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 is first recorded along the Cumbrian border (1350). By the 15th century they were firmly established in Nithsdale area of Dumfriesshire. 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.
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.
People with the surname include:
Alistair Harkness - an Australian politician
Anna M. Harkness - an American philanthropist
Charles W. Harkness - heir to Standard Oil fortune and namesake of Harkness Tower at Yale University
Daniel Harkness - an American university professor
Daniel M. Harkness - an American businessman and early Standard Oil investor
Deborah Harkness - Author and historian
Douglas Harkness - a Canadian politician
Edward Harkness - an American philanthropist
Georgia Harkness - an American Christian theologian
H. W. Harkness – an American mycologist and natural historian
James Harkness - mathematician
Kenneth Harkness - manager of the United States Chess Federation
Lamon V. Harkness - an American businessman, heir to Standard Oil fortune and important Standardbred horse breeder
Nancy Harkness Love - an American pilot
Ned Harkness - a college and NHL coach
Rebekah Harkness - founder of the Harkness Ballet
Robert Harkness - an English geologist
Ruth Harkness - American fashion designer and socialite who brought the first giant panda to the western world
Stephen V. Harkness - best friend and business partner of John D. Rockefeller
William L. Harkness - heir to Standard Oil fortune
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
Harkness - Rivet City security officer in the video game Fallout 3
