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

Hird, 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 Hird surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Hird in America

Hird is the 19654th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Hird surname appeared 1,371 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 Hird.

We can also compare 2010 data for Hird 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 Hird

The surname HIRD originated in England, with records dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "hyrde," meaning a shepherd or herdsman. The name was initially an occupational surname, given to those who worked as shepherds or tended to livestock.

In the Domesday Book, a great survey of England compiled in 1086, there are entries for individuals with the surname HIRD or similar spellings, such as Hird, Hyrde, and Hyrd. These early records suggest that the name was well-established in various parts of England by the 11th century.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname HIRD was John Hird, who was born in Yorkshire, England, around 1280. He was mentioned in several historical documents as a landowner and prominent figure in his community.

Another notable bearer of the HIRD surname was Sir William Hird, a knight who lived in the late 14th century. He was a prominent military leader and served in the English armies during the Hundred Years' War against France.

In the 16th century, the HIRD surname was particularly prevalent in the northern counties of England, such as Yorkshire, Lancashire, and Westmorland. One notable family with this surname hailed from the village of Hird, located in the West Riding of Yorkshire, which likely contributed to the name's regional popularity.

In the 17th century, Richard Hird (1638-1708) was a renowned English clergyman and author. He served as the Rector of Felkirk in Yorkshire and wrote several religious works, including "A Practical Exposition on the Lord's Prayer."

Another notable HIRD was John Hird (1691-1759), a successful merchant and landowner from Yorkshire. He amassed a considerable fortune through his business ventures and was known for his philanthropic efforts, including funding the construction of several churches and schools in his local community.

Throughout the centuries, the HIRD surname has also been associated with various place names, such as Hird Hill in Yorkshire, Hird Moss in Lancashire, and Hird Bank in Westmorland. These place names likely derived from the surname or vice versa, further reinforcing the name's strong regional ties.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Hird

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

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

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

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