Origin of the Harkness Surname
The Harkness surname is of Unknown origin (Unknown). In the 2010 U.S. Census it ranked #5,953 with 5,783 Americans (1.96 per 100K people).
What the name meant to the first families who bore it — and how Harkness traveled across regions and centuries — is written out in the full Heritage Report.
Quick Facts
| Surname | Harkness |
|---|---|
| Meaning | Full etymology in the Heritage Report |
| Origin | Unknown |
| Language | Unknown |
| US Rank (2010) | #5,953 |
| US Count (2010) | 5,783 |
| Per 100K People | 1.96 |
| First Letter | H |
Ethnic Distribution of Harkness
Among 5,783 Americans named Harkness, the largest self-reported group is White (83.37%).
The full multi-group chart (every percentage, print-ready) is inside the Heritage Report — not repeated here.
Popularity of Harkness Over Time
Between the 2000 and 2010 U.S. Census, the national rank of Harkness moved down. Exact counts for both years — print-ready — are in the Heritage Report.
Where did the Harkness family really come from?
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The Complete Story of the Harkness Family
What you’ve read above is just the overview. Your full Harkness Heritage Report goes far deeper — and it’s yours to keep, print & share with your family.
- ✓ The true origin & meaning of Harkness
- ✓ The Harkness coat of arms & heraldry
- ✓ Migration journey across the world
- ✓ Where Harkness families live today
- ✓ Notable Harkness bearers in history
- ✓ Name variations & spellings worldwide
- ✓ A step-by-step guide to start tracing your own family tree
🎁 A heritage keepsake to pass down — perfect as a gift.
Get one Harkness fact most families never hear by email — a teaser, not the full etymology (that’s in the report).
Similar Surnames to Harkness
These surnames share similar popularity, spelling, or cultural background with Harkness.
Other Unknown Surnames
Explore more surnames with Unknown roots. There are 162,254 surnames in our database — here are some that share the same Unknown origin as Harkness.
Frequently Asked Questions About Harkness
Top Surnames Starting with H
The most common American surnames that begin with the letter H, ranked by population.
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