This surname is derived from a geographical locality. 'of Harcourt."'A town and ancient chateau, now in ruins, near Brionne in Normandy, which gave title to the French Dues de Harcourt' (Lower, Patronymica Britannica). It is somewhat curious to note that Harcourt has seldom travelled beyond the lines of patrician life. It is seldom found in the tradesman's directory. It is not so with our Nevilles, Howards, Sinclairs, Mortimers, Pierpoints, Braybrooks, &c. (v. Lower, ibid).

Ivo de Harecurt: Pipe Roll, 11 Henry II.

(French) belonging to Harcourt, Haricourt (Eure), Héricourt (Seine Inférieure, Pas- de-Calais) [the second element is the Old French cort, curt, Low Latin cortis, curtis, a country-house, villa, farm-Latin co(ho)rs, cortis, a cattle-enclosure: the first ele­ment is prob. the Old Teutonic name-stem Hari-,Heri- (Old Saxon O.H.Ger. heri, hari= Old Norse herr = Goth, harji -s = Old English here, army] The M. Latin form of the Eure place-name was Haricuria.

Héricourt is not mentioned in either of the Comte de Loisne’s publications ‘Les Formes Originales des Noms de Lieux du Pas-de-Calais’ (1901,1905). He, however, Latinizes Hérimetz as Henrici Mansus. A de Harcourt occurs in the mural list of ‘Compagnons de Guillaume à la Conquête de l' Angleterre en MLXVI.’ in Dives Church,. In the copies of the Roll of Battle Abbey the name is spelt Harecourt, as it is in Camden’s Essay on Surnames in his ‘Remaines con­cerning Britaine.’ Ivo de Harecurt occurs in a Pipe-Roll of A.D. 1165.

(English) One who came from Harcourt (hawker’s cottage), in Shropshire, or from Harcourt, in France.

A town and ancient chateau, now in ruins, near Brionne in Normandy, which gave title to the French Ducs de Harcourt. The ancient earls of Harcourt played a distinguished part in the history of Normandy. They were descended from Bernard, of the blood-royal of Saxony, who having been born in Denmark was surnamed the Dane. He was chief counsellor and second in command to Rollo at the invasion of Neustria in A.D. 876, and acquired Harcourt and other fiefs for his eminent services. Collins. Robert de Harcourt attended William I. to the Conquest of England, and his descendants possessed Stanton-Harcourt, co. Oxon, from 1166 to 1830, when the elder line became extinct. Shirley's Noble and Gentle Men. It is rather remarkable that this illustrious and widely-spread name should have preserved itself within the strict limits of patrician life. The London Direct. (1852) shows us only one tradesman so named, while Howards, Nevilles, Mortimers, Percys, Sinclairs, and Pierpointsare superabundant. I have known a Seymour who was a miller; a Pelham who was a rat-catcher; a Gage who was a mendicant; and a Fitz-Gerald who was a strolling player; there are Gipseys who are Stanleys; butchers who are Fortescues; huxters who are Hastingses; tailors who are Montagues; and bakers who are Warrens; but Harcourt, with the solitary exception I have named, seems exclusively to belong to high life.

Local. From the lordship of Hareourt, in Normandy. Sar, from Saxon Sere, an army, and court.

A well-known Norman family, ancestors of the Earls of Harcourt (See Collins), and descended from Bernard the Dane, Regent of Normandy c. 940.

A location name in Normandy.

Harcourt: Enguerand de Harcourt was in the Conquerors army at Hastings. The family was largely rewarded in later times. But the name is not in Domesday. We find a Harcourt among the dependents of Henry I. in 1123.