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

Hern, 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 Hern surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Hern in America

Hern is the 11079th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Hern surname appeared 2,865 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 Hern.

We can also compare 2010 data for Hern 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 Hern

The surname HERN is of English origin, derived from the Old English words "hern" or "hyrne," which means a "corner" or "nook." The name first emerged in the late 11th century, shortly after the Norman Conquest of England in 1066. It was initially an occupational name given to someone who lived or worked in a secluded or hidden area, perhaps a remote part of a village or town.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname HERN can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of landholdings and properties in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. The name appears in various spellings, including "Herne," "Hyrne," and "Hern," indicating its early variations.

During the Middle Ages, the HERN surname was particularly concentrated in the counties of Oxfordshire and Berkshire, where several notable figures bearing the name emerged. One such individual was Sir John Hern (c. 1340 - 1415), a prominent knight and landowner from Oxfordshire who served as a member of Parliament and fought in the Hundred Years' War.

Another notable figure was William Hern (c. 1500 - 1570), a wealthy merchant and philanthropist from Berkshire. He is remembered for his generous donations to the town of Abingdon, where he funded the construction of a hospital and a free school.

In the 16th century, the HERN surname gained prominence in London, where several members of the family became prominent figures in the city's mercantile and legal circles. One such individual was Robert Hern (c. 1550 - 1628), a successful merchant and alderman who served as the Sheriff of London in 1602.

The HERN surname has also been associated with several place names in England, including Herne Bay in Kent and Herne Hill in London. These locations likely derived their names from the Old English "hyrne" or "hern," referring to their geographic locations at a corner or secluded area.

Other notable figures with the surname HERN include:

1. Thomas Hern (c. 1600 - 1680), an English author and clergyman who wrote several works on theology and philosophy.
2. Samuel Hern (c. 1650 - 1720), a prominent lawyer and judge who served as the Chief Justice of the Court of Common Pleas in England.
3. Jane Hern (c. 1770 - 1840), a pioneering educator and author who established one of the first schools for girls in London.
4. William Hern (c. 1820 - 1890), a British naval officer and explorer who led several expeditions to the Arctic regions.
5. Edward Hern (c. 1860 - 1935), a renowned architect who designed several notable buildings in London, including the Savoy Hotel.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Hern

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

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

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

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