NameCensus.

UK surname

Herrett

From the Old French herit, meaning heir or inheritor.

In the 1881 census there were 109 people recorded with the Herrett surname, ranking it #18,793 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 283, ranked #15,359, up from #18,793 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Duffield, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard and Wingfield, North. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Amber Valley.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Herrett is 309 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 159.6%.

1881 census count

109

Ranked #18,793

Modern count

283

2016, ranked #15,359

Peak year

1999

309 bearers

Map years

8

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Herrett had 109 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #18,793 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 283 in 2016, ranked #15,359.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 194 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Herrett surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Herrett surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Herrett 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 75 #20,268
1861 historical 149 #15,373
1881 historical 109 #18,793
1891 historical 194 #15,277
1901 historical 121 #20,444
1911 historical 186 #15,643
1997 modern 289 #13,859
1998 modern 299 #13,908
1999 modern 309 #13,697
2000 modern 283 #14,488
2001 modern 283 #14,247
2002 modern 292 #14,236
2003 modern 284 #14,331
2004 modern 284 #14,377
2005 modern 290 #14,140
2006 modern 282 #14,459
2007 modern 278 #14,773
2008 modern 269 #15,260
2009 modern 273 #15,436
2010 modern 284 #15,312
2011 modern 279 #15,353
2012 modern 275 #15,459
2013 modern 290 #15,107
2014 modern 293 #15,095
2015 modern 285 #15,307
2016 modern 283 #15,359

Geography

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Where Herretts are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Duffield, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard, Wingfield, North, Iver and Farnham. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Amber Valley. 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 Duffield Derbyshire
2 Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard Nottinghamshire
3 Wingfield, North Derbyshire
4 Iver Buckinghamshire
5 Farnham Surrey

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Amber Valley 009 Amber Valley
2 Amber Valley 003 Amber Valley
3 Amber Valley 002 Amber Valley
4 Amber Valley 005 Amber Valley
5 Amber Valley 011 Amber Valley

Forenames

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First names often paired with Herrett

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Herrett

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

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Herrett surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Herrett 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 comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Herrett 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

Herrett is most concentrated in decile 4 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Herrett falls in decile 4 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Herrett is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Herrett

The surname HERRETT is of English origin, tracing its roots back to the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "hare" and "hierde," meaning "hare keeper" or "hare herd." This occupation was likely held by those responsible for tending and managing herds of hares on estates or hunting grounds.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name HERRETT can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Oxfordshire from the year 1230, where a certain William Harret is mentioned. This spelling variation highlights the name's evolution over time.

In the 13th century, the name HERRETT appeared in the Hundred Rolls of Buckinghamshire, an ancient record of landowners and their holdings. This document suggests that individuals bearing this surname were involved in agricultural or land-related activities during that period.

The Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of landholdings commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086, does not contain any direct references to the HERRETT surname. However, it does mention several place names that may have contributed to the surname's development, such as Haredene (Hare Valley) in Gloucestershire and Harewell (Hare Spring) in Wiltshire.

One notable individual with the HERRETT surname was Sir John Herrett (1537-1615), a prominent English politician and landowner who served as a Member of Parliament for Heytesbury in Wiltshire during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.

Another historical figure was Robert Herrett (1575-1654), a wealthy merchant and landowner from Gloucestershire, who was known for his philanthropic endeavors and support of educational initiatives in his local community.

In the 17th century, the HERRETT surname gained prominence with the birth of William Herrett (1623-1693), a renowned English clergyman and author who wrote extensively on theological and philosophical subjects.

The name also has connections to the literary world, with Samuel Herrett (1680-1742), an English poet and playwright whose works were celebrated during the Augustan age of English literature.

Finally, the HERRETT surname gained further recognition in the 19th century with the accomplishments of Thomas Herrett (1801-1875), a renowned architect and civil engineer who was instrumental in the design and construction of several notable buildings and infrastructure projects across England.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Herrett families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Herrett 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 32 Herretts recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.01x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 32 3.01x
Nottinghamshire 22 15.35x
Derbyshire 18 10.81x
Surrey 13 2.51x
Monmouthshire 8 10.41x
Sussex 4 2.23x
Devon 3 1.36x
Wiltshire 2 2.13x
Yorkshire 2 0.19x
Bedfordshire 1 1.82x
Buckinghamshire 1 1.56x
Hampshire 1 0.46x
Lancashire 1 0.08x
Oxfordshire 1 1.52x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Mansfield in Nottinghamshire leads with 22 Herretts recorded in 1881 and an index of 443.55x.

Place Total Index
Mansfield 22 443.55x
Heage 13 1477.27x
Farnham 11 272.95x
Hayes 8 740.74x
Monmouth 8 392.16x
Claylane 5 216.45x
Islington London 5 4.85x
Brighton 4 11.06x
Kensington London 4 6.77x
Shoreditch London 4 8.68x
Cranford 3 1666.67x
Tiverton 3 78.74x
Hammersmith London 2 7.64x
Highworth 2 166.67x
Hillingdon 2 59.00x
Scarborough 2 20.90x
Bedford St Paul 1 26.46x
Brightwell Baldwin 1 1250.00x
Epsom 1 39.68x
Heston 1 28.33x
Lambeth 1 1.08x
Liverpool 1 1.31x
St Marylebone London 1 1.76x
St Pancras London 1 1.17x
Stoke Newington London 1 12.08x
Upton Cum Chalvey 1 39.06x
Ventnor 1 48.31x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Sarah 6
Elizabeth 5
Martha 4
Ann 3
Kate 3
Mary 3
Anne 2
Annie 2
Catherine 2
Eliza 2
Ellen 2
Emily 2
Harriet 2
Sophia 2
Susannah 2
Agusta 1
Emma 1
Esther 1
Florence 1
Hannah 1
Hector 1
Laura 1
Lucy 1
Maria 1
Marianne 1
Marth 1
Rachael 1
Susan 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 13
George 8
Joseph 5
William 5
Henry 4
Thomas 3
Albert 2
Alfred 2
James 2
Richard 2
Enoch 1
Frederick 1
G.E. 1
Gladstone 1
Harry 1
Jesse 1
Richd. 1
Stephen 1

FAQ

Herrett surname: questions and answers

How common was the Herrett surname in 1881?

In 1881, 109 people were recorded with the Herrett surname. That placed it at #18,793 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Herrett surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 283 in 2016. That gives Herrett a modern rank of #15,359.

What does the Herrett surname mean?

From the Old French herit, meaning heir or inheritor.

What does the Herrett map show?

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