Herth Surname History

Origins Available:
Scotland

Today's generation of the Herth family inherits a name that was first used by the Scottish tribe known as the Picts. The first family to use the name Herth lived in the barony of Airth in Stirlingshire. "The Gaelic term ard, or ardhé, signifying a hill, is supposed to have given the name to this place, in which the eminence called the Hill of Airth is a conspicuous feature, and forms a striking contrast to the level district by which it is surrounded." 1

Early Origins of the Herth family

The surname Herth was first found in the county of Stirling (Gaelic: Siorrachd Sruighlea), a former county in central Scotland, which now makes up parts of the Council Areas of East Dunbartonshire, Falkirk, North Lanarkshire and Stirling, where they were long settled in the barony of Airth near Larbert, Stirlingshire.

"A not very common surname derived from the barony of Airth near Larbert, Stirlingshire. About the year 1200 William de Arthe witnessed a grant to the Abbey of Cambuskemielh . Richard Derth (i.e. d'Erth) is mentioned as falconer to the king of Scotland in 1212, and Bain notes in his preface that Airth was a famed breeding place of falcons. " 2

The Earth spelling is an interesting one. We could find only one reference for the name to the far south in the parish of Saltash, Cornwall: "The barton of Earth, which is called a manor in a record of 1620, at which time it is said to have been held under the manor of Bigbury in Devonshire, was in ancient times the property and the seat of the ancient family of Earth, by whose heiress, when the male branches became extinct, it was carried to the Bonds." 3

Early History of the Herth family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Herth research. Another 306 words (22 lines of text) covering the years 1248, 1271, 1291, 1296, 1300, 1331, 1364 and 1369 are included under the topic Early Herth History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Herth Spelling Variations

Repeated and inaccurate translation of Scottish names from Gaelic to English and back resulted in a wide variety of spelling variations with single names. Herth has appeared Airth, Airthe, Arthe, D'Arthe, Dearthe, D'Airth, Dairth(e), Erth, D'Erth and many more.

Early Notables of the Herth family

More information is included under the topic Early Herth Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Herth migration to the United States +

Many Scottish families suffered enormous hardships and were compelled to leave their country of birth. They traveled to Ireland and Australia, but mostly to the colonies of North America, where many found the freedom and opportunity they sought. It was not without a fight, though, as many were forced to stand up and defend their freedom in the American War of Independence. The ancestors of these Scots abroad have rediscovered their heritage in the last century through the Clan societies and other organizations that have sprung up across North America. Immigration and passenger ship lists show some important early immigrants bearing the name Herth:

Herth Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Michel Herth, who arrived in Carolina in 1736 4
Jacob Herth, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1741 4
Mary Catharine Herth, who arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1741-1742 4
Stephan Herth, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1751 4
Valentin Herth, who landed in America in 1752 4
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Herth Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

John Val Herth, who landed in St Clair County, Illinois in 1857 4

Citations +

Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of Scotland. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
Hutchins, Fortescue, The History of Cornwall, from the Earliest Records and Traditions to the Present Time. London: William Penaluna, 1824. Print
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)