This page needs Javascript enabled in order to work properly. Click here for instructions on how to enable it in your browser.
Surname Header Image
Get access to Herald family records.Start a 14-Day Free Trial

Herald Family History

Herald Surname Meaning

English: from the Middle English personal name Herold representing either Old French Hairold Herold Heraud (ancient Germanic Hariwald; see Lherault) Old English Hereweald or Old Norse Haraldr (see Harold). The names were probably used interchangeably.

In Domesday Book Harald and Herald sometimes name the same man and in Wace's Anglo-Norman poem Roman de Rou King Harold is named as Heraut.

Derivation from Middle English heraud herault herode haraude (Old French heraut herault) ‘herald’ is formally possible but it is doubtful if it was ever used as a surname.

Irish: variant of Harold.

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022


Similar surnames: 

Search for a relative to learn more about your family history.

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Herald family from?

You can see how Herald families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Herald family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Herald families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 28 Herald families living in Cheshire. This was about 28% of all the recorded Herald's in United Kingdom. Cheshire had the highest population of Herald families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Herald surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
Mapbox
© Mapbox © OpenStreetMap Improve this map

What did your Herald ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, General Labourer Heavy W and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Herald. 100% of Herald men worked as a General Labourer Heavy W and 78% of Herald women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties.

View Census Data for Herald | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

Top Male Occupations In 1939

  • General Labourer Heavy W
    100%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    78%
  • Cook Housekeeper
    8%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    8%
  • Secretary
    8%

What Herald family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 20,000 census records available for the last name Herald. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Herald census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Herald

Passenger Lists

There are 2,000 immigration records available for the last name Herald. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the UK, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Herald immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 3,000 military records available for the last name Herald. For the veterans among your Herald ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Herald military records

You've only scratched the surface of Herald family history

Discover More

What is the average Herald lifespan?

Between 1944 and 2004, in the United States, Herald life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1944, and highest in 1991. The average life expectancy for Herald in 1944 was 28, and 66 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Herald

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Herald ancestors lived in harsh conditions. A short lifespan might also indicate health problems that were once prevalent in your family. The SSDI is a searchable database of more than 70 million names. You can find birthdates, death dates, addresses and more.

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Herald family tree

Explore Your Tree
Search for another surname
Enter last name/surname
Start a 14-Day Free Trial