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

Hernton, 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 Hernton surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Hernton in America

Hernton is the 109258th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Hernton surname appeared 162 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Hernton.

We can also compare 2010 data for Hernton 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 Hernton

The surname Hernton has its origins in England, tracing back to the 13th century. It is believed to be a variant of the place name Hernton, a small village located in Derbyshire. The name Hernton itself is derived from the Old English words "heren" meaning army and "tun" meaning town or settlement, suggesting it was once a military encampment or garrison.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Hernton can be found in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, where a certain John de Hernton is mentioned as a landowner in Derbyshire. This indicates that the name was already well-established in the region by the late 13th century.

During the 14th century, the Hernton family appeared to have gained some prominence in the area. In the Lay Subsidy Rolls of 1332, a Robert de Hernton is listed as a taxpayer in Derbyshire, implying a degree of wealth and standing.

As the centuries progressed, the spelling of the surname evolved, with variations such as Herneton, Hernyngton, and Hernyngeton appearing in various records. This was common during the Middle Ages when spelling conventions were not standardized.

One notable figure bearing the Hernton surname was Sir John Hernton, a knight who fought alongside King Edward III during the Hundred Years' War in the 14th century. He is believed to have participated in several battles, including the Battle of Crécy in 1346.

Another individual of note was Thomas Hernton, a merchant and alderman in the city of London during the 16th century. He was born in 1527 and served as the Lord Mayor of London in 1592, a testament to his success and influential position.

In the 17th century, the Hernton family continued to maintain a presence in various parts of England. William Hernton, born in 1624, was a prominent landowner and Justice of the Peace in Staffordshire. His descendant, John Hernton (1687-1752), was a renowned clergyman and author who wrote several theological works.

The 18th century saw the birth of Samuel Hernton (1728-1801), a celebrated architect who designed several notable buildings in London, including the Old Bailey courthouse and the Church of St. Martin-in-the-Fields.

While the surname Hernton is not among the most common in England today, its rich history spanning multiple centuries is a testament to its enduring legacy and the contributions of those who bore this name throughout the ages.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Hernton

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

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

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

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