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

Herrera, 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 Herrera surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Herrera in America

Herrera is the 107134th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Herrera surname appeared 166 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 Herrera.

We can also compare 2010 data for Herrera 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 Herrera

The surname Herrera is of Spanish origin and dates back to the 12th century. It originated in the northern regions of Spain, particularly in the provinces of Cantabria, Asturias, and Burgos. The name is believed to be derived from the Spanish word "herrero," which means "blacksmith" or "ironworker," suggesting that the earliest bearers of this surname were involved in metalworking professions.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the Herrera surname can be found in the Becerro de las Behetrías, a medieval census document from the 14th century, which listed individuals with this surname in various parts of northern Spain. The name also appeared in other historical records, such as the Libro de la Montería by King Alfonso XI, written in the 14th century, which mentioned a place called "Herrera de Río Pisuerga" in the province of Palencia.

In the 15th century, the Herrera surname gained prominence with several notable individuals. One of the most famous was Rodrigo de Herrera, a Spanish military leader and diplomat who served under King Ferdinand II of Aragon and Queen Isabella I of Castile during the Reconquista and the early years of Spanish colonization of the Americas. He was born around 1445 and played a crucial role in the conquest of Granada and the establishment of Spanish rule in the Caribbean.

Another prominent figure was Juan de Herrera (1530-1597), a renowned Spanish architect and mathematician. He served as the royal architect to King Philip II and was responsible for designing and overseeing the construction of several iconic buildings, including the Monastery of El Escorial near Madrid, which is considered one of the most important architectural works of the Spanish Renaissance.

In the 16th century, the Herrera surname also gained recognition through the work of Juan de Herrera (c. 1534-1597), a Spanish poet and novelist known for his contributions to the Spanish Golden Age literature. His most famous work was the novel "Historia de los Amores de Marcia y Faustino," published in 1617.

In the realm of art, Francisco de Herrera the Elder (1590-1654) was a prominent Spanish painter and etcher from Seville. He is considered one of the leading figures of the Sevillian school of Baroque painting and is renowned for his religious works and depictions of biblical scenes.

The Herrera surname continues to be widely distributed throughout Spain and Latin American countries, reflecting the legacy of Spanish colonization and immigration. While the name's origins can be traced back to the metalworking professions of medieval Spain, it has since been carried by individuals from diverse backgrounds and fields, making it an enduring part of Spanish cultural heritage.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Herrera

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

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

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

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