Find out how popular the last name Herald is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Herald.

Herald, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Herald surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Herald in America

Herald is the 7739th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Herald surname appeared 4,289 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Herald.

We can also compare 2010 data for Herald to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Herald

The surname Herald has its origins in England, with the earliest recorded examples dating back to the 13th century. The name is derived from the Old English word "heran," which means "to hear," and is believed to be an occupational surname originally given to town criers or messengers who would announce important news and proclamations.

One of the earliest known references to the surname Herald can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire, a census-like record compiled in 1273, where a person named William le Heraud is mentioned. This spelling variation, "Heraud," reflects the evolution of the name from its Old English roots.

During the medieval period, the role of a herald was crucial in the court system and in battles. Heralds were responsible for carrying messages, recording events, and organizing tournaments and ceremonies. As such, the name Herald became associated with individuals who held these positions, and it gradually evolved into a hereditary surname.

In the 14th century, the name Herald was recorded in various historical documents, including the Calendarium Genealogicum and the Feet of Fines, which were records of land transactions. One notable bearer of the name was John Herald, a merchant from London who lived in the mid-1300s.

The Herald family later spread to different parts of England, and variations of the name emerged, such as Herald, Herrald, and Herault. One prominent figure bearing this surname was William Herald (c. 1530-1621), an English clergyman and author who served as the Rector of Teddington in Middlesex.

Other notable individuals with the surname Herald include James Herald (1655-1719), an English author and translator, and William Herald (1779-1855), a British naval officer who served during the Napoleonic Wars.

Throughout its history, the surname Herald has been linked to various professions and occupations, including messengers, town criers, heralds in royal courts, and even clergymen, reflecting the diverse roles and responsibilities associated with this name over the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Herald

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Herald.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Herald was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Herald has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

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

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

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