Blazons & Genealogy Notes

1) (co. Kent). Sa. a fesse or, voided of the field betw. four mullets of the second.
2) (Melton Mowbray, co. Leicester). Sa. a bend engr. betw. three fleurs-de-lis or. Crest—A stag ppr.
3) (Fulham, co. Middlesex, and Wallpoole, co. Norfolk, 1634). Ar. three lozenges sa. charged with as many escallops or. Crest—A stag's head erased sa. attired ar. in the mouth a flower of the last stalked and leaved vert.

Origin, Meaning and Family History of the Harte Name

Harte Origin:

England, Ireland

Origins of Harte:

This unique surname is of an Anglo-Saxon origin and is an example of that large group of old European surnames that was slightly formed from the continual use of pet names. The nicknames shown in the first example related to a variety of qualities, like physical characteristics, mental and moral attributes, contained considering likeness to an animal’s or bird’s appearance, or style of dressing and profession. The surname acquires from the Olde English pre 7th Century “heorot,” Middle English “hert,” which means stag, male deer, and would have given to a very fast mover. The surname was first noted in the mid-11th Century and can also appear as Harte, Heart, Hart, and Hurt. Roger Hert recorded in the 1166 Premium Rolls of Norfolk and Simon le Hert listed in the 1197 Feet of Fines of Kent. In some situations, the surname may be of Irish source and is an Anglicized form of the Gaelic “O’hAirt,” combination of the components “O,” offsprings of, with “Art,” a byname which means bear, hero.

Variations:

More common variations are: Hartey, Hartie, Harteh, Hartte, Hartye, Hearte, Huarte, Harite, Harate, Hartea.

Ireland:

The surname Harte first appeared in division Meath old part of the kingdom of Brega, existed in Eastern Ireland, in the county of Leinster, where they were of the southern Ui Neill.

England:

The very first recording spelling of the family was shown to be that of Aelfric Hort, dated about 1060, in the “Olde English By name record,” Hampshire. It was during the time of King Edward, who was known to be the “The Confessor,” dated 1040-1066. The origin of surnames during this period became a necessity with the introduction of personal taxation.

Ireland:

Many of the people with surname Harte had moved to Ireland during the 17th century.

United States of America:

Individuals with the surname Harte settled in the United States in four different centuries respectively in the 17th, 18th, 19th, and 20th. Some of the individuals with the name Harte who landed in the United States in the 17th century included Mary Harte arrived in St Christopher in 1634. Henry Harte came to Virginia in 1635. Thomas Harte came to Virginia in 1642. Ann Harte landed in Virginia in 1661. Jane Harte arrived in Virginia in 1664.

People with the surname Harte who settled in the United States in the 18th century included Fredrich Harte landed in Pennsylvania in 1738.

Some of the population with the name Harte who arrived in the United States in the 19th century included Charles Harte arrived in Pennsylvania in 1807. CharlesJ Harte landed in Missouri in 1838. Fr Conr Harte came to America in 1845. Joh Fr Conr Harte, who landed in America in 1847. James Harte landed in St Clair County, Illinois in 1869.

People with the surname Harte who settled in the United States in the 18th century included William Henry Harte arrived in Arkansas in 1902.

Australia:

Individuals with the surname Harte who settled in Australia in the 19th century included John Harte arrived in South Australia in 1855 aboard the ship “Coromandel.” Mary Harte arrived in South Australia in 1855 aboard the ship “Lady Macdonald.”

Here is the population distribution of the last name Harte: United States 3,733; Ireland 3,652; England 3,065; Northern Ireland 739; Netherlands 678; Australia 659; Germany 639; Canada 584; Scotland 545; South Africa 511.

Notable People:

Chris Harte was an American newspaper publisher.

Bill Harte (born 1971), is an American soccer player.

Christopher Harte (born 1949), is an Irish cricket player.

Dennis J. Harte (1866–1917), was a New York leader.

Jack Harte (Irish politician) (born 1920), is an Irish Labour Party politician.

Frank Harte (1933–2005), was a traditional Irish musician.

Leanne Harte was an Irish musician and composer.

Bret Harte (1836–1902), was an American writer and poet.

Robert Harte (U.S. actor), is an American actor.

Robert Harte (New Zealand actor), is a New Zealand artist.

Harte Coat of Arms Meaning

The four main devices (symbols) in the Harte blazon are the stag, mullet, fleur-de-lis and escallop. The two main tinctures (colors) are sable and or.

Sable, the deep black so often found in Heraldry is believed to named from an animal of the marten family know in the middle ages as a Sabellinœ and noted for its very black fur ¹A Glossary of Terms used in British Heraldry, J.H. Parker, Oxford, 1894, Entry:Sable. In engravings, when colors cannot be shown it is represented as closely spaced horizontal and vertical lines, and appropriately is thus the darkest form of hatching, as this method is known ²Boutell’s Heraldry, J.P. Brooke-Little, Warne, (revised Edition) London 1970, P 26. Although it may seem a sombre tone, and does indeed sometimes denote grief, it is more commonly said to represent Constancy ³The Symbolisms of Heraldry, W. Cecil Wade, George Redway, London, 1898 P35.

The bright yellow colour frequently found in coats of arms is known to heralds as Or, or sometimes simply as Gold.⁴Boutell’s Heraldry, J.P. Brooke-Little, Warne, (revised Edition) London 1970, P 27. Along with, argent, or silver it forms the two “metals” of heraldry – one of the guidelines of heraldic design is that silver objects should not be placed upon gold fields and vice versa ⁵A Complete Guide to Heraldry, A.C. Fox-Davies, Bonanza (re-print of 1909 Edition), New York, 1978, P85. The yellow colour is often associated with the Sun, and the zodiacal sign of Leo.⁶Understanding Signs & Symbols – Heraldry, S. Oliver & G. Croton, Quantum, London, 2013, P53.

We should be surprised to find the stag or buck, noble quarry of many a mediaeval hunt, being illustrated in many a coat of arms. ⁷Boutell’s Heraldry, J.P. Brooke-Little, Warne, (revised Edition) London 1970, P 69. It shares many of the poses to be found with the lion, but also one almost unique to the deer, grazing, as if the animal is still unaware of the hunter’s approach. ⁸A Glossary of Terms used in British Heraldry, J.H. Parker, Oxford, 1894, Entry:Deer. In common with all symbols related to the hunt we probably need look further for their intended meaning than the pleasure taken by the holder in such pursuits! ⁹The Symbolisms of Heraldry, W. Cecil Wade, George Redway, London, 1898 P30

The heraldic mullet, not to be confused with the fish of that name, is shown as a regular, five pointed star. This was originally, not an astronomical object, but represented the spur on a horseman’s boot, especially when peirced, with a small circular hole in the centre it represents a type of spur known as a “rowel” ¹⁰Boutell’s Heraldry, J.P. Brooke-Little, Warne, (revised Edition) London 1970, P 97. A clear example can be found in the arms of Harpendene, argent, a mullet pierced gules. The ancient writer Guillim associated such spurs in gold as belonging to the Knight, and the silver to their esquires ¹¹A Display of Heraldry, J. Guillim, Blome, London, 1679, P107. In later years, Wade linked this five pointed star with the true celestial object, the estoile and termed it a “falling star”, symbolising a “divine quality bestowed from above” ¹²The Symbolisms of Heraldry, W. Cecil Wade, George Redway, London, 1898 P105.

The fleur-de-lys (“flower of the lily”) has a long and noble history and was a symbol associated with the royalty of France even before heraldry became widespread. ¹³Boutell’s Heraldry, J.P. Brooke-Little, Warne, (revised Edition) London 1970, P 3. The Lily flower is said to represent “Purity, or whiteness of soul”¹⁴The Symbolisms of Heraldry, W. Cecil Wade, George Redway, London, 1898 P134 and sometimes associated with the Virgin Mary. The fleur-de-lys is also used as a small “badge”, known as a mark of cadency to show that the holder is the sixth son of the present holder of the arms ¹⁵A Complete Guide to Heraldry, A.C. Fox-Davies, Bonanza (re-print of 1909 Edition), New York, 1978, P489