Explore the Family Name Herndon
The meaning of Herndon
English: probably a habitational name from a lost or unidentified place.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Herndon in the United States?
Based on data from the Decennial U.S. Census, the popularity of the surname Herndon has slightly decreased in the United States between 2000 and 2010. Ranked as the 1,742nd most popular surname in 2000, it dropped to the 1,871st position by 2010, a change of -7.41%. Despite this drop in rank, the actual count of people with the Herndon surname modestly increased from 18,838 to 19,183, showing an overall growth of 1.83%.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #1,742 | #1,871 | -7.41% |
| Count | 18,838 | 19,183 | 1.83% |
| Proportion per 100k | 6.98 | 6.5 | -6.88% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Herndon
The Decennial U.S. Census also provides insights into the ethnic identity associated with the Herndon surname. In 2000, the majority of individuals identified as White (80%), followed by Black (15.63%), Hispanic (1.68%), individuals of two or more races (1.75%), Asian/Pacific Islander (0.38%) and American Indian/Alaskan Native (0.57%). By 2010, while the majority still identified as White (78.48%) and Black (15.88%), there were noticeable changes in other categories. The proportion identifying as Hispanic and Asian/Pacific Islander saw increases of 32.74% and 31.58% respectively, and those identifying as American Indian/Alaskan Native rose by 36.84%. Those identifying with two or more races also saw an increase, rising to 2.13%.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 80% | 78.48% | -1.9% |
| Black | 15.63% | 15.88% | 1.6% |
| Hispanic | 1.68% | 2.23% | 32.74% |
| Two or More Races | 1.75% | 2.13% | 21.71% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0.57% | 0.78% | 36.84% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0.38% | 0.5% | 31.58% |
Herndon ancestry composition
23andMe computes an ancestry breakdown for each customer. People may have ancestry from just one population or they may have ancestry from several populations. The most commonly-observed ancestry found in people with the surname Herndon is British & Irish, which comprises 59.0% of all ancestry found in people with the surname. The next two most common ancestries are French & German (21.7%) and Scandinavian (3.3%). Additional ancestries include Eastern European, Nigerian, Spanish & Portuguese, Italian, and Indigenous American.
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| ANCESTRY BREAKDOWN | COMPOSITION |
|---|---|
| British & Irish | 59.0% |
| French & German | 21.7% |
| Scandinavian | 3.3% |
| Other | 16.0% |
Possible origins of the surname Herndon
Your DNA provides clues about where your recent ancestors may have lived. Having many distant relatives in the same location suggests that you may all share common ancestry there. Locations with many distant relatives can also be places where people have migrated recently, such as large cities. If a large number of individuals who share your surname have distant relatives in a specific area, it could indicate a connection between your surname and that location, stemming from either recent ancestral ties or migration.
Based on 23andMe data, people with last name Herndon have recent ancestry locations all within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
| RECENT ANCESTRY Location | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Merseyside, United Kingdom | 88.80% |
| Glasgow City, United Kingdom | 88.80% |
| Greater London, United Kingdom | 88.80% |
| West Midlands, United Kingdom | 88.50% |
| Greater Manchester, United Kingdom | 88.50% |
What Herndon haplogroups can tell you
Haplogroups are genetic population groups that share a common ancestor on either your paternal or maternal line. These paternal and maternal haplogroups shed light on your genetic ancestry and help tell the story of your family.
The top paternal haplogroup of people with the surname Herndon is R-M467, which is predominantly found among people with European ancestry. Haplogroup R-M467 is descended from haplogroup R-M343. Other common haplogroups include R-CTS241 and R-P311, which are predominantly found among people with European and European ancestry. Other surnames with similar common haplogroups are: Asbury, Doolittle, Poston, Chaffee, Grigsby, Hathaway, Pinson, Unruh, Berube, Atchley.
The most common maternal haplogroups of people with Herndon surname are: H1, T2b, H. These most commonly trace back to individuals of European ancestry.
Paternal Haplogroup Origins R-M343
Your paternal lineage may be linked to King Louis XVI
The rule of France by men of the House of Bourbon began with King Henri IV in 1589 C.E. and continued until the beheading of his direct paternal descendant King Louis XVI in 1793. Several years ago, researchers analyzed a mummified head and a blood-soaked cloth that they believed might belong to the two kings, and concluded that the royal paternal line belonged to haplogroup G. In a more recent study, however, a different set of researchers tested three living men who are direct descendants of the Bourbon kings. Their efforts revealed that the male lineage of the House of Bourbon is actually a branch of haplogroup R-M405.
Your maternal lineage may be linked to Marie Antoinette
Because it is so dominant in the general European population, haplogroup H also appears quite frequently in the continent's royal houses. Marie Antoinette, an Austrian Hapsburg who married into the French royal family, inherited the haplogroup from her maternal ancestors. So did Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, whose recorded genealogy traces his female line to Bavaria. Scientists also discovered that famed 16th century astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus traced his maternal lineages to haplogroup H.
What do people with the surname Herndon have in common?
Spoiler alert: it's complicated. People with the same last name are usually no more genetically similar than a randomly sampled group of people from the same population. That said, people with the same surname are more likely to have similar ancestries than randomly sampled individuals. The reason is the tendency of people with similar cultural or geographical backgrounds to preferentially mate with one another. That's why people who share a surname may be more likely to share traits and tendencies in common than people within the general population. Check out the percentages below to see the prevalences of tastes, habits, and traits of people with your surname compared with prevalences among 23andMe users.
Preferences
Chocolate Ice Cream
Prefers chocolate flavored ice cream over other flavors.
"Herndon" Surname 43.2%
23andMe Users 41.3%
Traits
Misophonia
When sounds made by others, like the sound of chewing or yawning, provoke strong emotional reactions in an individual.
"Herndon" Surname 33.0%
23andMe Users 27.9%
Habits
Sugary Drink
Drinks one or more sugary drinks per day.
"Herndon" Surname 25.9%
23andMe Users 21.1%
Wellness
Migraine
A severe headache characterized by intense pain, sensitivity to light and sound, and often accompanied by nausea and vomiting.
"Herndon" Surname 24.6%
23andMe Users 16.4%
Are health conditions linked to the last name Herndon?
The short answer is that, if there is an association between surname and health, it's usually more about your ancestry than your name. Individuals with a given surname are no more genetically similar than the general population but often have similar ancestries. The populations of people associated with those shared ancestries often have sets of genetic variations, also known as alleles, in common. Some of those alleles are associated with a greater likelihood of developing certain diseases.
Disease variant frequency by ancestry
Disease allele frequencies in populations associated with the surname Herndon are shown below. Important Note: not everyone with a disease allele will develop these health condition