NameCensus.

UK surname

Herron

An English toponymic surname derived from places meaning "hill frequented by herons" or "heron pond."

In the 1881 census there were 1,082 people recorded with the Herron surname, ranking it #3,670 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,363, ranked #2,773, up from #3,670 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, London parishes and Gateshead. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Northumberland, County Durham and Sunderland.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Herron is 2,447 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 118.4%.

1881 census count

1,082

Ranked #3,670

Modern count

2,363

2016, ranked #2,773

Peak year

2010

2,447 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Herron had 1,082 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,670 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,363 in 2016, ranked #2,773.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,246 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Herron surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Herron surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Herron 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 708 #3,689
1861 historical 576 #4,576
1881 historical 1,082 #3,670
1891 historical 1,028 #4,054
1901 historical 1,246 #3,973
1911 historical 1,058 #4,364
1997 modern 2,208 #2,811
1998 modern 2,298 #2,814
1999 modern 2,314 #2,810
2000 modern 2,277 #2,835
2001 modern 2,246 #2,810
2002 modern 2,298 #2,811
2003 modern 2,250 #2,802
2004 modern 2,298 #2,751
2005 modern 2,299 #2,722
2006 modern 2,270 #2,754
2007 modern 2,286 #2,758
2008 modern 2,295 #2,775
2009 modern 2,376 #2,757
2010 modern 2,447 #2,741
2011 modern 2,406 #2,751
2012 modern 2,314 #2,794
2013 modern 2,377 #2,773
2014 modern 2,393 #2,773
2015 modern 2,369 #2,776
2016 modern 2,363 #2,773

Geography

Back to top

Where Herrons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, London parishes, Gateshead, Woodhorn and Glasgow. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Northumberland, County Durham and Sunderland. 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 Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside Durham
2 London parishes London 3
3 Gateshead Durham
4 Woodhorn Northumberland
5 Glasgow Lanark

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Northumberland 022 Northumberland
2 Northumberland 023 Northumberland
3 County Durham 038 County Durham
4 Sunderland 021 Sunderland
5 Northumberland 024 Northumberland

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Herron

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Herron

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Herron surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Herron household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Herron is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

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

Herron is most concentrated in decile 8 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Herron 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 Herron 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 Herron, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Herron

The surname Herron is believed to have originated in Ireland, tracing its roots back to the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Irish Gaelic word "Oireán," which means "little green." This suggests that the name may have initially referred to someone who lived near a small green or meadow.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Annals of Ulster, a chronicle of medieval Irish history compiled by monks in the 15th century. These annals mention a person named Amhlaibh Oireán, who lived in the late 12th century.

The surname Herron is also closely linked to the region of County Down in Northern Ireland. Historical records indicate that the name was particularly prevalent in the baronies of Iveagh and Kinelearty, which were once part of the ancient kingdom of Ulaidh.

In the 17th century, during the Plantation of Ulster, many Herrons were among the Scottish and English settlers who were granted land in Ireland. This influx of settlers likely contributed to the further spread and establishment of the surname in the region.

One notable figure from history bearing the Herron surname is Francis Herron (1774-1858), an Irish-born naval officer who served in the Royal Navy during the Napoleonic Wars. He achieved the rank of Admiral and was knighted for his distinguished service.

Another prominent individual was Robert Herron (1795-1858), an American lawyer and politician from Pennsylvania. He served as a member of the United States House of Representatives and was appointed as the first Governor of the Washington Territory in 1853.

In the literary world, there was George D. Herron (1862-1925), an American Christian socialist and author who wrote extensively on social and economic issues. He was also a professor of applied Christianity at Grinnell College in Iowa.

The name Herron has also been associated with several notable figures in the field of sports. One example is Michael Herron (born 1979), a former professional ice hockey player from Canada who played in the National Hockey League for teams like the New York Rangers and Philadelphia Flyers.

Finally, it is worth mentioning Francis J. Herron (1837-1902), a Union Army general who fought in the American Civil War. He played a significant role in several major battles, including the Battle of Stones River and the Battle of Chickamauga.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Herron families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Herron 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. Durham leads with 317 Herrons recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.19x.

County Total Index
Durham 317 10.19x
Northumberland 215 13.82x
Yorkshire 88 0.85x
Lancashire 79 0.64x
Ayrshire 58 7.41x
Lanarkshire 49 1.45x
Surrey 39 0.77x
Fife 26 4.20x
Angus 23 2.37x
Perthshire 21 4.47x
Middlesex 20 0.19x
Renfrewshire 15 1.85x
Cheshire 12 0.52x
Cumberland 12 1.33x
Midlothian 10 0.71x
Stirlingshire 10 2.59x
Wigtownshire 9 6.48x
Kirkcudbrightshire 8 5.28x
Leicestershire 8 0.69x
Caernarfonshire 6 1.42x
Dumfriesshire 6 2.60x
West Lothian 6 3.81x
Kent 5 0.14x
Devon 4 0.18x
Nottinghamshire 4 0.28x
Roxburghshire 3 1.58x
Aberdeenshire 2 0.21x
Glamorgan 2 0.11x
Oxfordshire 2 0.31x
Staffordshire 2 0.06x
Channel Islands 1 0.32x
Dunbartonshire 1 0.36x
Essex 1 0.05x
Gloucestershire 1 0.05x
Hampshire 1 0.05x
Herefordshire 1 0.23x
Kinross-shire 1 3.78x
Northamptonshire 1 0.10x
Shropshire 1 0.11x
Suffolk 1 0.08x
Warwickshire 1 0.04x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Cowpen in Northumberland leads with 57 Herrons recorded in 1881 and an index of 159.08x.

Place Total Index
Cowpen 57 159.08x
Gateshead 27 11.59x
Kirkoswald 24 375.59x
Longbenton 23 34.90x
Kyo 21 143.44x
Brandon Byshottles 20 51.32x
Bishopwearmouth 19 7.12x
Bermondsey 18 5.78x
Houghton Le Spring 17 79.03x
Govan 16 1.91x
Dawdon 15 39.21x
Prudhoe 14 129.39x
Barony 13 1.52x
Newcastle On Tyne St 13 16.12x
Shotton 13 169.05x
South Blyth Newsham 12 392.16x
Crook Billy Row 11 27.61x
Dunfermline 11 11.56x
Rattray 11 100.73x
Tanfield 11 29.74x
West Greenock 11 7.56x
Whickham 11 38.42x
Abroath St Vigeans 10 251.26x
Hutton Rudby 10 322.58x
Bedlington 9 17.32x
Castleton 9 7.26x
Chirton 9 25.56x
Chopwell 9 155.71x
East Murton 9 154.64x
Kirkdale 9 4.31x
Manningham 9 7.05x
Monk Hesleden 9 103.81x
Seghill 9 117.96x
Stockley 9 228.43x
Westgate 9 9.34x
Willington 9 50.06x
Wolsingham 9 31.75x
Barrow In Furness 8 4.74x
Chester St Mary On Hill 8 40.40x
Great Bowden 8 75.83x
Habergham Eaves 8 7.05x
Hutton Henry 8 122.14x
Liverpool 8 1.06x
Muirkirk 8 43.53x
Tynemouth 8 9.60x
Byker 7 9.10x
Crieff 7 40.11x
Dreghorn 7 49.40x
Glasgow 7 1.17x
Hedleyhope 7 129.87x
Holy Trinity 7 2.81x
North Bedburn 7 80.55x
North Meols 7 5.76x
Richmond 7 9.80x
Stirling 7 14.39x
West Derby 7 1.93x
Whitworth 7 30.73x
Withington 7 17.51x
Arbroath 6 18.69x
Burradon In Tynemouth 6 151.13x
Carnock 6 158.31x
Esh 6 26.50x
Hipperholme Cum 6 13.18x
Islington London 6 0.59x
Langholm 6 36.14x
Leeds 6 1.03x
Mid Calder 6 98.85x
Middlesbrough 6 4.45x
Uphall 6 34.64x
Anwoth 5 191.57x
Conway 5 61.05x
Folkestone 5 7.22x
Glasserton 5 116.01x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 5 3.71x
Humshaugh 5 294.12x
Lambeth 5 0.55x
Langwith 5 3333.33x
Litherland 5 19.28x
Morpeth Castle 5 602.41x
Stainton 5 166.11x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 82
Elizabeth 52
Jane 35
Ann 27
Margaret 26
Sarah 21
Isabella 20
Annie 9
Ellen 9
Hannah 8
Alice 7
Catherine 6
Emma 6
Agnes 5
Dorothy 5
Eleanor 4
Eliza 4
Maria 4
Rachel 4
Edith 3
Emily 3
Harriet 3
Jessie 3
Louisa 3
Margt. 3
Martha 3
Matilda 3
Anne 2
Elizh. 2
Frances 2
Harriett 2
Henrietta 2
Isabel 2
Lucy 2
Rachael 2
Angelina 1
Daniel 1
Doroty 1
E. 1
Esther 1
Ethel 1
Etty 1
Florance 1
Florence 1
Julia 1
Kate 1
Lebor 1
Lenzer 1
Lilian 1
Williamson 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 74
William 61
Thomas 33
George 32
James 29
Joseph 25
Robert 22
Ralph 12
Edward 10
Richard 7
Arthur 5
Henry 5
Frank 4
Patrick 4
Stephen 4
Wm. 4
David 3
Francis 3
Frederick 3
Isaac 3
Matthew 3
Albert 2
Andrew 2
Christopher 2
Cuthbert 2
Daniel 2
Henery 2
Mark 2
Michael 2
Robt. 2
Alex. 1
Alfred 1
Ambrose 1
Arecea 1
Augustus 1
Benjamin 1
Benturin 1
Dawson 1
Edwd. 1
Eser 1
Fred 1
Geo. 1
Geo.T. 1
Harry 1
Jas.Horsfall 1
Kenneth 1
Luke 1
Michail 1
Peter 1
Reginald 1

FAQ

Herron surname: questions and answers

How common was the Herron surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,082 people were recorded with the Herron surname. That placed it at #3,670 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Herron surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,363 in 2016. That gives Herron a modern rank of #2,773.

What does the Herron surname mean?

An English toponymic surname derived from places meaning "hill frequented by herons" or "heron pond."

What does the Herron map show?

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