Herrera History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Herrera family

The surname Herrera was first found in Castile, one of the most important Christian kingdoms of medieval Spain.

Early History of the Herrera family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Herrera research.

Herrera Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Herrera, Herrero, Herreras, Herreros, Herrerías, Herrerias, Herrezuelo, Hierro, Ferrera, Ferrero, Ferreras, Ferreros, Ferreiro, Ferreira, Fierro, Ferruz, Deherrera and many more.

Early Notables of the Herrera family (pre 1700)

Prominent among members of the family 14th century Castilian nobleman García de Herrera; 16th century mathematician and philosopher Gabriel Alonso de Herrera; Juan de Herrera, architect to King Philip II, who completed the magnificent El Escorial near Madrid; 16th century poet Fernando de Herrera; Francisco Herrera the Elder (1576-1656), a Spanish painter from Seville; Francisco Herrera the Younger (1622-1685), a Spanish painter and architect.

Herrera Ranking

In the United States, the name Herrera is the 266^th most popular surname with an estimated 99,480 people with that name. [1] However, in South America, the name Herrera is ranked the 40^th most popular surname with an estimated 95 people with that name. [2]

 Herrera migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were: 

Herrera Settlers in United States in the 16th Century

• Alonso de Herrera, who sailed to America in 1511
• Cristóbal de Herrera, who sailed to America in 1513
• Gregorio Herrera, who sailed to Peru in 1534
• Luis de Herrera, who sailed to New Spain in 1534
• Diego de Herrera, who voyaged to New Spain in 1561. He journeyed from there to the Philippines, where he was co-founder of the city of Manila in 1571

Herrera Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

• Jacinto Herrera, who landed in Puerto Rico in 1803 [3]
• Jose Herrera, who landed in Puerto Rico in 1803 [3]
• Juan De Herrera, who landed in America in 1810 [3]
• Pedro De Herrera, who arrived in America in 1810 [3]
• Ortega De Herrera, who arrived in America in 1812 [3]

 Herrera migration to West Indies +

The British first settled the British West Indies around 1604. They made many attempts but failed in some to establish settlements on the Islands including Saint Lucia and Grenada. By 1627 they had managed to establish settlements on St. Kitts (St. Christopher) and Barbados, but by 1641 the Spanish had moved in and destroyed some of these including those at Providence Island. The British continued to expand the settlements including setting the First Federation in the British West Indies by 1674; some of the islands include Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Island, Turks and Caicos, Jamaica and Belize then known as British Honduras. By the 1960’s many of the islands became independent after the West Indies Federation which existed from 1958 to 1962 failed due to internal political conflicts. After this a number of Eastern Caribbean islands formed a free association. [4]

Herrera Settlers in West Indies in the 19th Century

• Sancho De Herrera, who landed in Dominican Republic in 1865 [3]

Contemporary Notables of the name Herrera (post 1700) +

• Carmen Herrera (1915-2022), Cuban-born American abstract, minimalist visual artist and painter, born in Havana and lived in New York City from the mid-1950s on
• Robert Ashton Herrera, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate in primary for Texas State House of Representatives 124th District, 1998 [5]
• Millie Herrera, American Democratic Party politician, Alternate Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Florida, 2008 [5]
• Maria M. Herrera, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Florida, 2000 [5]
• Mike Herrera, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from California, 1972 [5]
• Lisa B. Herrera, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from California, 2008 [5]
• Judith Herrera, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Indiana, 1996 [5]
• Jorge Herrera, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Texas, 2004 [5]
• Javier Herrera, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Texas, 2008 [5]
• Griffen Herrera, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from California, 2004 [5