Hardison
A surname that usually means “son of Harry” or “son of Hardie,” with English and Scottish roots.
The #4,375 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 37,985 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Hardison is generally understood as a patronymic surname: the ending -son means “son of,” so the name likely began as “son of Hardi,” “son of Harry,” or a related nickname form. In northern English and Scots naming, Hardi/Hardy could function as a personal name or nickname built on Old English elements meaning “brave” or “hardy.” In some cases the surname may also reflect a shortening or variation of Hardy with the patronymic suffix added.
History
The name is found mainly in English-speaking countries, especially the United States, where it likely spread through migration from Britain and through later family lines that standardized the spelling Hardison. Because surnames of this type were often recorded phonetically, related forms can appear with small spelling differences across records. The name is less common than Hardy or Harrison, but it fits the same broader pattern of medieval patronymic surnames.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
Hardison is a good example of how a familiar suffix like -son can preserve an older nickname or given-name root that is no longer obvious to modern readers.