NameCensus.

UK surname

Herd

An occupational surname referring to a keeper or herder of animals, particularly cattle or sheep.

In the 1881 census there were 2,195 people recorded with the Herd surname, ranking it #2,023 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,742, ranked #2,449, down from #2,023 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Edinburgh and Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cullen, Portknockie, Findochty, Drybridge and Berryhillock, Leven West and Cardenden.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Herd is 2,772 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 24.9%.

1881 census count

2,195

Ranked #2,023

Modern count

2,742

2016, ranked #2,449

Peak year

2014

2,772 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Herd had 2,195 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,023 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,742 in 2016, ranked #2,449.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,737 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Herd surname distribution map

The map shows where the Herd surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Herd surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Herd over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 1,458 #1,970
1861 historical 1,655 #1,731
1881 historical 2,195 #2,023
1891 historical 2,462 #1,919
1901 historical 2,737 #2,027
1911 historical 1,123 #4,140
1997 modern 2,633 #2,419
1998 modern 2,729 #2,426
1999 modern 2,728 #2,446
2000 modern 2,735 #2,428
2001 modern 2,642 #2,455
2002 modern 2,683 #2,467
2003 modern 2,603 #2,480
2004 modern 2,616 #2,477
2005 modern 2,630 #2,440
2006 modern 2,603 #2,461
2007 modern 2,624 #2,461
2008 modern 2,637 #2,464
2009 modern 2,659 #2,503
2010 modern 2,721 #2,508
2011 modern 2,687 #2,500
2012 modern 2,721 #2,441
2013 modern 2,768 #2,448
2014 modern 2,772 #2,463
2015 modern 2,747 #2,461
2016 modern 2,742 #2,449

Geography

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Where Herds are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Edinburgh, Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry, Glasgow and St. Andrews and St Leonards. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cullen, Portknockie, Findochty, Drybridge and Berryhillock, Leven West, Cardenden, Leven East and South Holland. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 London parishes London 3
2 Edinburgh Edinburgh
3 Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry Forfar
4 Glasgow Lanark
5 St. Andrews and St Leonards Fife

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cullen, Portknockie, Findochty, Drybridge and Berryhillock Moray
2 Leven West Fife
3 Cardenden Fife
4 Leven East Fife
5 South Holland 007 South Holland

Forenames

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First names often paired with Herd

These lists show first names that appear often with the Herd surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Herd

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Herd, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Ageing Communities

Nationally, the Herd surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Herd household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Herd is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Herd is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Herd falls in decile 10 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Herd is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Herd, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Herd

The surname Herd has its origins in England, with records dating back to the 12th century. It is derived from the Old English word "hierde," meaning a herdsman or a keeper of animals. The name was initially an occupational surname, given to individuals whose primary occupation was tending to herds of livestock.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Herd can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from 1182, where a person named William Hird is mentioned. It is likely that this spelling variation was a result of the interchangeable use of "i" and "e" in Middle English.

In the Hundred Rolls of 1273, the name appears as "le Herde," further solidifying its occupational origins. This record highlights the transition of the name from an occupational descriptor to a hereditary surname during the medieval period.

The Domesday Book, the comprehensive survey of England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086, does not contain any specific references to the surname Herd. However, it does mention individuals with occupations related to herding, indicating the existence of such professions during the Norman era.

One notable early figure bearing the surname Herd was John Herd, a 14th-century English scholar and theologian. He was born in Yorkshire around 1330 and served as the Chancellor of the University of Cambridge from 1370 to 1375.

In the 15th century, the surname Herd appears in various records, including the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1428, where a Thomas Herd is mentioned. This suggests the name's spread across different regions of England during this period.

Richard Herd, a 16th-century English clergyman and academic, was born in Somersetshire in 1580. He served as the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Oxford from 1634 to 1635 and was known for his contributions to theological studies.

Thomas Herd, a notable 17th-century English antiquarian and topographer, was born in Oxfordshire in 1635. He is best known for his work "Antiquities of Berkshire," a comprehensive account of the history and antiquities of the county.

In the 18th century, the surname Herd gained prominence through the life and works of David Herd, a Scottish writer and compiler of ballads. Born in 1732 in Lochgelly, Fife, he is renowned for his collection "Ancient and Modern Scottish Songs, Heroic Ballads, etc.," published in 1776.

The 19th century saw the rise of William Herd, a Scottish architect who made significant contributions to the development of Glasgow's architecture. Born in 1808 in Stirlingshire, he designed several notable buildings, including the Hutchesons' Hospital and the Glasgow City Chambers.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Herd families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Herd surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Fife leads with 490 Herds recorded in 1881 and an index of 38.59x.

County Total Index
Fife 490 38.59x
Lancashire 210 0.83x
Surrey 126 1.21x
Aberdeenshire 119 5.99x
Midlothian 112 3.90x
Lanarkshire 105 1.51x
Angus 88 4.43x
Devon 87 1.95x
Perthshire 85 8.83x
Renfrewshire 84 5.05x
Middlesex 83 0.39x
Yorkshire 81 0.38x
Banffshire 68 15.28x
Cheshire 49 1.03x
Lincolnshire 46 1.34x
Cumberland 40 2.17x
Westmorland 39 8.27x
Kent 25 0.34x
Stirlingshire 25 3.16x
Durham 22 0.34x
Kincardineshire 21 8.04x
Cornwall 19 0.78x
Northumberland 16 0.50x
Kinross-shire 12 22.13x
Sussex 11 0.30x
Dunbartonshire 10 1.73x
Royal Navy 9 3.52x
Berkshire 8 0.50x
Norfolk 8 0.24x
Glamorgan 7 0.19x
Monmouthshire 7 0.45x
Northamptonshire 7 0.35x
Somerset 7 0.20x
Staffordshire 7 0.10x
Warwickshire 7 0.13x
Essex 6 0.14x
Hampshire 6 0.14x
Morayshire 6 1.80x
Selkirkshire 6 3.09x
Sutherland 6 3.64x
Gloucestershire 5 0.12x
Clackmannanshire 4 2.26x
Anglesey 2 0.53x
Buckinghamshire 2 0.15x
Dorset 2 0.14x
Nottinghamshire 2 0.07x
Argyllshire 1 0.17x
Ayrshire 1 0.06x
Caernarfonshire 1 0.12x
Channel Islands 1 0.16x
Dumfriesshire 1 0.21x
Flintshire 1 0.17x
Hertfordshire 1 0.07x
Nairnshire 1 1.53x
Oxfordshire 1 0.08x
Pembrokeshire 1 0.15x
Roxburghshire 1 0.26x
Wiltshire 1 0.05x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Dysart in Fife leads with 63 Herds recorded in 1881 and an index of 73.68x.

Place Total Index
Dysart 63 73.68x
Rathven 57 68.20x
Kirkcaldy 54 85.74x
Abbey 48 18.92x
St Andrews 45 77.88x
Wemyss 41 76.31x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 40 3.46x
Strathmiglo 37 243.74x
Barony 36 2.05x
Bermondsey 36 5.64x
Dundee 32 4.31x
Markinch 31 71.91x
Auchterderran 29 90.82x
Govan 27 1.57x
Beath 26 64.79x
Aberdeen Old Machar 25 6.03x
Old Deer 24 63.75x
Blackburn 23 3.40x
Denny 23 54.66x
Newington 21 2.65x
Abbotshall 20 42.15x
Glasgow 20 1.62x
Sedbergh 19 242.66x
Lambeth 18 0.96x
Perth East Church 18 19.83x
Birkenhead 17 4.50x
Egham 17 26.49x
Panbride 17 164.25x
Chorlton On Medlock 16 3.96x
Dunfermline 16 8.19x
Manchester 16 1.40x
Kilconquhar 15 99.27x
Kinnoull 15 59.27x
West Greenock 15 5.03x
Accrington 14 6.05x
Leuchars 14 87.17x
Kenton 13 92.33x
Aberdeen St Nicholas 12 3.23x
Edinburgh St Georges 12 20.12x
North Leith 12 9.02x
Portmoak 12 155.64x
Chorlton Cum Hardy 11 65.17x
Islington London 11 0.53x
Kinglassie 11 113.75x
Leslie 11 34.21x
Liff Benvie 11 3.65x
Oldham 11 1.34x
Tormoham 11 5.82x
Westminster St John 11 4.21x
Balmerino 10 204.92x
Elton 10 11.37x
Hulme 10 1.88x
Paisley High Church 10 7.56x
St Vigeans 10 9.32x
Ardwick 9 3.92x
Askham 9 238.73x
Auchtermuchty 9 52.76x
Blairgowrie 9 23.63x
Brighton 9 1.23x
Dalgety 9 92.78x
Kensington London 9 0.75x
Longbenton 9 6.66x
Peterhead 9 8.57x
Southwark St John 9 13.72x
Sutterton 9 131.77x
West Derby 9 1.21x
Cambusnethan 8 5.19x
Edinburgh Greenside 8 21.07x
Egremont 8 18.17x
Fowlis Wester 8 97.44x
Holme 8 139.86x
Oxton 8 29.87x
Preston 8 1.17x
Shoreditch London 8 0.86x
Southwark St George Martyr 8 1.85x
St Cuthbert W O 8 8.89x
Barrow In Furness 7 2.02x
Ravenstonedale 7 106.54x
Trelleck 7 108.53x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Herd surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Mary 72
Elizabeth 48
Sarah 29
Ann 23
Jane 18
Margaret 18
Ellen 17
Annie 13
Emma 12
Hannah 9
Agnes 8
Alice 8
Emily 8
Clara 7
Eliza 7
Amelia 6
Catherine 6
Lucy 6
Martha 6
Caroline 5
Edith 5
Florence 5
Frances 5
Isabella 5
Fanny 4
Harriet 4
Susannah 4
Ada 3
Anna 3
Helen 3
Jessie 3
Kate 3
Louisa 3
Angelina 2
Charlotte 2
E. 2
Elizth. 2
Esther 2
Ethel 2
Harriett 2
Henrietta 2
Janet 2
Julia 2
Laura 2
Maggie 2
Margt. 2
Maria 2
Rebecca 2
Sara 2
Susan 2

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Herd surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
John 65
William 59
James 44
George 28
Thomas 26
Charles 25
Joseph 19
Robert 19
Richard 17
Henry 16
Alfred 13
David 9
Walter 8
Edward 7
Daniel 6
Albert 5
Frank 5
Frederick 5
Isaac 5
Peter 5
Samuel 5
Wm. 5
Alexander 4
Harry 4
Arthur 3
Benjamin 3
Edmund 3
Edwin 3
Francis 3
Thos. 3
Chas. 2
Christopher 2
Geo. 2
Robt. 2
Stephen 2
Willm. 2
Alex 1
Alma 1
Bernerd 1
Bertram 1
C.W. 1
Cecil 1
Elijah 1
Ernest 1
Esua 1
Jackson 1
Jeremiah 1
Jonah 1
Jonas 1
Zacharia 1

FAQ

Herd surname: questions and answers

How common was the Herd surname in 1881?

In 1881, 2,195 people were recorded with the Herd surname. That placed it at #2,023 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Herd surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,742 in 2016. That gives Herd a modern rank of #2,449.

What does the Herd surname mean?

An occupational surname referring to a keeper or herder of animals, particularly cattle or sheep.

What does the Herd map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Herd bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.