Find out how popular the first name Hershell has been for the last 21 years (from 1974 to 1994) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Hershell by gender

Based on the last 21 years of data, Hershell is exclusively a male name.

For the most recent data in 1994, there were 5 male babies and 0 female babies born with the name Hershell.

The history of the first name Hershell

The name Hershell is an English variant of the Hebrew name Hirsh, which is derived from the German word "Hirsch" meaning "deer" or "stag". The name Hirsh has been used in Jewish communities across Europe since the Middle Ages, with records dating back to the 13th century.

In the 17th and 18th centuries, as Jewish families began to adopt surnames, some took the name Hirsch or its variations as a surname. The spelling Hershell emerged as a variant of this name, particularly among Ashkenazi Jews who immigrated to English-speaking countries like the United States and Great Britain.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Hershell can be found in the 18th century, with Hershell Hyman, a Jewish merchant who lived in London during the late 1700s. Another notable figure was Hershell Mayer, a prominent rabbi and scholar who lived in Germany in the early 19th century.

In the 20th century, the name gained some popularity due to its association with the Hershey chocolate company, founded by Milton Hershey in 1894. Although Milton Hershey's first name was not Hershell, the company's success and widespread recognition may have contributed to the name's use.

Other notable individuals with the name Hershell include Hershell Curry, an American mathematician and logician born in 1900, who made significant contributions to the field of combinatory logic. Hershell Ezrin, born in 1927, was a Canadian businessman and philanthropist known for his work in the automotive industry.

Hershell Lamberth, born in 1920, was an American football player who played for the Chicago Cardinals in the 1940s. Hershell McGriff, born in 1937, is a former NASCAR driver and one of the oldest active professional athletes in the world, still competing in select races in his 80s.

It's important to note that while the name Hershell has historical roots and variations across different cultures, its modern usage and popularity have been primarily influenced by the English-speaking world, particularly in the United States and Great Britain.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Hershell was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Hershell, please contact us.

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