HARTE members around the world

HARTE Family History

This interesting surname is of Anglo-Saxon origin, and is an example of that sizeable group of early European surnames that were gradually created from the habitual use of nicknames. The nicknames were given in the first instance with reference to a variety of characteristics, such as physical attributes or peculiarities, mental and moral characteristics, including supposed resemblance to an animal's or bird's appearance or isposition, or to habits of dress and occupation. The surname derives from the Olde English pre 7th Century "heorot", Middle English "hert", stag, male deer, and would have been given to a swift mover.