Contents [hide]

Hare History Etymology Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

Ireland United States Canada Australia New Zealand West Indies

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Citations

Hare History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Germany
Ireland
Scotland

Etymology of Hare

What does the name Hare mean?

The surname Hare was most likely originally a nickname for someone hare-like, perhaps a fast runner. It comes from the Old English word "hara," meaning "a hare" 1 or could be "a nickname for speed or timidity" or from "dweller on the stony-ground," from the Old English word hær.2

Early Origins of the Hare family

The surname Hare was first found in Surrey, where Walter le Hare was on record in 1166, and again in 1171 in the Pipe Rolls for that County. 2

Later some of the family branched to Stow-Bardolph in Norfolk where "the lands are the property of Sir Thomas Hare, Bart., whose seat, Stow Hall, is a handsome mansion finely situated. The church is chiefly in the later English style, with a square embattled tower; on the north side of the chancel is the mausoleum of the Hare family, in which are many splendid monuments." 3

John le Hare was listed in the Pipe Rolls for Norfolk in 1197 and Ralph del Hare was found in the Subsidy Rolls for Bedfordshire in 1309. 2

Other early records include: Hugh le Hare, who was listed in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 for Oxfordshire. 1

Early History of the Hare family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Hare research. Another 90 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1197, 1309, 1484, 1539, 1540, 1557, 1601, 1602, 1606, 1611, 1636, 1667, 1668, 1671, 1707, 1708 and 1740 are included under the topic Early Hare History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Hare Spelling Variations

Until quite recently, the English language has lacked a definite system of spelling rules. Consequently, Anglo-Saxon surnames are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. Changes in Anglo-Saxon names were influenced by the evolution of the English language, as it incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other languages. Although Medieval scribes and church officials recorded names as they sounded, so it is common to find one person referred to by several different spellings of his surname, even the most literate people varied the spelling of their own names. Variations of the name Hare include Hare, Hares, Hair and others.

Early Notables of the Hare family

Distinguished members of the family include

Sir Nicholas Hare of Bruisyard, Suffolk (c.1484-1557), Speaker of the House of Commons of England between 1539 and 1540; Hugh Hare, 1st Baron Coleraine (1606-1667), an English courtier; and Henry Hare...
Francis Hare (1671-1740), was Bishop of Chichester, born on 1 Nov. 1671 and was son of Richard Hare, the descendant of a family which had long been settled at Leigh in Essex. 4
Hugh Hare (1668-1707), was an English translator, baptised at Totteridge, Hertfordshire, 2 July 1668, was the eldest surviving son of Henry Hare, second lord Coleraine. 4
Robert Hare (d. 1611), was an English antiquary and benefactor to the university of Cambridge, the second of the three sons of Sir Nicholas Hare, Master of the Rolls. 4

Hare Ranking

In the United States, the name Hare is the 1,885^th most popular surname with an estimated 17,409 people with that name. 5 However, in New Zealand, the name Hare is ranked the 900^th most popular surname with an estimated 815 people with that name. 6

Migration of the Hare family to Ireland

Some of the Hare family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 38 words (3 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Hare migration to the United States +

Searching for a better life, many English families migrated to British colonies. Unfortunately, the majority of them traveled under extremely harsh conditions: overcrowding on the ships caused the majority of the immigrants to arrive diseased, famished, and destitute from the long journey across the ocean. For those families that arrived safely, modest prosperity was attainable, and many went on to make invaluable contributions to the development of the cultures of the new colonies. Research into the origins of individual families in North America revealed records of the immigration of a number of people bearing the name Hare or a variant listed above:

Hare Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

James and Susan Hare, who settled in Virginia in 1635
Bryan Hare, aged 27, who landed in Virginia in 1635 7
Susan Hare, who landed in Virginia in 1638 7
Nicho Hare, who landed in Virginia in 1649 7
Andrew Hare, who arrived in Virginia in 1653 7
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Hare Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Jarvis Hare, who landed in Maryland in 1740 7

Hare Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Alexander Hare, who landed in Washington County, Pennsylvania in 1806 7
Robert Hare, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1807 7
Samuel Hare, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1807 7
Bernard Hare, who landed in New York, NY in 1817 7
James Hare, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1829 7
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Hare migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Hare Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

John Hare, who arrived in Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1778
Lt. Henry Hare U.E. who settled in Eastern District [Cornwall], Ontario c. 1784 8
Mr. John Hare U.E. who settled in Eastern District [Cornwall], Ontario c. 1784 8
Mr. John Hare U.E. who settled in Osnabruck [South Stormont], Stormont County, Ontario c. 1784 8
Mr. John Hare U.E. who settled in Home District [York County], Ontario c. 1784 8
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Hare Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Samuel H Hare, who arrived in Canada in 1831
Ms. Bridget Hare, aged 23 who immigrated to Canada, arriving at the Grosse Isle Quarantine Station in Quebec aboard the ship "Champion" departing from the port of Liverpool, England but died on Grosse Isle in October 1847 9
Miss. Elizabeth Hare, aged 15 who immigrated to Canada, arriving at the Grosse Isle Quarantine Station in Quebec aboard the ship "Broom" departing from the port of Liverpool, England but died on Grosse Isle on 22nd August 1847 9
Mr. Honora Hare, aged 30 who immigrated to Canada, arriving at the Grosse Isle Quarantine Station in Quebec aboard the ship "Champion" departing from the port of Liverpool, England but died on Grosse Isle in September 1847 9
Mr. John Hare, aged 2 who immigrated to Canada, arriving at the Grosse Isle Quarantine Station in Quebec aboard the ship "Champion" departing from the port of Liverpool, England but died on Grosse Isle in September 1847 9
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Hare migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Hare Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Joseph Hare, English convict from Essex, who was transported aboard the "Asia" on October 22nd, 1824, settling in New South Wales, Australia 10
James Hare, English convict from Lancaster, who was transported aboard the "Albion" on September 21, 1826, settling in New South Wales, Australia 11
Mr. Joseph Hare, (b. 1798), aged 38, English ploughman who was convicted in Bedford, Bedfordshire, England for 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the "Elphinstone" on 20th January 1836, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land), he died in 1875 12
Charles Simeon Hare, who arrived in Kangaroo Island aboard the ship "Emma" in 1836 13
Anna Maria Hare, who arrived in Kangaroo Island aboard the ship "Emma" in 1836 13
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Hare migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Hare Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

John Hare, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1840
Mr. Charles Hare, British settler, as the 2nd Detachment of New Zealand Corps of Royal New Zealand Fencibles travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Minerva" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 8th October 1847 14
George Hare, aged 34, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Schiehallion" in 1872
Anne Hare, aged 34, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Schiehallion" in 1872
Lavinia Hare, aged 34, a needlewoman, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Queen of The Age" in 1874
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Hare migration to West Indies +

The British first settled the British West Indies around 1604. They made many attempts but failed in some to establish settlements on the Islands including Saint Lucia and Grenada. By 1627 they had managed to establish settlements on St. Kitts (St. Christopher) and Barbados, but by 1641 the Spanish had moved in and destroyed some of these including those at Providence Island. The British continued to expand the settlements including setting the First Federation in the British West Indies by 1674; some of the islands include Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Island, Turks and Caicos, Jamaica and Belize then known as British Honduras. By the 1960's many of the islands became independent after the West Indies Federation which existed from 1958 to 1962 failed due to internal political conflicts. After this a number of Eastern Caribbean islands formed a free association. 15

Hare Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century

John Hare, who arrived in Barbados with his wife and servants in 1679

Contemporary Notables of the name Hare (post 1700) +

Truxtun Hare (1878-1956), American sliver and bronze Olympic medalist for decathlon and hammer throw at the 1904 Summer Games
Thomas Truxton Hare (1878-1956), American Olympic silver and bronze medalist at the 1900 and 1904 games
Raymond Hare (1901-1994), American Foreign Officer, Ambassador to Saudi Arabia (1950-53) and other Middle Eastern countries
Augustus William Hare (1792-1834), English divine, second son of Francis Hare-Naylor of Hurstmonceaux, Sussex
Richard Mervyn Hare (1919-2002), English philosopher
John Neville Hare OBE FRGS (1934-2022), English explorer, author, and conservationist born in Bexhill, Kent, known for campaigning for the preservation of the Wild Bactrian camel
Mr. Richard Hare, British sheriff, held the joint position of Sheriff of Nottingham, England from 1631 to 1632
Mr. Richard Hare, British sheriff, held the joint position of Sheriff of Nottingham, England from 1609 to 1610
Mr. Matthew Hare O.B.E., British Chief Executive for Gigaclear, was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire on 8th June 2018, for services to Broadband Provision in the UK 16
William Francis Hare GCMG PC (b. 1906), 5th Earl of Listowel, known as Viscount Ennismore between 1924 and 1931, an Anglo-Irish peer and Labour politician, last Secretary of State for India in 1947 and the last Governor-General of Ghana
... (Another 9 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Hare family +

HMAS Sydney II

Mr. Richard William Hare (1920-1941), Australian Able Seaman from Red Hill, Queensland, Australia, who sailed into battle aboard HMAS Sydney II and died in the sinking 17

HMS Dorsetshire

Cyril Henry Hare (d. 1945), British Stoker 2nd Class aboard the HMS Dorsetshire when she was struck by air bombers and sunk; he died in the sinking 18

RMS Lusitania

Miss Bessie Hare, Irish 2nd Class passenger residing in New York, New York, USA, who sailed aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and died in the sinking and was recovered 19

Citations +

Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
"Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X
Charbonneau, André, and Doris Drolet-Dubé. A Register of Deceased Persons at Sea and on Grosse Île in 1847. The Minister of Canadian Heritage, 1997. ISBN: 0-660-198/1-1997E (p. 32)
State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2016, October 27) Asia 1 voyage to Van Diemen's Land, Australia in 1824 with 9 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/asia/1824
State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2016, October 27) Albion voyage to New South Wales, Australia in 1826 with 192 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/albion/1826
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 16th March 2022). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/elphinstone
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) Emma. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1836Emma.gif
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_West_Indies
"Birthday and New Year Honours Lists (1940 to 2019)." Issue 62507, 28 December 2018 | London Gazette, The Gazette, Dec. 2018, www.thegazette.co.uk/honours-lists
HMAS Sydney II, Finding Sydney Foundation - Roll of Honour. (Retrieved 2014, April 24) . Retrieved from http://www.findingsydney.com/roll.asp
Force Z Survivors HMS Dorsetshire Crew List, (Retrieved 2018, February 13th), https://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listdorsetshirecrew.html
Lusitania Passenger List - The Lusitania Resource. (Retrieved 2014, March 6) . Retrieved from http://www.rmslusitania.info/lusitania-passenger-list/