Surname Herring - Meaning and Origin
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Herring: What does the surname Herring mean?
The last name Herring is of Anglo-Saxon origin and is an occupational surname given to those who worked as herring fishermen or herring sellers in Medieval England. It is derived from the old English term "heorring," which means herring, a type of fish popularly consumed at the time. It might have been used to identify someone who lived near a herring fishery or someone who bore a fancied resemblance to a herring, possibly indicating a slender build. Over centuries and during the course of several migratory waves, the name spread to other regions, and it can be found in various forms across the globe. Like many surnames from this era, variations including Hering, Herren, and Herrin have been recorded.
Order DNA origin analysisHerring: Where does the name Herring come from?
The surname Herring originated from the medieval English and Scottish given name, "Hering", which itself derives from the Old Norse "Hjǫrúngr". The name came from the Germanic term for warrior, “heri” combined with “ing”, meaning son of or descendant. "Hering" was brought to Britain by Viking settlers and became popular during the Middle Ages, eventually evolving into the surname "Herring".
Another possible origin of the Herring surname is occupational, relating to the herring fish trade. This trade was prominent in coastal areas, particularly in Scotland and East Anglia in England. Individuals who worked in this trade might have been nicknamed "Herring" which eventually became a surname.
Today, the Herring surname is common in the United States, Canada, and England. The English county of Norfolk and the Scottish counties of Fife and Caithness have many individuals with this surname. Interestingly, Fife and Caithness are coastal areas, reinforcing the occupational origin theory linked to herring fishing. It is less common in its presumed places of origin, like Norway and other Scandinavian countries.
Variations of the surname Herring
The surname Herring is believed to have multiple origins, both topographical and occupational. Some alternative spellings and variants of Herring can include Herin, Harring, Herrung, Herong, Herringer, and Horing.
The name could be derived from Old English ‘heorring,’ i.e. ‘herring,’ indicating a person who caught or sold herring for a living. It might also have been a name given to people who lived near a herring fishery. Another possibility is that it comes from a place name, such as Harrow, which means ‘heathen temple’ in Old English.
Anglicised forms of foreign equivalents like the German 'Hering' or the Dutch 'Haring' also exist.
In addition, phonetic shifts and transformation led to even more derivations, especially in regions where English was not the first language. For example, in Cornwall, 'Herring' might appear as 'Heryng' and 'Herion'.
Variations on Herring can be found as early as the 12th century, and today it continues to be a fairly common surname in English-speaking countries.
Surname origins can be complex, influenced by linguistic shifts, geography, occupation, and more. Any comprehensive list would cross-reference historical records, linguistics, and cultural influences.
Famous people with the name Herring
- David Herring: English professional cricketer
- Luke Herring: American professional soccer player
- Thor Herring: Danish professional football player
- Scott Herring: American professional golfer
- Arthur Herring: English professional footballer
- Kelvin Herring: American professional basketball player
- Nick Herring: Australian professional basketball player
- Ella Herring: British professional softball player
- Ian Herring: American professional sculler
- Eric Herring: English professional cyclist
- Matt Herring: American professional skateboarder
- Craig Herring: English professional golfer
- Marcus Herring: American professional ice hockey player
- Frank Herring: British professional swimmer
- William Herring: English professional rugby player
- Paul Herring: American professional runner
- Thomas Herring: American professional race car driver
- Henry Herring: South African professional cricket player
- John Herring: Australian professional footballer
- Jody Herring: American professional mixed martial artist