Hirt History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Scotland

The Hirt family name dates back to the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture of Britain. The name comes from when an early member worked as a herdsman. The surname Hirt is derived from the Old English word herde, which in turn comes from the Old English word heird, which means herd. 1

Early Origins of the Hirt family

The surname Hirt was first found in Shropshire where Thomas Hord was listed in the Assize Rolls of 1221. Years later, Reginald le Herd was found in the Assize Rolls for Somerset in 1243 and Richard le Hurde was found in the Subsidy Rolls for Sussex in 1296. 2

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 include: Robert le Hirde, Suffolk; Richard le Herde, Cambridgeshire; and David le Hyrde, Norfolk. 1

One entry was found in Somerset in early times, that of William le Hurde, 1 Edward III (during the first year of King Edward III's reign.) 3

The Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 listed Alanus Hyrd; Nicholans Hyrd; and Johannes Hird as all holding lands there at that time. 1

"An old family of Hird once resided at Woodhouse Grove, Rawdon, in the West Riding [of Yorkshire]." 4

Moving further north to Scotland, Hird was the Scottish pronunciation of 'herd', a herdsman. 5 Early records show "W. dictus Hyrd was actomatus (attorney) of Bernard, abbot of Aberbrothoc in 1328. John Hird was a tenant of the Douglas in Louchurde in 1376." 5

Early History of the Hirt family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Hirt research. Another 192 words (14 lines of text) covering the years 1273, 1511, 1512, 1529, 1532, 1534, 1546, 1588, 1605, 1610, 1619, 1626, 1627, 1720, 1732, 1808 and 1810 are included under the topic Early Hirt History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Hirt Spelling Variations

Hirt has been spelled many different ways. Before English spelling became standardized over the last few hundred years, spelling variations in names were a common occurrence. As the English language changed in the Middle Ages, absorbing pieces of Latin and French, as well as other languages, the spelling of people's names also changed considerably, even over a single lifetime. Many variations of the name Hirt have been found, including Herd, Heard, Hird, Hurd and others.

Early Notables of the Hirt family

Notables of this surname at this time include: John Herd (1512?-1588), English historian, born about 1512 'in that part of Surrey which adjoins the city of London.' After being educated at Eton, he was admitted a scholar of King's College, Cambridge, on 16 August 1529, and a fellow on 17 August 1532. He proceeded B.A. in 1534, and commenced M.A. in...
Another 60 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Hirt Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Hirt Ranking

In the United States, the name Hirt is the 10,062^nd most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 6

Hirt migration to the United States +

In an attempt to escape the chaos experienced in England, many English families boarded overcrowded and diseased ships sailing for the shores of North America and other British colonies. Those families hardy enough, and lucky enough, to make the passage intact were rewarded with land and a social environment less prone to religious and political persecution. Many of these families became important contributors to the young colonies in which they settled. Early immigration and passenger lists have documented some of the first Hirts to arrive on North American shores:

Hirt Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Stoffel Hirt, who arrived in New York in 1709 7
Maria Barbara Hirt, aged 20, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1731 7
Maria Elizabeth Hirt, aged 28, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1731 7
Paita Hirt, aged 45, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1731 7
Anna Maria Hirt, aged 24, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1731 7
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Hirt Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

I Hirt, who landed in Brazil in 1828 7
Hermann Hirt, who arrived in New York, NY in 1850 7
Anton Hirt, who arrived in St Clair County, Illinois in 1864 7
Frederick Hirt, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1874 7
William Hirt, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1874 7
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Hirt (post 1700) +

Sam and Anna Hirt, American founders of Hirt’s Gardens, Granger Township, Medina County, Ohio in 1915
Alois Maxwell "Al" Hirt (1922-1999), American trumpeter and bandleader, inducted into The Louisiana Music Hall of Fame in November 2009
Hassan Hirt, French long-distance runner at the 2012 Summer Olympics
Aloys Hirt (1759-1837), German art historian and archaeologist
Susanne Hirt (b. 1973), German gold and bronze medalist slalom canoer
Peter Hirt (1910-1992), Swiss racing driver
Hermann Hirt (1865-1936), German philologist and Indo-Europeanist wo developed Hirt's law

The Hirt Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Recte et sapienter
Motto Translation: Rightly and wisely.

Citations +

Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Dickinson, F.H., Kirby's Quest for Somerset of 16th of Edward the 3rd London: Harrison and Sons, Printers in Ordinary to Her Majesty, St, Martin's Lane, 1889. Print.
Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. 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)
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
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)