Harken

This very unusual name has several possible origins. It may derive from the Norse-Viking "Hacon or Haakon", pre 7th Century personal name which translated as "one of High Race" or it may be a variant spellings of "Harkin or Harken", medieval surnames which mean "the Son (kin) of the Hard man" from Old English "Heard", or it may derive from "Hakin" an arabic word meaning a Scholarly man, one who practiced medicine, - a Doctor. John Hachen was recorded in 1679 (London), Charlotte Hacon (1816, London), Elizabeth Hakin (1677, Horwich) whilst Mary Haken was married to Edward Cranford at St. Michaels, Bassishaw, London in 1835. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of John Hackene which was dated 1562 (Baptised) at St. Dunstans in the East, London. during the reign of Queen Elizabeth 1, known as Good Queen Bess, 1558 - 1603. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.