Surname Hargreave - Meaning and Origin

Hargreave: What does the surname Hargreave mean?

The surname Hargreave is of English origin and is derived from a topographical feature. The two elements of the name "Har" and "Greave" are likely derived from Old English. "Har" means "rocks or stones" and "greave" relates to a "bush or thicket", suggesting that this name was likely given to families living near a rocky thicket, or among stony woods. As with many surnames that originated from geographic locations or characteristics of the landscape, the bearers of the surname are likely from several unrelated lines which were named after the features of their habitation. It is primarily associated with families residing in the Lancashire region in the United Kingdom. These types of surnames became necessary as populations grew in medieval times and it became more important to distinguish between different families.

Hargreave: Where does the name Hargreave come from?

The surname Hargreave is of English origin and is believed to be a regional name from any of the several places named with the Old English words "har," meaning "grey," and "graf," meaning "grove" or "thicket". This indicates that the original bearer of the name likely resided or was born in such a locality.

This name has variations including Hargreaves, Hargrove, Hargrave, and others. The surname first surfaced in Lancashire where they were a family of great antiquity, their first records appeared on the early census rolls taken by the early Kings of Britain to determine the rate of taxation of their subjects.

Today, Hargreave is not an overly common surname. It is most prevalent in England, especially in regions like Lancashire following its origin. Across the world, it has been spread by British diaspora to places such as Canada, Australia, United States, New Zealand, and South Africa. There may also be a significant number of people carrying the surname in these countries.

Variations of the surname Hargreave

The surname Hargreave is of English origin and is believed to be linked to locations named "Hargrave" or "Hargrove." This points to a possible geographic origin from areas i.e., Cheshire, Suffolk, and Yorkshire in England. It means someone who lived by the "hare's grove." Variants of this surname include Hargrave, Hargreaves, Hargrove, Hargraves, and Hargroves. The surname has also been transcribed as Heargreaves, Heargreve, and Haragrave in historical records due to phonetic spellings, handwriting interpretation errors and dialect variations. Furthermore, it may occur with an additional "s" at the end i.e., Hargreaves, especially in the north of England, suggesting a patronymic ("son of Hargrave") form. This surname has been historically widespread across England, particularly concentrated in Lancashire and Yorkshire. The surnames Hargrave and Hargrove, originating from different place names, show separate distributions mainly in Suffolk and North Yorkshire, respectively.

Famous people with the name Hargreave

• Mike Hargrove: A former MLB first baseman and manager, particularly known for his time with the Cleveland Indians.
• Lauren Hargreave: An Australian former football (soccer) player who competed in the 2000 Summer Olympics.
• Robert Hargreave: A former English cricketer.
• Al Hargreave: A professional Canadian ice hockey player.
• Jekalyn Carr: Born as Jekalyn Almonique Hargreave, she is an American urban contemporary gospel artist and musician, evangelist, and entrepreneur.
• Bruce Hargreave: A French rugby union player.
• Peter Hargreave: A leading figure in the waste processing industry in England.
• Darren and Dale Hargreave: Members of the British band, Jesus Jones.
• Henry Hargreave: A New-Zealand born, Brooklyn-based food photographer.
• Charles Hargreave: An English cricketer.
• Tom Hargreave: An English professional rugby league footballer.
• Helen Hargreave: A British actress known for her role in the TV series, Emmerdale.
• Joey Hargreave: An English Footballer. It's important to note that spellings like Hargreaves, Hargrove, or Hargrave might also be used but refer to different families or individuals.

Other surnames

Hargreaves