The Herring Family History

What Does the Herring Surname Mean? Historical Origins Explained

The surname Herring has its roots in Dutch, German, and English traditions, deriving from the Old French word ‘hareng’ and the Old English term ‘hering,’ both of which denote the herring fish. Historically, this name came to signify individuals engaged in the capture or sale of this fish. Variations in the spelling of Herring include Hering and Herrin. In England, the surname first emerged in the Oxfordshire area, and descendants with this surname can now be found across much of England and parts of Wales. The highest concentrations of the Herring surname are noted in Yorkshire, Durham, London, and Norfolk. In Scotland, the name is most prevalent in the counties of Renfrewshire, Angus, Roxburghshire, West Lothian, and Inverness-shire. In the United States, Herring families trace their origins to several states, including Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Texas, and Virginia. Notable individuals bearing the Herring surname include Caroline Herring (singer and songwriter), Art Herring (professional baseball player), James Red Herring (professional boxer), Robert Herring (founder of Herco Technology and Wealth TV), Will Herring (professional football player), James V. Herring (artist), Corey Herring (professional basketball player), and Augustus Moore Herring (a pioneer in aviation known for his work on a compressed-air powered aircraft in 1898).