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

Herold, 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 Herold surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Herold in America

Herold is the 6028th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Herold surname appeared 5,705 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 Herold.

We can also compare 2010 data for Herold 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 Herold

The surname Herold is of German origin, derived from the ancient Germanic word "heru" meaning "army" and "waltan" meaning "to rule" or "to lead". It stems from the occupation of a herald, who served as an officer in medieval armies and bore messages, proclamations, and declarations on behalf of nobles and royals.

In the 11th century, the name appeared in various forms such as Herolt, Herald, and Heralde in medieval German records and manuscripts, reflecting its ancient roots. One of the earliest recorded instances was in the Codex Diplomaticus Saxoniae, a collection of charters and documents from Saxony, where a certain Herolt von Braunschweig was mentioned in the year 1147.

During the 12th century, the name gained prominence as the role of heralds became more established in feudal societies. In England, the name was recorded in the Pipe Rolls of 1191, where a William le Heraud is listed.

In the 13th century, the name appeared in connection with the Herold family, a noble lineage from the region of Hesse in central Germany. The family's ancestral seat was located in the town of Heroldstein, which likely influenced the spelling and adoption of the surname.

One notable figure bearing the name was Hans Herold, a German painter and engraver who lived from approximately 1470 to 1551. He is renowned for his intricate woodcut illustrations in various works, including the celebrated Nuremberg Chronicles published in 1493.

Another individual of historical significance was Johann Herold, a German theologian and reformer who lived from 1511 to 1567. He played a crucial role in the Protestant Reformation and served as a professor of theology at the University of Marburg.

In the 16th century, the name was also found in the Netherlands, where Dirk Herold, a prominent Dutch printer and publisher, operated his business in Antwerp between 1530 and 1567.

In the 17th century, Johann Gottfried Herold, a German botanist and physician, made significant contributions to the field of plant taxonomy. He was born in 1644 and published several works, including his influential treatise on the plants of the Netherlands, titled "Horti Academici Lugduno-Batavi Catalogus".

The surname Herold continued to be associated with individuals from various professions and backgrounds throughout the subsequent centuries, reflecting its enduring legacy and historical significance.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Herold

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

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

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

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