Map of England showing where the Harden arms are recorded
The Harden arms were recorded in Lancaster, c. 1620.
Lancashire was divided among a great many small landed families, more than most northern counties. Estates were passed down whole rather than split up, so the same names hold the same ground for centuries in the records.
This is where the arms were entered in the register. Families often moved to other parts of the country, so the same name can turn up in more than one region.
The body that granted and recorded arms in England in this period.
James VI and I
Sovereign of the period
James VI and I
1603–1625
Reigning in England when the Harden arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in England
English heraldry allowed arms to be shared by all legitimate descendants of the original owner. These symbols were treated as personal property that moved through the generations to all children. While the eldest son kept the original design, other family members could use the same shield without needing to change it or register their own unique versions.
Granting authority
The College of Arms in London has regulated the use of coats of arms throughout England and Wales since 1484.
How they got arms
Families typically obtained their coats of arms through a formal grant from the Crown or by proving their ancient right to them.
Where arms were recorded
All official coats of arms are recorded in the registers kept at the College of Arms, which date back to the fifteenth century.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Lancaster.
Origin & History of the Harden Family in England
The surname Harden is primarily of English origin and is classified as a locational name. This means that the family likely took their name from a specific place, such as a village or a valley, where they lived during the Middle Ages. The name is derived from the Old English words "hara," meaning a hare, and "denu," meaning a valley. Therefore, the name originally described someone who lived in a valley frequented by hares. By the year 1620, records confirm that members of the Harden family were well-established in Lancaster. During this period, families in the region were often involved in local trade, agriculture, or the growing textile industry that defined the area. As the family grew, they became part of the social fabric of Lancashire, contributing to the local community long before many of their descendants eventually migrated to other parts of the world.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Heoru-denu
Old English for sword or army and valley.
This name
HardenA topographic name for someone who lived in a valley associated with a military encampment.
also spelled
Hawardine
Hawerden
Hawardyn
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Bardsley, Charles Wareing, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, 1901
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
Lancashire Archives, Bishop's Transcripts of Burials, Baptisms and Marriages for the Parish of Lancaster, 1620
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
dropletsTears, and grief borne with patience
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
dropletsTears, and grief borne with patience
