Hardin surname meaning

Hardin is chiefly an English spelling variant of Harding, from the Middle English personal name Harding—Old English Hearding, literally “the hard one,” built on heard, “hard,” “strong,” or “brave.” As a surname it traveled to Ireland in the fifteenth century and again later. Some American Hardins reflect French Hardouin (Germanic Hardwin, “hard” + “friend”) or a French pet form of other hard- compound names. Harding and Hardinge are the fuller English forms. Parent’s name fits the Hearding personal-name origin, and that English lead is high confidence.