Surname Harnet - Meaning and Origin
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Harnet: What does the surname Harnet mean?
The last name Harnet is of English origin and has two possible meanings. It could refer to someone from the settlement near or around Harne in Dorset, England, or it could be derived from the Middle English word "harnet", which means "hawk".
The surname Harnet first appeared in records around 1230 A.D., when Raymond de Harnet was listed in the Calendar of Patent Rolls. During the Middle Ages, England was divided into shires, and those who lived in a certain shire had the same last name. It is likely that Raymond de Harnet and his descendants had lived in Dorset for several generations to take on the name.
The meaning of the name is reflected in the names of fourteenth century marriages, such as William Harnat to Alise Cole at St. Botolph in Aldgate, and Thomas Harnet to Ellen de Lye at St. Martin in the Fields. These names indicated the connection with a family of falconers, likely suggesting that the Harnet family were a prominent and prosperous pigeon or hawk-trainer.
To this day, those who bear the surname Harnet are associated with the union of nature and outdoor activity. Whether the surname is derived from Dorset or from the word “harnet”, the name Harnet embodies a proud lineage of naturalism and of the magnificence of English countryside.
Order DNA origin analysisHarnet: Where does the name Harnet come from?
The surname Harnet is believed to be of Northern European origins, with examples of the surname being found in both England and Scotland. The variants of the name - Harnet, Harnett, Harnit, Harnitt, Harden - are all thought to stem from a local English place name.
Today the surname Harnet is particularly common in the United States. The United States Census’ 2010 ranking lists Harnet as the 33227th most common surname in the country. It’s ranking has decreased since the preceding decades, falling from arguably as high as number 3221 in 2000.
The state of Georgia, together with the town of Calhoun, features particularly prominently amongst locations claiming high levels of Harnets population concentration.
The same surname, and its variants, have a much lower ranking in other countries, such as the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia, where it does not appear to be as popular.
A search engine such as Google Maps can also be used to locate domains containing the surname Harnet, enabling Harnets to locate other individuals that share the same name, and trace family lines and access records for this surname.
Overall, Harnet is a decently common surname in the United States, with lower levels of prevalence elsewhere in the world.
Variations of the surname Harnet
The surname Harnet is primarily derived from French and is of two different origin spellings: Har- and -net. The spelling Har- is derived from the Old French word “harnes” which means “armed”. The spelling -net is derived from the Latin word “netus”, which means “nesty”.
Harnet is often seen as a variant spelling of the surname Arnett. Other variants of the name include Harne, Harnett, Harnette, Harnett and Harnot. Besides French, the surname Harnet is also of English and German origins.
In England, the name can be seen as a variant of the surname Hornett, which is derived from the Old English word “horne”, meaning “horn”. Meanwhile, the German variation is Hornig or Hörnig, which is derived from the Middle High German “hornic”, which refers to a “horn blower”.
The surname Harnet can also be found in other variations throughout Europe, including the United States. In the United States, the surname has many Anglicized variations include Harney, Hearn, Hearne, Hearns, Horn, and Horns. It can also been seen as variant of surnames such as Harnist, Harries, Harnisch, Harness, and Harner.
The surname Harnet is also a patronymic name, which means it is derived from the name of the father. This means that variants of the name may reference the father with words like “Harnetsen”, “Harnessin”, or “Harnettin”. The Americanization of the surname also alters the spelling to Arnette, Arnett, and Arnit.
Overall, the surname Harnet is extremely diverse and can be seen in a variety of forms. Each variation of the name can trace its origins to different languages and cultures, but all can be linked back to the original French spelling.
Famous people with the name Harnet
- Tewodros Harnet: Popular Ethiopian Singer and songwriter whose albums have included Barihu and Endewaza.
- Alem Harnet: Well-known Ethiopian artist and musician who has created artwork to represent and celebrate women's rights.
- Berhane Harnet: Ethiopian immense marathon runner who set several Ethiopian records and was awarded the Abay and Gegezen Abay medals.
- Bola Harnet: Ethiopian long-distance runner and track specialist with several national records in the 5,000 and 10,000 metre events
- Berihun Harnet: Ethiopian fencer and sportsman, who competed in the 2008 Summer Olympic Games.
- Mekdes Harnet: Accomplished Ethiopian female actor who has appeared in several feature films.
- Kebede Harnet: Popular Ethiopian actor and director, best known for his work on the ITV daytime drama If There Were Dreams.
- Geremew Harnet: Ethiopian footballer known for playing for several clubs including Feyenoord and Bologna.
- Tadesse Harnet: Legendary Ethiopian boxer who won the Silver medal in the middleweight division at the 1972 Olympics.
- Kayez Harnet: Notable Ethiopian painter and sculptor, whose works have been exhibited in numerous galleries around the world.