UK surname
German topographic name for someone who lived in a wooded area.
In the 1881 census there were 39 people recorded with the Herst surname, ranking it #28,137 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 49, ranked #34,957, down from #28,137 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Almondbury, Preston and Huddersfield. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Herst is 426 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 25.6%.
1881 census count
39
Ranked #28,137
Modern count
49
2016, ranked #34,957
Peak year
1891
426 bearers
Map years
3
1851 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Herst surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Herst surname density by area, 1891 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 | 147 | #13,084 |
| 1861 | historical | 424 | #6,061 |
| 1881 | historical | 39 | #28,137 |
| 1891 | historical | 426 | #8,412 |
| 1901 | historical | 51 | #28,492 |
| 1911 | historical | 60 | #26,808 |
| 1997 | modern | 34 | #34,282 |
| 1998 | modern | 34 | #34,433 |
| 1999 | modern | 30 | #34,939 |
| 2000 | modern | 32 | #34,705 |
| 2001 | modern | 33 | #34,436 |
| 2002 | modern | 37 | #34,390 |
| 2003 | modern | 39 | #34,296 |
| 2004 | modern | 40 | #34,387 |
| 2005 | modern | 35 | #34,982 |
| 2006 | modern | 34 | #35,255 |
| 2007 | modern | 37 | #35,215 |
| 2008 | modern | 38 | #35,262 |
| 2009 | modern | 40 | #35,274 |
| 2010 | modern | 44 | #35,183 |
| 2011 | modern | 47 | #34,989 |
| 2012 | modern | 56 | #34,510 |
| 2013 | modern | 60 | #34,378 |
| 2014 | modern | 60 | #34,400 |
| 2015 | modern | 59 | #34,407 |
| 2016 | modern | 49 | #34,957 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Almondbury, Preston, Huddersfield, Stockport and Prestwich. 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 | Almondbury | Yorkshire, West Riding |
| 2 | Preston | Lancashire |
| 3 | Huddersfield | Yorkshire, West Riding |
| 4 | Stockport | Lancashire |
| 5 | Prestwich | Lancashire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Herst 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 Herst, 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 Herst surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Herst 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, Herst 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 Herst is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Herst, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname HERST originated in England during the late medieval period, likely derived from the Old English word "hyrst," meaning a wooded hill or copse. This name has strong ties to the county of Sussex, particularly in the areas surrounding the settlements of Hurst Green and Hurstpierpoint.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the HERST surname appears in the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex from 1296, where a Thomas de la Hurst is mentioned. This suggests that the name may have initially been used as a locational identifier, referring to someone who lived near a wooded hill or copse.
In the 14th century, the HERST name is found in various Sussex manor records, such as the Court Rolls of the Manor of Brightling in 1332, which mentions a John atte Hurst. This spelling variation, with the preposition "atte" (meaning "at the"), further reinforces the locational origin of the surname.
The Domesday Book, the great survey of England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086, does not explicitly mention the HERST surname. However, it does record numerous place names containing the element "hyrst," indicating the presence of wooded hills or copses in various parts of the country.
Notable individuals bearing the HERST surname throughout history include:
1. Sir John Hurst (c. 1501-1553), an English judge and Lord Chief Justice of the King's Bench during the reign of Edward VI. 2. Henry Hurst (1629-1690), an English clergyman and writer who served as Bishop of Worcester. 3. Richard Hurst (1701-1768), a British merchant and slave trader who was involved in the establishment of the Colony of Georgia. 4. Charles Hurst (1792-1860), an English architect and surveyor known for his work on various churches and public buildings in London. 5. Walter Hurst (1892-1986), an American novelist and short story writer best known for his novel "The Californians."
While the HERST surname has its roots in the English county of Sussex, it has since spread to other parts of the British Isles and beyond, carried by individuals who migrated or were part of various historical migrations and settlements.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Herst 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. Lancashire leads with 8 Hersts recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.77x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Lancashire | 8 | 1.77x |
| Hampshire | 7 | 8.98x |
| Lanarkshire | 6 | 4.88x |
| Middlesex | 6 | 1.58x |
| Yorkshire | 6 | 1.59x |
| Kent | 2 | 1.54x |
| Cornwall | 1 | 2.32x |
| Derbyshire | 1 | 1.68x |
| Devon | 1 | 1.26x |
| Lincolnshire | 1 | 1.64x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Preston in Lancashire leads with 8 Hersts recorded in 1881 and an index of 66.23x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Preston | 8 | 66.23x |
| Barony | 6 | 19.27x |
| Enfield | 6 | 240.00x |
| Southampton St Mary | 6 | 122.45x |
| Lockwood | 3 | 220.59x |
| Lewisham | 2 | 28.90x |
| Northallerton | 2 | 416.67x |
| Antony | 1 | 238.10x |
| Boston | 1 | 54.05x |
| East Stonehouse | 1 | 64.10x |
| Ecclesall Bierlow | 1 | 13.04x |
| Ockbrook | 1 | 400.00x |
| South Stoneham | 1 | 59.17x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Herst 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 Herst surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
FAQ
In 1881, 39 people were recorded with the Herst surname. That placed it at #28,137 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 49 in 2016. That gives Herst a modern rank of #34,957.
German topographic name for someone who lived in a wooded area.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Herst 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.