harte

Harte is a surname of English and Irish origin. It is commonly a variant of Hart, derived from the Old English hart meaning stag or deer, and was used as a nickname for a vigorous or formidable person, or as a toponymic or occupational element. The spelling Harte may reflect regional pronunciation, and in some cases may represent an Anglicized form of a Gaelic surname. As with many surname spellings, individuals bearing Harte can be found in English-speaking countries and in communities with historical Irish or British immigration.

Notable people with the surname include Bret Harte (1839–1902), an American author and poet renowned for his tales of the American West, such as The Luck of Roaring Camp and The Outcasts of Poker Flat. The name has also appeared in academia and journalism, among others, though Bret Harte remains the best known usage in popular culture.

In German, harte is not a standalone word but an inflected form of the adjective hart meaning "hard" or "tough." It appears in phrases such as harte Arbeit (hard work) when declined after definite articles.

See also Hart, a broader surname and word with related origins, or Hart(e) as applicable in other languages.