The name Herbert is derived from the Germanic elements "heri" meaning army and "beraht" meaning bright. It was originally a compound name meaning "bright army" or "illustrious warrior." The name first arose among the Franks and other Germanic tribes during the Middle Ages.

The earliest recorded example of the name dates back to the 8th century. A Frankish count named Herbert was mentioned in the Royal Frankish Annals in 770 AD. The name grew more popular after the Norman conquest of England in 1066, as it was brought over by Norman nobles who had adopted the name in France.

One of the most famous bearers of the name was Herbert of Vermandois (1057-1115), a French crusader who participated in the First Crusade and became Count of Vermandois. Another notable Herbert was Herbert of Bosham (c.1163-1194), an English scholar and biographer of Thomas Becket.

In the 13th century, Herbert de Burgh (c.1180-1243) was an English nobleman who served as Lord Chancellor and Justiciar of England under King John and Henry III. A century later, Herbert Kyriander (c.1370-1439) was a German astronomer and mathematician who made significant contributions to the study of planetary motion.

During the Renaissance, one of the most influential figures named Herbert was Lord Herbert of Cherbury (1583-1648), an English philosopher, historian, and diplomat. He is considered a founder of the English deist movement and wrote several influential works on religion and philosophy.

Over the centuries, the name Herbert has been borne by many other noteworthy individuals, including the English philosopher and mathematician Herbert Spencer (1820-1903), the American poet and critic Herbert Read (1893-1968), and the British novelist and playwright Herbert Ernest Bates (1905-1974).