Is the name 'Harding' Scottish?

[MacWage]

OK, I HAVE to say one more thing.
The WHOLE discussion on whether the Harden baron would be appropriate in wearing an eagle feather has NOTHING to do with the origin of Harding. I was just pointing one avenue for him to look.

As for Mark Harden, he is morally and appropriate to wear the feathers, as is his "baron bailey" (a friend of mine, commonly nicknamed "Baron MacBubba"). As Harden WORKS with the person who handles heraldic matters for the Scottish world, he would have to be AN IDIOT to do it WRONG. Harden is NOT, so I don't question it!
(His OWN views on heraldry: http://www.houseofharden.com/cowdenk...raldryhome.htm )
He wore one in Greenville walking NEXT TO Romilly Squire (Heraldic Artist to the Lyon Courtand) ON STAGE DURING a presentation of heraldic honors to the Sinclair chief!
http://www.houseofharden.com/cowdenknowes/romilly.htm

Therefore, I ASSUME he has ALL moral, legal, and all legit RIGHTS to wear feathers!

[ardchoille77]

the name hardy is actually under clan farquharson, but clan harding may be a variation of hardy which is under farquharson, but not sure.

Ard Choille

Mike

[sporranlegionaire]

I hadn't realised this thread was still ticking over as the theme seemed to have exhausted itself much earlier on. I just found it all again with the extra posted additions...the most spooky one being the link mentioning, around the time of the Domesday Book, the branching out of Hardings from Derbyshire to the village of Combe Martin, North Devon...
Out of the thousands of UK places to relocate our family in the early fifties, my parents chose of all places...Combe Martin. That is weird.
Although there appear to be a number of similar names - Hardy, Harden, etc, and their derivations, along with Harding, largely based on the description of physically fit folk (strong, hard), these differences in spelling don't seem to have any connection with Harding. Or maybe they do.
Although Harding is now recorded as being an English name, I suspect that this is because Hardings over time settled and regenerated themselves more in England than Scotland...
However, quoting one of the snippets of information at a link that someone has kindly provided 'The family name Harding emerged as a Scottish clan or family in this northern territory of Derbyshire where they were recorded as a family of great antiquity seated with manor and estates in that shire'.
...then further on followed the mention that some Hardings ended up in Combe Martin (including us!).
There must be thousands of Hardings in the world now who have descended from the original Vikings of the same name who settled in the northern extremeties of Scotland, and the idea and sentiment of that is good enough for me, for now.

[Don Patrick]

I'm hoping that a member, who will most likely be native of Scotland, might be able to help with a name puzzle. Although I was born in South London, of London-based parents, my grandfather's name was Harding. That sounds rather Scottish to me, though having searched on name/country association sites it comes up as being very much English. I wonder why, then, that whenever I search Harding along with another Scottish keyword (maybe a city name or area), that there are so many entries for this surname. Does anyone know if it has a touch or more of Scots to it? Or not.

I'm not an expert on the Clans, but I did google the Harding name and if this post is correct there was a Clan Harding of Norwegian descent rather than Irish.
http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/-sczsteve/Harding.htm
I'm sure a little more research should prove it one way or the other.

[Don Patrick]

Another Harding Clan site. I suspect there is a Clan Harding http://www.houseofnames.com/xq/asp.f...mily-crest.htm

[gilmore]

Another Harding Clan site. I suspect there is a Clan Harding http://www.houseofnames.com/xq/asp.f...mily-crest.htm

There are no such things as family coats of arms. They belong to only one person at a time, undifferentiated. When he dies, it is inherited by his heir. Bogus sites like this one have been making money off the unsuspecting for years, selling them things that have nothing to do with their families.

[slohairt]

Dia dhuit, mo charaí!

Here's one to further stir the pot!

Ó hAirdín "descended from the high one"

DISCLAIMER: I actually made that up. The name Harding is NOT Irish nor is it even of Gaelic origin in any way, shape, or form. It should not be perceived as such by those of any descent, Irish or otherwise. This was merely a Gaelicisation of an Anglo-Saxon name, purely for entertainment purposes only. A fascinating example of language manipulation, if you will. The author hereby denies any responsibility for those who use this fictional information to bolster any claims, whatever they may be. ;)

[macwilkin]

Another Harding Clan site. I suspect there is a Clan Harding http://www.houseofnames.com/xq/asp.f...mily-crest.htm

Don, that is a "Bucket Shop" site. They sell "family crests" -- as they'd say in these parts, "their ain't no such creature!"

Be VERY wary of any information you might find on a site like this -- much of it is generalized.

Regards,

Todd

[Don Patrick]

I'm hoping that a member, who will most likely be native of Scotland, might be able to help with a name puzzle. Although I was born in South London, of London-based parents, my grandfather's name was Harding. That sounds rather Scottish to me, though having searched on name/country association sites it comes up as being very much English. I wonder why, then, that whenever I search Harding along with another Scottish keyword (maybe a city name or area), that there are so many entries for this surname. Does anyone know if it has a touch or more of Scots to it? Or not.

Google the following Clan + Scottish + Harding

[Don Patrick]

Sorry for so many posts. How about a tartan for Harding - http://www.tartansauthority.com/web/site/cart2.asp

Well - the url didn't hold the search results - you'll have to use this link and search for the name Harding.

There are two personal tartans and a district tartan (Perthshire District) tied to the name Harding. All three nice looking. More research may reveal others.

Another site http://www.kiltmakers.com/septs.asp?letter=h ties the name to the Perthshire District Tartan.