Harkness (surname)
Harkness is a Scottish surname. Its etymology is probably from the Old English personal name Hereca (a derivative of the various compound names with the first element here army) plus the Old English næss headland, cape
The name comes from hidden origins and is first recorded in Dumfriesshire in the 16th century. James Harkness of Locherben led the rescue in 1684 of a group of Covenanters who were being taken for trial in Edinburgh. For this act his brother was hanged the following year.
Tartans
There are two tartans that are recognized for the Harknesses of Nithsdale clan. One is the traditional red, and the other is the "ancient" blue. Both tartans were created by Harvey Harkness Rulien in 1982.
Family name
People with the surname include:
- Alistair Harkness - an Australian politician
- Anna M. Harkness - an American philanthropist
- Daniel Harkness - an Australian compositor and motion graphics designer
- Douglas Harkness - a Canadian politician
- David (Davy) Harkness aka 'Harko' - Groundsman at Somerset Park, home of Ayr United Football Club, from 1978-Present
- Edward Harkness - an American philanthropist
- Stephen V. Harkness - business associate of John D. Rockefeller
- Charles W. Harkness - namesake of Harkness Tower at Yale University
- Georgia Harkness - an American Christian theologian
- H. W. Harkness – an American mycologist and natural historian
- Jack Charles Harkness - DJ
- Jack Leigh Harkness - an English expert on roses who wrote several books on their care and breeding.
- James Harkness - British judge whose wife and two daughters all had affairs with politician Alan Clark.
- Keith Harkness - Entrepreneur and workaholic
- Kenneth Harkness - manager of the United States Chess Federation.
- Nancy Harkness Love - an American pilot
- Ned Harkness - a college and NHL coach
- Robert Harkness - an English geologist
- Ruth Harkness - American fashion designer and socialite who brought the first giant panda to the western world.
- Professor David Harkness - Prominent Irish Historian specialising in Modern Irish History
Fictional characters with the name:
- Agatha Harkness - a witch in the Marvel Comics universe
- Horace Harkness - a naval officer in the 'Honorverse'
- Captain Harkness - Captain of the torchship Mayflower in Farmer_In_The_Sky, by Robert A. Heinlein
- Captain Jack Harkness, one of the main protagonists in the fictional television series Torchwood and a companion of the television series Doctor Who.
- George "Digger" Harkness aka Captain Boomerang - a supervillain from the DC Comics universe
Other uses
- Anne Harkness - a rose variety introduced by Harkness Roses
- Harkness Tower - a Gothic structure at Yale University
- Harkness table - a style of teaching.
References
- Ancestry.com name meaning
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