Hardy Family Crest, Coat of Arms & Hardy Name Origin

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Origin of the Name Hardy

The ancient history of the name Hardy was found in the allfamilycrests.com archives. The name Hardy is of nickname origin indicating a brave, reckless or foolhardy individual. Variants of this name include Hardey, Hardie, Hardi, Hardfish and Hardyment. This name is of Anglo-Norman descent spreading to Ireland , Scotland and Wales in early times and is found in many mediaeval manuscripts in these countries. Examples of such are a Thomas Hardy who was recorded in the 'Poll Tax' of the West Riding of Yorkshire in the year 1379. A Thomas Hardi was recorded in the 'Hundred Rolls' in the year 1273. A very early record of the name refers to a 'Page' to the huntsman of Bishop Swinfield, as early as 1289. In Scotland famed is the tale of Malcolm Ceannmor addressing the first Hardy, after he had performed a William Tell exploit, 'Hardy thou are and Hardy thou shalt be'. In Ireland the name Hardy was used as an ancient anglicized form of the Gaelic MacGiollaDeacair sept name. Some families of Hardiman in County Galway also changed their name to Hardy.