Guild of One-Name Studies
One-name studies, Genealogy
Study: Hardcastle
Variants: Hardcassel, Hardcastel, Hardcastell, Hardcastill, Heitcastell
Category: 1 - A study where research using core genealogical datasets and transcriptions is in its early stages.
Website: www.hardcastle.de
DNA website: www.familytreedna.com/public/Hardcastle
Contact: Mr Michael Hardcastle
This is the history of the Hardcastle family who appears to have been originated from Northumberland, near the Hadrian's Roman Wall. In the 13th century, the family settled in Yorkshire where land was granted to Fountains Abbey, and, in all probability, gave name to the place Hardcastle on Greenhow Hill in the Manor of Bewerley in Nidderdale. The first reference to a Hardcastle was in 1358 when Richard de Hardcastell held the lodge of a grange called Thrope House.
I have just completed a book about the Hardcastle Family. It describes the history of the family beginning with the emigration to Nidderdale in the 13th Century, explains their way of living from the 15th to the 20th century and finally describes their emigration to the U.S.A, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and other countries. Also you will find many sources relating to the Hardcastle family worldwide.
Writing this book is my expression of gratitude to all Hardcastle descendants for contributing their information and stories in the past 30 years. Here you are able to find more details about the book The Roots of the Hardcastles - An old Yorkshire Family.
The Name
The Hardcastle family appears to have been originated from Northumberland (near the Hadrian's Roman Wall). It is presumed that a turret or milecastle has given its name to the Hardcastle family. In Saxon times the family settled in the counties of Northumberland and Durham. The literal meaning of the name is 'strong tower' or 'strong castle'. The name appears in those early times to have been variously spelt: Hertcastell, Hardcastell, Hardcastill, Hardcassel, Hardekastel, Hercastell, Herdcasell, Hertcastel and similar spellings.
The Coat Of Arms
The Family Coat of Arms is from the 12th century and was duly registered in the British Heraldry as sable on a chevron argent (silver), between three castles or towers, as many (three) leopards' faces gules (red), the crest is a lady attired azure (blue), holding in her right hand the sun, and in her sinister (left hand) the moon. The crest implied that the family was empowered and required to raise armed men in support of their lord and to put at least one knight into the field of battle in horse and armour. For my branch of the family, the motto in Latin is 'Turris Fortis Mihi Deus' (i.e. God is my strong tower). In all probability this motto was taken from Psalm 46. Martin Luther used these words for his choral 'A Mighty Fortress is Our God' written in 1529.