'hardworker' originates from the combination of 'hard' and 'worker', where 'hard' meant 'with great effort' and 'worker' referred to 'a person who works'.

'hardworker' evolved from the Old English 'heard' meaning 'firm, solid' and 'weorc' meaning 'work'.

Initially, it meant 'a person who works with great effort', and this meaning has largely remained the same in modern usage.