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

Herr, 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 Herr surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Herr in America

Herr is the 2990th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Herr surname appeared 11,980 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 4 people would have the surname Herr.

We can also compare 2010 data for Herr 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 Herr

The surname Herr originates from Germany, dating back to the Middle Ages. It is derived from the German word "Herr," which means "lord" or "master." The name was initially used as a title of respect and often referred to men who held positions of authority or owned land.

In the early medieval period, the Herr surname was primarily found in the regions of Bavaria and Saxony, where it was commonly associated with noble families or landowners. Some of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be traced back to the 13th and 14th centuries, appearing in various legal documents and local records.

One notable historical reference to the Herr name can be found in the Nibelungenlied, a famous German epic poem dating back to around 1200 AD. In this epic, the character Hagen von Tronje is referred to as "Herr Hagen," indicating his status as a respected warrior and nobleman.

During the 15th and 16th centuries, the Herr surname began to spread more widely throughout Germany, as families migrated and settled in different regions. It was also during this period that variations of the spelling emerged, such as Herren, Herre, and Herrich.

One notable individual bearing the Herr surname was Hans Herr (1639-1725), a Mennonite leader and one of the first permanent settlers in present-day Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. He and his family were among the early German immigrants to colonial America, seeking religious freedom.

Another prominent figure was Johann Friedrich Herr (1700-1773), a German historian and theologian who served as a professor at the University of Heidelberg. His works included a comprehensive history of the Palatinate region and various theological treatises.

In the 19th century, the Herr surname gained further recognition with individuals like Michael Herr (1840-1917), a German-American businessman and politician who served as the 25th Governor of Indiana from 1893 to 1897.

Additionally, the name was associated with the German philosopher and writer, Hans Herr (1865-1935), who was known for his works on ethics and social philosophy, as well as his contributions to the development of Anthroposophy.

One of the more contemporary figures with the Herr surname was Michael Herr (1940-2016), an American writer and former war correspondent known for his acclaimed book "Dispatches," which chronicled his experiences during the Vietnam War.

Throughout its history, the Herr surname has maintained a strong connection to its German roots, reflecting the linguistic and cultural heritage of its origins. While the name has spread worldwide, it remains a testament to the enduring legacy of medieval German nobility and the enduring impact of language on the formation of surnames.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Herr

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

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

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

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!