NameCensus.

UK surname

Herr

A German occupational surname referring to a man of high social standing, such as a lord or master.

In the 1881 census there were 43 people recorded with the Herr surname, ranking it #27,575 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 119, ranked #27,704, down from #27,575 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Manchester and Portsmouth, Portsea. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Liverpool, Bromley and Knowsley.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Herr is 138 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 176.7%.

1881 census count

43

Ranked #27,575

Modern count

119

2016, ranked #27,704

Peak year

1861

138 bearers

Map years

4

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • • Herr had 43 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #27,575 surname in that year.
  • • The latest modern count shown here is 119 in 2016, ranked #27,704.
  • • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 138 in 1861.
  • • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Map

Back to top

Herr surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Herr surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Herr 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 46 #24,985
1861 historical 138 #16,365
1881 historical 43 #27,575
1891 historical 138 #19,411
1901 historical 92 #23,800
1911 historical 85 #24,322
1997 modern 98 #27,179
1998 modern 94 #28,435
1999 modern 103 #27,305
2000 modern 99 #27,845
2001 modern 91 #28,670
2002 modern 90 #29,314
2003 modern 95 #28,536
2004 modern 96 #28,605
2005 modern 93 #29,133
2006 modern 101 #28,125
2007 modern 101 #28,505
2008 modern 107 #27,844
2009 modern 113 #27,520
2010 modern 109 #28,831
2011 modern 109 #28,653
2012 modern 120 #26,961
2013 modern 130 #26,074
2014 modern 133 #25,851
2015 modern 124 #26,944
2016 modern 119 #27,704

Geography

Back to top

Where Herrs are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Manchester, Portsmouth, Portsea, St Marylebone and Liverpool. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Liverpool, Bromley, Knowsley and Carmunnock South. 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 Manchester Lancashire
3 Portsmouth, Portsea Hampshire
4 St Marylebone London (North Districts)
5 Liverpool Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Liverpool 035 Liverpool
2 Bromley 013 Bromley
3 Knowsley 015 Knowsley
4 Liverpool 050 Liverpool
5 Carmunnock South Glasgow City

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Herr

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

Historical female names

Elizabeth Mary Jane Margaret Agnes Sarah Ann Catherine Ellen Emma

Historical male names

William John James George Joseph Robert Thomas David Edward Richard

Recent female names

Catriona Doreen Pamela Elizabeth Orna Manuela Hilda Genevieve Rajwinder Christine

Recent male names

John James Martin Michael Andreas Andrew Steven Norman Richard Stephen

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Herr

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Herr, 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

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Diverse Educated Urban Singles

Nationally, the Herr surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Herr household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group includes many never-married individuals not living with dependent children. Many were born in EU countries and are now aged between 25-44. This Group is characterised by its ethnic group diversity, although those identifying as Asian are not well represented. Affiliation with the Christian religion amongst residents is low. Reported disability rates are low. Neighbourhoods include some central locations in London and other major cities. Private renting is the norm, and there is some overcrowding. Many individuals are educated to degree level, and full-time employment is common, particularly in managerial and professional occupations.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Herr is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Herr is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Herr falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

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

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Herr is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
Other Ethnic Group

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

Origin

Back to top

Meaning and origin of 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.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Herr families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Herr 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. Middlesex leads with 16 Herrs recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.82x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 16 3.82x
Lancashire 7 1.41x
Cumberland 6 16.63x
Yorkshire 6 1.44x
Cheshire 4 4.32x
Durham 2 1.60x
Leicestershire 1 2.15x
Northamptonshire 1 2.54x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. St Pancras London in Middlesex leads with 7 Herrs recorded in 1881 and an index of 20.75x.

Place Total Index
St Pancras London 7 20.75x
Cleator 5 333.33x
Bradford 4 39.76x
St Marylebone London 3 13.40x
St Paul Covent Garden 3 714.29x
Tranmere 3 88.24x
West Derby 3 20.62x
Bowling 2 48.66x
Crook Billy Row 2 125.00x
Liverpool 2 6.62x
Everton 1 6.31x
Hesket In Forest 1 357.14x
Kensington London 1 4.29x
Leicester St Martin 1 322.58x
Paddington London 1 6.49x
Peterborough 1 35.09x
Poulton Cum Seacombe 1 94.34x
St Andrew Holborn London 1 55.25x
Toxteth Park 1 5.94x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Ellen 3
Bridget 2
Elizabeth 2
Sarah 2
Amelia 1
Bettsy 1
Catherine 1
Charlotte 1
Emma 1
Etty 1
Helena 1
Isabella 1
Mabel 1
Margaret 1
Margaretta 1
Maria 1
Mary 1
Matilda 1
Zadie 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Adolphus 2
George 2
Joseph 2
Robert 2
Charles 1
Frank 1
Fridolin 1
Geo. 1
James 1
John 1
Leo 1
Oscar 1
Richard 1
William 1

FAQ

Herr surname: questions and answers

How common was the Herr surname in 1881?

In 1881, 43 people were recorded with the Herr surname. That placed it at #27,575 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Herr surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 119 in 2016. That gives Herr a modern rank of #27,704.

What does the Herr surname mean?

A German occupational surname referring to a man of high social standing, such as a lord or master.

What does the Herr map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Herr 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.