Map of Ireland showing where the Hardnett arms are recorded
The Hardnett arms were recorded in Kerry, c. 1645.
Kerry was mountain and coast country in the far south-west of Ireland. Its land was poor and held by a few families for a very long time, and long unbroken holding fills a register.
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 Ireland in this period.
Charles I of England
Sovereign of the period
Charles I of England
1625–1649
Reigning in Ireland when the Hardnett arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Ireland
The Ulster King of Arms granted coats of arms to individuals who proved their social standing and good character. These symbols were typically inherited by all legitimate descendants of the original holder. If a family branch wanted a unique look, they could apply for a specific change to their design through the office to ensure their identity remained distinct.
Granting authority
The Ulster King of Arms acted as the official body that regulated and issued all coats of arms throughout Ireland.
How they got arms
Families obtained their arms through formal grants issued by the office after proving their eligibility and paying the required fees.
Where arms were recorded
All official grants were recorded in the registers held by the Ulster King of Arms starting from the year 1552.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Kerry.
Origin & History of the Hardnett Family in Ireland
The family name Hardnett is deeply rooted in the history of County Kerry, Ireland, where records confirm members of the family were established by 1645. During this period, the region was defined by significant political upheaval and the transition of land ownership following the Irish Confederate Wars. Families like the Hardnetts often lived as tenant farmers or local landowners who navigated the complex social structures of seventeenth-century Munster. Because the name is closely associated with this specific geographic area, it is likely that the family was part of the local Gaelic or Anglo-Norman population that shaped the cultural identity of the Kerry landscape. Over the following centuries, the family remained connected to the rural traditions of the southwest, contributing to the agricultural and social development of the region as they adapted to the changing laws and economic conditions of Ireland.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Hard
Old English word meaning brave, hardy, or strong.
This name
HardnettA topographical or occupational name denoting a person who is brave or resilient in nature.
also spelled
Harnot
Harnott
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
MacLysaght, Edward. The Surnames of Ireland. 1985
National Archives of Ireland. Civil Survey of County Kerry. 1654–1656
O'Hart, John. Irish Pedigrees; or, The Origin and Stem of the Irish Nation. 1892
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