
• John Hartnell: He was sailor and member of Franklin's lost expedition to the Arctic. His body was one of three discovered and exhumed in the 1980s.

Other surnames

HartnessHartnettHartney