The Ancient History
of the Surname
Hardiment
The history of
the most ancient Anglo/Saxon surname of Hardiment reaches far into
the chronicles of the Saxon race. The Saxon Chronicle, compiled by
monks in the 10th century, now reposes in the British Museum.
History
researches have examined reproductions of such ancient manuscripts
as the Doomsday Book (1086), the Ragman Rolls (1291-1296), the Curia
Regis Rolls, The Pipe Rolls, the Hearth Rolls, parish registers,
babtismals, tax records and other ancient documents. They found the
first record of the name Hardiment in Lancashire where they were
seated from Very ancient times, some say well before the Noman
Conquest and the arrival of Duke William of Hastings in 1066 A.D.
Different
spellings were encountered in the research of your surname.
Throughout the centuries your name, Hardiment, occurred in many
records, manuscripts and documents. but not always with your exact
spelling. From time to time the surname included the spellings
Hardman, Hardiman, Hardyman, and these variations in spelling
frequently occurred even between father and as Scribes and church
officials often travelling great distances, even from other
countries, frequently spelt the names phonetically. As a result the
same person would be recorded differently on birth, baptismal
marriage and death certificates as well as the other numerous
records, recording life's events.
The Saxon race
gave birth to many English surnames not the least of which was the
surname Hardiment, The Saxons were invited into England by the
ancient Britons of the 4th century. A fair skinned people their home
was the Rhine valley some as far north east as Denmark. They were
led by two brothers, General/Commander Hengist and Horsa The Saxons
settled in the county of Kent, on the south east coast of England.
Gradually they spread north and westward, and during the next four
hundred years forced the ancient Britons back into Wales and
Cornwall in the west, and Cumberland to the north. The Angles
occupied the eastern coast the south folk in Suffolk, north folk in
Norfolk. Under Saxon rule England. prospered under a series of High
Kings, the last of which was Harold.
In 1066, the
Norman's invaded From France and were victorious at the Battle of
Hastings In 1070, Duke William took on army of 40,000 north and
wasted the northern countries, forcing many rebellious Norman nobles
and Saxons to flee over the border into Scotland. Meanwhile the
Saxons who remained in the south were not treated well under hostile
Noman rule, and they also moved northward to the midlands,
Lancashire and Yorkshire away from the Noman oppression.
Nevertheless,
this notable English family name, Hardiment, emerged as an
influential name in the county of Lancashire where they were
recorded as a family of great antiquity seated at Liverpool with
manor and estates in that shire. The family branched to Rochdale in
early times, and later branched south to Suffolk and Norfolk. The
family flourished for several centuries intermarrying with the
distinguished families of the area. Notable amongst the family at
this time was Hardman of Lancashire.
The surname
Hardiment flourished during the turbulent middle ages, contributing
greatly to the cultural development of England. During the 15th,
16th, 17th and 18th centuries England. was ravaged by plagues,
famine, and religious conflict. Protestantism, the newly found
political fervour of Cromwellianism and democratic government, and
the remnants of the Roman Church rejected all non believers, each
jealously claiming adherents to their own cause. The changing rule
caused burnings, hangings and banishments of all sects and creeds,
first one then another. Many families were freely 'encouraged' to
migrate to Ireland, or to the 'colonies'. Some were rewarded with
grants of lands, others were banished.
Some families
were forced to migrate to Ireland where they become known as the
'Adventurers for land in Ireland'. Protestant settlers 'undertook'
to keep their faith, being granted lands previously owned by the
Catholic Irish In Ireland they settled in county Meath where the
name was changed to Herdeman, and they created Herdmanstown.
The New World
offered better opportunities and some migrated voluntarily some were
banished mostly for religious reasons. Some left Ireland
disillusioned with promises unfulfilled, but many left directly from
England. their home territories. Some also moved to the European
continent.
Members of the
family name Hardiment sailed aboard the huge armada of three masted
sailing ships known as the 'White Sails' which plied the stormy
Atlantic. These overcrowded ships such as the Hector, the Dove and
the Rambler, were pestilence ridden, sometimes 30% to 40% of the
passenger list never reaching their destination, their numbers
reduced by dysentery cholera, small pox and typhoid.
Amongst the
first settlers in North America, which could be considered a kinsman
of the surname Hardiment or a variable spelling of that family name
was John Hardeman settled in the Barbados in 1685; Edward Hardman
arrived in Pennsylvania in 1698; Phillip Hardman arrived in
Pennsylvania in 1772; Edward, John, Michael, Richard, Thomas and
William Hardman all arrived in Philadelphia between 1820 and 1840.
From the port
of entry many settlers made their way west, joining the wagon trains
to the prairies or to the west coast. during the American War of
Independence, many loyalists made their way north to Canada about
1790, and became known as the United Empire Loyalists.
Contemporary
notables of this surname Hardiment include many distinguished
contributors; David Hardman Administrator; Amy Hardman Air Chief
Marshall Sir Donald Hardman Sir Henry Hardman of Covent Garden.
During the
course of cur research we also determined the many Coat of Arms
granted to different branches of the family name.
The most
ancient grant of a Coat of Arms found was;
Red and Gold
with three lion between two fleur de lis on a silver stripe at the
top.
The Crest
is;
A hand holding a rose.