Surname Hird - Meaning and Origin
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Hird: What does the surname Hird mean?
The surname Hird is of English origin, and is likely to have come from a place name derived from the Old English word “hyrd”, which means a guard or watchman. It is likely that the people who adopted the surname Hird were associated with a particular area, or were employed as a guard or watchman in that region, as the name would have developed from a person’s occupation.
The geographic origin of the name is believed to lie in Lancashire, where the name is most common in the present day. Early records of the Hird family name can be found in Lancashire and Yorkshire. In the mid-eighteenth century records, the name could be found in Yorkshire with the name of Hirde, meaning a nickname for any watchman or guard.
The name Hird has since spread throughout the world, with many immigrants from England using the name in the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
In modern society, the surname Hird is often associated with respectability, dedication to one’s occupation and a sense of responsibility, owing to its origin as a watchman and guardian. Additionally, the name also symbolizes loyalty and commitment, traits that have served people with the surname Hird well across the centuries.
Order DNA origin analysisHird: Where does the name Hird come from?
The last name Hird is still found in many places around the world today. It is mostly concentrated in the United Kingdom, where records from the 1881 British census indicated that over 8,000 people had that surname.
The United States is also home to many Hird families. The 2010 American census found that around 2,000 families had the same name. The largest concentrations in the US are in the states of New York, Pennsylvania, and California.
In addition to Europe and North America, Hird is also prevalent in Australia. The 2016 census showed that about 1,800 people had the last name Hird. It's also common in New Zealand, with the 2013 census evidencing nearly 600 residents.
Elsewhere in the world, countries like Canada, South Africa, and India all have sizable Hird populations as well. In all these countries, many of the people with this surname are descendants of a British immigrant ancestor who adopted the name centuries ago.
Overall, the last name Hird is still widely used today in many different countries. With the presence of Hird families in so many places from Europe to Oceania, it's evident that the legacy of this surname remains strong.
Variations of the surname Hird
The surname Hird is a name of English origin. It is derived from the Old English word “hyrd,” which literally means “shepherd.” Hird is usually spelled as Heard, Hurd, Hurst, and Hirst. Variants of this surname include Hearde, Herde, Hurvede, Hurst, and Hearst.
In some cases, the surname may even be spelled as Hirde, Hirdes, Hirde, and Herd. Other variations of the name may include Hyred, Hyron, and Thrid.
By taking other languages and dialects into consideration, Hird can be translated to Dutch as Hijers, German as Heerdt, and French as Hered.
The surnames Heer, Herdman, Hurdman, Hyrdman, and Shephard are all derived from the same root word, “hyrd”, and may be used interchangeably with Hird.
In the United States, Hird may be spelled as Hearde, Hurde, Hirdy, and Hierd. Hird is most common in the United Kingdom, but it can also be found throughout Europe, Australia, and the United States.
The number of bearers of the surname Hird is not known, but it is estimated to be in the thousands. It is a relatively common name, and those bearing the name may be related to one another.
Famous people with the name Hird
- Jim Hird: former captain of the Australian Football League's Essendon Football Club
- Irving Hird: comic actor who appeared in many British films of the 1930s and 1940s
- Alan Hird: British actor best known for appearing in the BBC series Postman Pat
- David Hird: British comedian, actor, and theatre director
- Michael Hird: footballer who played for Chelsea and the England national team
- John Hird: English songwriter best known for composing the classic hymn tune "God Be in My Head"
- Colleen Hird: Australian actress known for her roles in soap operas
- Lysette Hird: British stage actress, best known for appearing in the television adaptation of Jane Austen's novel Northanger Abbey
- Lauren Hird: British reality television star who appeared on Big Brother UK in 2007
- Judy Hird: English actress, best known for appearing in productions of the Royal Shakespeare Company