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

Herd, 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 Herd surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Herd in America

Herd is the 6982nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Herd surname appeared 4,803 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 2 people would have the surname Herd.

We can also compare 2010 data for Herd 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 Herd

The surname Herd has its origins in England, with records dating back to the 12th century. It is derived from the Old English word "hierde," meaning a herdsman or a keeper of animals. The name was initially an occupational surname, given to individuals whose primary occupation was tending to herds of livestock.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Herd can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from 1182, where a person named William Hird is mentioned. It is likely that this spelling variation was a result of the interchangeable use of "i" and "e" in Middle English.

In the Hundred Rolls of 1273, the name appears as "le Herde," further solidifying its occupational origins. This record highlights the transition of the name from an occupational descriptor to a hereditary surname during the medieval period.

The Domesday Book, the comprehensive survey of England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086, does not contain any specific references to the surname Herd. However, it does mention individuals with occupations related to herding, indicating the existence of such professions during the Norman era.

One notable early figure bearing the surname Herd was John Herd, a 14th-century English scholar and theologian. He was born in Yorkshire around 1330 and served as the Chancellor of the University of Cambridge from 1370 to 1375.

In the 15th century, the surname Herd appears in various records, including the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1428, where a Thomas Herd is mentioned. This suggests the name's spread across different regions of England during this period.

Richard Herd, a 16th-century English clergyman and academic, was born in Somersetshire in 1580. He served as the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Oxford from 1634 to 1635 and was known for his contributions to theological studies.

Thomas Herd, a notable 17th-century English antiquarian and topographer, was born in Oxfordshire in 1635. He is best known for his work "Antiquities of Berkshire," a comprehensive account of the history and antiquities of the county.

In the 18th century, the surname Herd gained prominence through the life and works of David Herd, a Scottish writer and compiler of ballads. Born in 1732 in Lochgelly, Fife, he is renowned for his collection "Ancient and Modern Scottish Songs, Heroic Ballads, etc.," published in 1776.

The 19th century saw the rise of William Herd, a Scottish architect who made significant contributions to the development of Glasgow's architecture. Born in 1808 in Stirlingshire, he designed several notable buildings, including the Hutchesons' Hospital and the Glasgow City Chambers.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Herd

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

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 Herd 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 Herd 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 Herd was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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