Is the name 'Harding' Scottish?

**sporranlegionaire** · 26th June 07, 03:17 AM

I'm hoping that a member, who will most likely be native of Scotland, might be able to help with a name puzzle. Although I was born in South London, of London-based parents, my grandfather's name was Harding. That sounds rather Scottish to me, though having searched on name/country association sites it comes up as being very much English. I wonder why, then, that whenever I search Harding along with another Scottish keyword (maybe a city name or area), that there are so many entries for this surname. Does anyone know if it has a touch or more of Scots to it? Or not.

**Pour1Malt** · 26th June 07, 04:11 AM

near as ai can tell...

Hardie an' Hardy are under the MacIntosh clan...

Harding is English...

(but others ken maire than ai dae about these things...)

**macwilkin** · 26th June 07, 05:14 AM

According to Hanks & Hodges' A Dictionary of Surnames (Oxford U. Press) Harding is an English surname, from the Old English personal name Hearding.

Mind you, I don't have a copy of Black's Surnames of Scotland at work to cross-reference it. Hmm...off to order a copy for the reference section.

I used to know a fellow park ranger who worked at the St. Louis Arch whose surname was Harding...I wonder if I still have Doug's e-mail addy?

Regards,

Todd

**sporranlegionaire** · 26th June 07, 10:13 AM

Ahhhhhhh....something I'd not yet considered. (I'm not desperately trying to find excuses for wearing a kilt - I'd wear them anyway).
I was overlooking my father's mother's maiden name of Crane. According to at least one Scottish surname website, Crane is associated with the area of Aberdeenshire. Bingo.
Now, in protocol circles, does this mean that I have some kind of distant affiliation to the Aberdeenshire Area tartan that I can wear justly and proudly? Or am I just clutching at straws? Again.

**gilmore** · 26th June 07, 01:00 PM

If you do a search here

http://www.spatial-literacy.org/UCLnames/Surnames.aspx

under the 1881 census, you will find that most Hardings were in the southwest and south of England, and very, very few in Scotland. The Cranes were in Anglia and the area north of London, with very, very few in Scotland. If you want a Scottish association, it would not appear likely to be through these two surnames. However, if you want to know about your ancestors, there is no substitute for the hard work of going back one generation at a time as far as you can go.

There are all sorts of tartans that most anyone can feel comfortable wearing, such as Heritage of Scotland, Stewart, etc., and I think it's preferable to do that than to promote a fictional connection that just isn't supported by the facts.

Best wishes

**sporranlegionaire** · 26th June 07, 01:27 PM

You're right, of course, Gilmore. I wouldn't be happy just guessing what might, or might not, be the case. I shall have to work on this one. Meanwhile, I have some 'universals' to enjoy anyway. And thanks for the link.

**gilmore** · 26th June 07, 01:51 PM

Originally Posted by sporranlegionaire

You're right, of course, Gilmore. I wouldn't be happy just guessing what might, or might not, be the case. I shall have to work on this one. Meanwhile, I have some 'universals' to enjoy anyway. And thanks for the link.

Yes, it is an interesting site, though I don't know how directly helpful it is to anyone.

Many years ago my father was looking through a book of clans with lists of septs and found our surname listed under a clan whose septs included many names that are not at all uncommon. One of my nephews bought an expensive kilt in that clan's tartan, and another had the clan crest tattooed on his back. Subsequently, we discovered that it is extremely unlikely that we have any connection whatsoever with that clan. However, we do with others.

It seems that some clans organizations list as many common names and their variants as they can in order to increase the size of their memberships. And of course the kilt, tartan and accessories merchants will seldom discourage anyone from spending money. IME it pays to be careful since the decisions we make can influence others to their later regret.

**MacWage** · 26th June 07, 01:57 PM

Off the TOP of my head (ie-> NOT LOOKED UP)

IF the family IS Scottish, you might want to look into the Hardin family. The name has enough grammatical similarity to be possible.
NOT saying it IS, but that it COULD BE.

**sirdaniel1975** · 26th June 07, 02:14 PM

Originally Posted by cajunscot

According to Hanks & Hodges' A Dictionary of Surnames (Oxford U. Press) Harding is an English surname, from the Old English personal name Hearding.

Mind you, I don't have a copy of Black's Surnames of Scotland at work to cross-reference it. Hmm...off to order a copy for the reference section.

I used to know a fellow park ranger who worked at the St. Louis Arch whose surname was Harding...I wonder if I still have Doug's e-mail addy?

Regards,

Todd

If I recall the Oxford book of surnames calls many Scottish surnames English. But I believe the book is right in this case.

Some of the Northern English names are "Border families." You might be able to find some Scottish connection with the name. Some Genealogy is in order!!

**macwilkin** · 26th June 07, 02:16 PM

Originally Posted by sirdaniel1975

If I recall the Oxford book of surnames calls many Scottish surnames English. But I believe the book is right in this case.

Some of the Northern English names are "Border families." You might be able to find some Scottish connection with the name. Some Genealogy is in order!!

It's the only surname dictionary we have at the community college library; there are others available at my former job in the local history department in the public library, but I wasn't going to drive accross town this morning to look it up!

My own surname is one of those Border surnames that can be found on "both sides of the Tweed".

T.