UK surname
A locational surname originating from a place name, possibly referring to a shaw or small wood inhabited by herring.
In the 1881 census there were 81 people recorded with the Herringshaw surname, ranking it #22,082 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 84, ranked #32,726, down from #22,082 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Scothern, London parishes and Birstall. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Herringshaw is 152 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 3.7%.
1881 census count
81
Ranked #22,082
Modern count
84
2016, ranked #32,726
Peak year
1911
152 bearers
Map years
3
1891 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Herringshaw surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Herringshaw surname density by area, 1911 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 49 | #24,448 |
| 1861 | historical | 58 | #26,585 |
| 1881 | historical | 81 | #22,082 |
| 1891 | historical | 133 | #19,870 |
| 1901 | historical | 148 | #18,212 |
| 1911 | historical | 152 | #17,712 |
| 1997 | modern | 89 | #28,490 |
| 1998 | modern | 95 | #28,303 |
| 1999 | modern | 95 | #28,465 |
| 2000 | modern | 93 | #28,701 |
| 2001 | modern | 92 | #28,528 |
| 2002 | modern | 83 | #30,070 |
| 2003 | modern | 78 | #30,654 |
| 2004 | modern | 84 | #30,244 |
| 2005 | modern | 80 | #30,842 |
| 2006 | modern | 75 | #31,733 |
| 2007 | modern | 78 | #31,748 |
| 2008 | modern | 83 | #31,483 |
| 2009 | modern | 84 | #31,842 |
| 2010 | modern | 85 | #32,185 |
| 2011 | modern | 81 | #32,558 |
| 2012 | modern | 85 | #32,395 |
| 2013 | modern | 89 | #32,248 |
| 2014 | modern | 94 | #31,909 |
| 2015 | modern | 90 | #32,245 |
| 2016 | modern | 84 | #32,726 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Scothern, London parishes, Birstall, Bracebridge and Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Scothern | Lincolnshire |
| 2 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 3 | Birstall | Yorkshire, West Riding |
| 4 | Bracebridge | Lincolnshire |
| 5 | Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars | Leicestershire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Herringshaw surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Herringshaw, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Herringshaw surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Herringshaw household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Herringshaw is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Herringshaw is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Herringshaw, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Herringshaw is believed to have originated in England during the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Old English words "hering" meaning herring and "sceaga" meaning small wood or thicket, suggesting it was likely an occupational surname referring to someone who lived or worked near a wooded area where herring were processed or smoked.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1279, where it appears as "Hernyngshawe." This spelling variation indicates the name's evolution over time.
In the 14th century, the Herringshaw family is believed to have been based in the county of Yorkshire, with records showing individuals bearing the name living in the village of Herringshaw, near the town of Knaresborough. This place name likely contributed to the surname's establishment.
During the Tudor period, a notable figure was Sir John Herringshaw (c. 1485-1554), a wealthy merchant and landowner from Lincolnshire. He was knighted by King Henry VIII in 1544 for his services to the Crown.
Another prominent individual was William Herringshaw (1693-1768), a renowned clockmaker from London whose timepieces were highly sought after by the aristocracy.
In the 18th century, the Herringshaw surname spread to Scotland, with records showing families residing in the counties of Aberdeenshire and Fife.
One of the earliest known Scottish bearers of the name was Robert Herringshaw (1726-1803), a successful merchant and shipbuilder from Aberdeen.
As the British Empire expanded, the Herringshaw name traveled across the globe, with descendants settling in various colonies and countries, including Canada, Australia, and the United States.
A notable American figure was John Herringshaw (1849-1922), a renowned publisher and author from Illinois, best known for his comprehensive biographical dictionary, "Herringshaw's Encyclopedia of American Biography."
Throughout its history, the Herringshaw surname has been associated with various occupations, from tradesmen and merchants to scholars and entrepreneurs, reflecting the diverse backgrounds and achievements of those who have borne this distinctive name.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Herringshaw surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Lincolnshire leads with 24 Herringshaws recorded in 1881 and an index of 19.00x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Lincolnshire | 24 | 19.00x |
| Yorkshire | 10 | 1.28x |
| Leicestershire | 8 | 9.13x |
| Warwickshire | 8 | 4.02x |
| Derbyshire | 7 | 5.66x |
| Cheshire | 6 | 3.44x |
| Durham | 5 | 2.13x |
| Northamptonshire | 5 | 6.73x |
| Middlesex | 4 | 0.51x |
| Bedfordshire | 3 | 7.34x |
| Lancashire | 1 | 0.11x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Great Grimsby in Lincolnshire leads with 7 Herringshaws recorded in 1881 and an index of 87.28x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Great Grimsby | 7 | 87.28x |
| Leamington | 7 | 530.30x |
| Scothern | 7 | 5384.62x |
| Leicester Newarke | 6 | 1304.35x |
| Macclesfield | 6 | 77.42x |
| Hathersage | 5 | 1428.57x |
| Hedworth Monkton Jarrow | 5 | 49.12x |
| Leeds | 5 | 11.31x |
| Scaldwell | 5 | 5555.56x |
| Wakefield | 5 | 83.19x |
| Nettleham | 4 | 1538.46x |
| Dunstable | 3 | 238.10x |
| Bethnal Green London | 2 | 5.83x |
| Ilkeston | 2 | 57.64x |
| Leicester St Mary | 2 | 28.25x |
| Morton In Gainsborough | 2 | 800.00x |
| Sutterton | 2 | 800.00x |
| Acton | 1 | 21.60x |
| Atherstone | 1 | 98.04x |
| Hackney London | 1 | 2.26x |
| St Martin Lincoln | 1 | 85.47x |
| Stickney | 1 | 526.32x |
| Withington | 1 | 33.11x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Herringshaw surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Herringshaw surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
FAQ
In 1881, 81 people were recorded with the Herringshaw surname. That placed it at #22,082 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 84 in 2016. That gives Herringshaw a modern rank of #32,726.
A locational surname originating from a place name, possibly referring to a shaw or small wood inhabited by herring.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Herringshaw bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.