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Most textbooks discussing the origin of English surnames theorize that the name Hackett originates in northern France, Malta and has Irish connections. The early history of the name is largely conjecture because of the lack of written evidence. The surname Hacker is derived from the medieval given names Hack or Hake. These English names were derived from the Old Norse name Haki, which is a cognate of the English name Hook. The Gaelic form of the name Hackett is Haicéid.
The story of the surname Hackett in England begins with Norman Conquest of 1066, when the forces of William the Conqueror defeated the native Anglo-Saxons. After his victory, William divided the countryside into estates for his main supporters as a reward for their zeal. While there were no Hacketts amongst these new Lords of the Manor, the surname became chiefly popular in the West Midlands of England upon the success of the invasion.
The Hackett name later migrated to Ireland at the time of the Anglo-Norman invasion in 1170. Members of the Hackett family accompanied Richard "Strongbow" de Clare, 2nd Earl of Pembroke during his invasion of Ireland. The Hacketts were subsequently granted estates in the modern counties of Kilkenny, Carlow and Kildare and thus became the principal holders of land and one of the most influential families in Ireland. As a result, several towns have taken the Hackett name, including Hacketstown, in County Carlow. Further, the Fiants of Henry VIII and Edward VI indicate that in the sixteenth century there were also Hacketstowns, or Ballyhackett, in Counties Dublin and Kildare.
A branch of the Hacketts moved into Connacht, where, in due course, they became hibernicized and, like other Norman families of that province, formed a distinct if small sept which was known as MacHackett, their seat being Castle Hackett, six miles south-east of Tuam. Yet, in modern times, there has been little trace of the name Hackett in Connacht or usage of the name MacHackett in general. The Hackett name is still strong, however, in and around Counties Tipperary and Kilkenny. Several Hacketts and Hakets appear in the lists of sheriffs of Counties Tipperary and Waterford and as members of parliament for Fethard up through the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries.
In the early seventeenth century, members of the Hacketts migrated to the New World, first settling in Canada, Barbados and Virginia. According to the 1990 U.S. Census, there were 17,409 Hacketts in the United States making it the 1,689th most common name in the U.S.
Coat of arms
On the top fourth of the Hackett coat of arms are three shamrocks on a yellow background, and on the lower portion three fish on a red background. On most variants of the crest, a double eagle wearing a tiara pearched on two snakes, while a motto reads "Virtue and Fidelity." Other mottos include "God is my Hope", and "All for now, men! and Fortitudine et prudentia (With fortitude and prudence) the later believed to be from Hacketts originating in the Carlow Kilkenny and Wexford area"
Notable Hacketts
A. J. Hackett, founder of a bungee jumping company in New Zealand
Albert Hackett, dramatist and screenwriter
Bernard Hackett, former English footballer
Bobby Hackett, jazz musician
Bobby Hackett (swimmer), American swimmer
Buddy Hackett (born Hacker), comedian and actor
Chris Hackett (footballer), professional soccer football player for Millwall
Chris Hackett (artist), artist, engineer, and television presenter.
Chris Hackett (Pennsylvania politician), politician.
D. J. Hackett, American football wide receiver for the Carolina Panthers
Daniel Hackett Italian basketball player
David Hackett Fischer, Pulitzer Prize-winning American historian and author
David Hackett Souter, Supreme court justice. Middle name is mother's maiden name.
Des Hackett, Australian naturalist
Father Jack Hackett, fictional Father Ted character
Francis Hackett, author
Gary Hackett, former English footballer
Grant Hackett, Australian swimmer
Horatio Balch Hackett, biblical scholar
James Keteltas Hackett (1869–1926), American actor
James William Hackett, haiku poet
Jeff Hackett, retired NHL goaltender
Joan Hackett, American film actress
John Hackett (musician), flautist
John Hackett (British Army officer), British army officer and author
Sir John Winthrop Hackett, Australian journalist, newspaper proprietor, politician and university chancellor
Keith Hackett, former FIFA, European and English football referee
Ken Hackett, American, president of Catholic Relief Services
Martha Hackett, American television actress
Matt Hackett, National Hockey League goaltender, nephew of Jeff
Matthew Hackett, computer graphics animator
Nelson Hackett, escaped slave
Nicole Hackett, Australian triathlete
Norman H. Hackett, Canadian-born American actor
O. C. Hackett, founding Supervisor, Tuscola Township, Illinois (1868); California gold rush pioneer
Patricia Hackett (1908–1963), Australian lawyer, stage actress and author, daughter of Sir Winthrop Hackett
Paul Hackett (politician), political candidate
Paul Hackett, American football coach
Peter Hackett, frontiersman and resident of Boonesborough, Kentucky, 1779; Kentucky militiaman in the American Revolution
Reg Hackett, English soccer footballer in the 1920s
Richard Hackett, Mayor of Memphis, 1982-1991
Rosalind Hackett, American historian
Simon Hackett, South Australian internet technology entrepreneur
Steve Hackett, guitarist
Steven C. Hackett, economist
Admiral Steven Hackett, a character in the video game franchise Mass Effect: Characters of the Mass Effect universe
Thomas Bernard Hackett, recipient of the Victoria Cross
Tod Hackett, protagonist of the Nathanael West novel The Day of the Locust
William Thomas Gould Hackett, economist
William Hackett (VC) (1873–1916), English recipient of the Victoria Cross
William Hackett (mountaineer), American mountaineer
William Hackett,(London Fire Brigade) Recipient of The Order of St.John Life Saving Medal.
Hacket
John Hacket, bishop of Lichfield
William Hacket or Hackett, claimed to be the Messiah in London on 19 July 1591, executed for treason 12 days later
Hackitt
Judith Hackitt, DBE, British chemical engineer and former Chair of the UK Health and Safety Executive