This interesting and unusual name takes its origin from two places in Bedfordshire and Northamptonshire called Harrowden. In the Domesday Book of 1086 this is first recorded as "Hergentone", and the derivation is from the Old English pre 7th Century Learg(a) (pagan) temple and "dun", hill so the meaning of the name would be "one who lives at (or by) the hill of the pagan (heather) temple". Regional and dialectal differences have produced variations in the spelling of the name. In the modern idiom, it can be spelt Harradence, Harradine, Harridine, or even Horoden. Recordings of the surname from St. Martin-in-the-Fields church registers, Westminster, London, include the marriage of Richard Harradence and Ann Daniel, which took place on November 27th 1791; on November 5th 1792, Sarah Harradence married Richard Southam, and Ann daughter of Richard and Ann Harradence was christened on April 17th 1793. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of William de Harewedon, which was dated 1327, in the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex, during the reign of King Edward 11, known as Edward of Caernafon, 1307 - 1327. 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.

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