Explore the Family Name Herring
The meaning of Herring
1. English (London), Dutch, and German: metonymic occupational name for a herring fisher or for a seller of the fish, or perhaps for someone who habitually ate herring, from Middle English hering (Old English hǣring, hēring), Dutch haring, Middle High German hærinc. In some cases it may have been a nickname in the sense of a trifle, something of little value, a meaning which is found in medieval phrases and proverbial expressions such as ‘to like neither herring nor barrel’, i.e. not to like something at all. 2. German: habitational name from Herringen in Westphalia. 3. German and Jewish (Ashkenazic): variant of Hering.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Herring in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census, the surname "Herring" saw a slight decrease in popularity between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, it was ranked 841st in the United States, yet fell to the 894th spot by 2010, marking a 6.3% drop. However, despite this ranking decline, the actual count of individuals with the Herring surname increased from 37,353 in 2000 to 38,733 in 2010, indicating a growth of 3.69%. The proportion per 100k also decreased from 13.85 to 13.13 during the same period.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #841 | #894 | -6.3% |
| Count | 37,353 | 38,733 | 3.69% |
| Proportion per 100k | 13.85 | 13.13 | -5.2% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Herring
When it comes to the ethnic identity associated with the Herring surname, the Decennial U.S. Census data reveals several shifts between 2000 and 2010. While the majority remained White (72.71% in 2010, down from 74.74% in 2000), there were notable increases in those identifying as Two or more races (a rise of 53.19%), Hispanic (up by 47.33%), and Asian/Pacific Islander (a 5.13% increase). The percentage of Black individuals with this surname also rose slightly from 21.57% to 22.05%. People identifying as American Indian and Alaskan Native remained relatively constant, with a minor increase of 15.38%.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 74.74% | 72.71% | -2.72% |
| Black | 21.57% | 22.05% | 2.23% |
| Hispanic | 1.5% | 2.21% | 47.33% |
| Two or More Races | 1.41% | 2.16% | 53.19% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0.39% | 0.45% | 15.38% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0.39% | 0.41% | 5.13% |
Herring 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 Herring is British & Irish, which comprises 56.9% of all ancestry found in people with the surname. The next two most common ancestries are French & German (21.3%) and Scandinavian (3.1%). Additional ancestries include Eastern European, Nigerian, Ashkenazi Jewish, Italian, and Spanish & Portuguese.
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| ANCESTRY BREAKDOWN | COMPOSITION |
|---|---|
| British & Irish | 56.9% |
| French & German | 21.3% |
| Scandinavian | 3.1% |
| Other | 18.7% |
Possible origins of the surname Herring
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 Herring have recent ancestry locations in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Ireland.
| RECENT ANCESTRY Location | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Greater Manchester, United Kingdom | 86.50% |
| Greater London, United Kingdom | 86.50% |
| Glasgow City, United Kingdom | 86.40% |
| West Midlands, United Kingdom | 86.20% |
| Merseyside, United Kingdom | 86.00% |
What Herring 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 Herring is R-Z2186, which is predominantly found among people with European ancestry. Haplogroup R-Z2186 is descended from haplogroup R-M343. Other common haplogroups include R-S675 and R-L21, which are predominantly found among people with European and European ancestry. Other surnames with similar common haplogroups are: Donaldson, Herron, Chambers, Duncan, Wyatt, Patterson, Mcbride, Ireland, Currie, Taylor.
The most common maternal haplogroups of people with Herring 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 Herring 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.
"Herring" Surname 44.4%
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.
"Herring" Surname 27.4%
23andMe Users 27.9%
Habits
Sugary Drink
Drinks one or more sugary drinks per day.
"Herring" Surname 21.3%
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.
"Herring" Surname 20.6%
23andMe Users 16.4%
Are health conditions linked to the last name Herring?
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 Herring are shown below. Important Note: not everyone with a disease allele will develop these health condition