1) Occupational term for a dealer in hardware.
This occupational term is on record in different parts of the county from the fifteenth century, no doubt with different shades of meaning: 1442-3 Johannes Roodez, hardewareman, York
1459 Ralph Wilbram, hardewareman, Rotherham
1502 hardwarmen to bring theyr stuffe … into Petergate , York
1580 apprenticeship of one Symon to Katherin Stewte, in the facultye or trade of Ironmonger or Hardwareman, Beverley
1591 Henry Nailor, hardwareman, Halifax
1782 Richard Burdsall, hardwareman and bucklemaker, St Olave’s, York. In Sheffield, it was used particularly of the middlemen who collected wares from the cutlers and promoted their sale in markets over a much wider area. It could be an alternative to ‘chapman’: 1590 anye chapman or hardwareman, Sheffield. Other Sheffield examples include: 1549 John Nodder of Attercliffe … hardwarman
1586 John Longe, Darnall, par. Sheffeild, hardwareman
1655 John Lockwood of Sheffeld hardwareman. It survived as a late by-name or surname in York: 1478 per Willelmum Hardewareman.