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

Herrick, 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 Herrick surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Herrick in America

Herrick is the 2940th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Herrick surname appeared 12,202 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 Herrick.

We can also compare 2010 data for Herrick 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 Herrick

The surname Herrick has its origins in England, stemming from the Anglo-Saxon era. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "heric," which means "army" or "warrior." The name likely referred to someone who was a skilled fighter or soldier.

Variations of the spelling include Herrick, Herick, Heyrick, and Hayrick. These different spellings can be found in historical records throughout various regions of England, particularly in the counties of Leicestershire, Gloucestershire, and Devon.

One of the earliest known references to the Herrick name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of landowners and properties commissioned by William the Conqueror. The name appears as "Heric" in this historical document.

During the 13th century, the name Herrick was associated with several notable individuals. For instance, Robert Herrick (c. 1215-1289) was a prominent landowner and knight from Leicestershire. Another early bearer of the name was William Herrick (c. 1250-1315), who was a member of the gentry in Gloucestershire.

The 16th and 17th centuries saw the rise of several influential figures with the Herrick surname. Robert Herrick (1591-1674) was a renowned English lyric poet and cleric who is best known for his collection of poems titled "Hesperides." His works celebrated love, religion, and pastoral themes.

Another notable individual was Sir William Herrick (1557-1653), who was a prominent Member of Parliament and served as a diplomat during the reign of King James I. He played a significant role in negotiating treaties and maintaining diplomatic relations with various European countries.

In the 18th century, Ebeneezer Herrick (1705-1781) was a respected minister and educator who served as the first president of the University of New Hampshire. He was instrumental in the establishment and development of the institution.

During the 19th century, James Herrick (1794-1873) was a celebrated American poet and author who wrote extensively about nature and rural life. His works, such as "The Hermit of the Nonantum Hills," showcased his talent for descriptive and introspective poetry.

Throughout history, the Herrick surname has been associated with various locations and place names. For example, the village of Herrick in Leicestershire, England, is believed to have derived its name from the surname itself.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Herrick

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

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

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

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