Surname Harde - Meaning and Origin
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Harde: What does the surname Harde mean?
The last name Harde is of German and Dutch origin, with the root word being ‘hard’. It is most commonly found as a surname in the German-speaking countries of Germany, Austria and Switzerland. According to the Comprehensive Dictionary of European Names, the surname Harde is thought to have derived from the medieval name Hardo, which is derived from the masculine Germanic given name ‘hrad’ or ‘hard’.
The meaning of this surname is ‘hard’ or ‘strong’. Historically, this could have referred to a person’s physical strength or mental strength. It could also have been indicative of a person’s courageous or determined personality.
This surname could also be an occupational name derived from a person’s profession. Germantically, ‘hrad’ or ‘hard’ commonly refers to a man or woman who is engaged in hard labor, such as mining, farming, or blacksmithing.
Today, Harde is still a common surname in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, as well as other countries like Canada, the United States, and the United Kingdom. It is a name that is pronounced differently in each language, depending on the origin of the family.
Order DNA origin analysisHarde: Where does the name Harde come from?
The last name Harde is not very common today. Records from around the world show that it is found most frequently in Germany, particularly in the areas of North Rhine-Westphalia, Rheinland-Pfalz, and Berlin. It is also found in the United States, primarily in the states of Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, and Minnesota. Generally, the name is of German origin, and it is derived from the word "hard," which can be translated to English as "tough" or "strong." It is likely that the surname was assigned to individuals—many of whom were probably of Germanic origin—who were said to be particularly sturdy or determined in nature. It is certainly possible that Harde was adopted by individuals who had nothing to do with the original German meaning of the term, but wanted a unique-sounding surname. Therefore, the family name Harde may have spread from its original homelands in German-speaking regions to places beyond, like the United States.
Variations of the surname Harde
The surname Harde has several variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. Variants of the surname include Hard, Hardes, Hardey, Hardeck, Hardel, Hardeller, Harder, Harders, Hardies, Hardiess, and Hardys.
The Germanic spelling is Harte or Hart. This spelling may also be seen as Harrt or Hartt. Variant spellings could be Hert, Hartt, Harte, Hartte, and Hertte.
Names derived from the same origin may include Hartley, Hartling, and Hartnett.
In the Netherlands, the Dutch spelling is Hardeman. In France, the name may be seen as Darb, Dart, or Dard. In Portugal, this surname is Darde while in Poland it is Harta.
In Germany, other similar surnames of the same origin are Härdle, Härdel, Hardel, Hardes, Harde, Harder, and Härtel, or Härtl.
In England, variants such as Hardacre, Hardaker, Hardcastle, Hardekop, Hardeman, Hardey, Hardgale, Hardham, Hardie, Hardinge, Hardman, Hardma and Hardwick can be found.
No matter how it is spelled, the surname Harde is derived from the Old German word "hart" which means "brave" or "hardy."
Famous people with the name Harde
- Jon Harde: Canadian actor best known for his role in the historical drama series Frontier
- John Harde: Swedish ice hockey player for Växjö Lakers
- Laila Harde: Dutch actress and voice-over artist
- Zhao Harde: British stage and film actor
- Martha Harde: German actress known for her roles in Silent Night and The Raven
- Rolf Harde: Norwegian poet
- Anja Harde: Swedish actress featured in several films and TV shows
- Jonny Harde: Danish singer-songwriter
- Chris Harde: American rock guitarist and songwriter
- Ben Harde: Canadian actor famous for playing in the TV series "Tattooed Love Boys"
- Paul Harde: English bassist for the British rock band "The Stranglers"
- Martin Harde: French keyboardist, vocalist, and composer for the progressive rock band, Magma
- Wolfgang Harde: Austrian-born classical music and jazz composer
- Søren Harde: Danish record producer
- Leni Harde: German actress noted for her roles in Der Alte and Die Liebe
- Arthur Harde: Swedish actor known primarily for his work in Swedish theater
- Ståle Harde: Norwegian underground rapper
- Nicholas Harde: English actor who appeared as a supporting actor in "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince"
- Alexander Harde: Italian film director and producer
- Ari Harde: British actor, writer, and producer, well known for his role in the play, "Another Kind of Love"