Explore the Family Name Herr
The meaning of Herr
1. German and Jewish (Ashkenazic): from Middle High German herre, German Herr ‘master, lord’, applied as a nickname for someone who gave himself airs and behaved in a lordly manner, or as an occupational name for someone in the service of the lord of the manor. As a Jewish surname it is often artificial. This surname is also found in France (Alsace and Lorraine) and Hungary. 2. Southeast Asian (Hmong): variant of Her 1.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Herr in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the surname Herr slipped in popularity between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, Herr ranked 2,663rd among all surnames in the United States, but by 2010 it had dropped to the 2,990th spot, representing a decline of 12.28%. The number of individuals bearing this surname also declined during this period, with a count of 12,466 in 2000 dropping to 11,980 in 2010, a decrease of 3.9%. The proportion of people with this surname per 100,000 also saw a decrease of 12.12%.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #2,663 | #2,990 | -12.28% |
| Count | 12,466 | 11,980 | -3.9% |
| Proportion per 100k | 4.62 | 4.06 | -12.12% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Herr
When examining the ethnic identity associated with the surname Herr, the Decennial U.S. Census data reveals some shifts over the decade from 2000 to 2010. The majority of individuals identified as white, though this percentage decreased slightly from 91.42% in 2000 to 90.08% in 2010. The percentage of individuals identifying as Hispanic showed noticeable growth, increasing from 1.4% in 2000 to 2.22% in 2010, a change of 58.57%. People identifying as Asian/Pacific Islander and American Indian and Alaskan Native also saw slight increases, while those identifying as black or two or more races decreased.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 91.42% | 90.08% | -1.47% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 5.32% | 5.54% | 4.14% |
| Hispanic | 1.4% | 2.22% | 58.57% |
| Two or More Races | 0.95% | 1.3% | 36.84% |
| Black | 0.72% | 0.65% | -9.72% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0.19% | 0.2% | 5.26% |
Herr 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 Herr is French & German, which comprises 41.3% of all ancestry found in people with the surname. The next two most common ancestries are British & Irish (33.3%) and Eastern European (4.5%). Additional ancestries include Scandinavian, Ashkenazi Jewish, Italian, Spanish & Portuguese, and Chinese.
Ready to learn more about your ancestry? Get the most comprehensive ancestry breakdown on the market by taking our DNA test. Shop 23andMe
| ANCESTRY BREAKDOWN | COMPOSITION |
|---|---|
| French & German | 41.3% |
| British & Irish | 33.3% |
| Eastern European | 4.5% |
| Other | 21.0% |
Possible origins of the surname Herr
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 Herr have recent ancestry locations in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Ireland.
| RECENT ANCESTRY Location | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Greater London, United Kingdom | 75.30% |
| Merseyside, United Kingdom | 75.30% |
| Glasgow City, United Kingdom | 74.90% |
| West Midlands, United Kingdom | 74.60% |
| Greater Manchester, United Kingdom | 74.20% |
What Herr 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 Herr is R-Z209, which is predominantly found among people with European ancestry. Haplogroup R-Z209 is descended from haplogroup R-M343. Other common haplogroups include R-P311 and R-L51, which are predominantly found among people with European and European ancestry. Other surnames with similar common haplogroups are: Benoit, Sides, Burke, Huddleston, Goss, Jauregui, Wenger, Lomax, Cushing, Backus.
The most common maternal haplogroups of people with Herr surname are: H1, T2b, H. These most commonly trace back to individuals of European ancestry.
Paternal Haplogroup Origins R-M343Your 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 Herr 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.
"Herr" Surname 50.5%
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.
"Herr" Surname 27.7%
23andMe Users 27.9%
Habits
Sugary Drink
Drinks one or more sugary drinks per day.
"Herr" Surname 21.9%
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.
"Herr" Surname 18.7%
23andMe Users 16.4%
Are health conditions linked to the last name Herr?
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 Herr are shown below. Important Note: not everyone with a disease allele will develop these health condition