Herrera Coat of Arms & Family Crest
Where the Herrera name began, what it means, and how your Herrera coat of arms is painted.
Origin of the Herrera name
Herrera is a Spanish habitational name from one of several places called Herrera, from Latin ferraria, "ironworks, forge". Examples include Herrera de Pisuerga in Palencia. The surname spread widely during the colonisation of the Americas and is common in Spain, Mexico and Colombia.
The ironworks name
Herrera is Spanish and comes from Latin ferrāria, an iron mine or ironworks, or from the feminine of herrero, an ironsmith. In practice most Herrera families took the name from one of several places called Herrera, such as Herrera de Pisuerga in Palencia. The Portuguese and Galician equivalent is Ferreira.
Forebears estimates about 501,000 bearers in Mexico, 251,000 in Colombia and 150,000 in Argentina. The 2010 US Census counted 192,711 people named Herrera, ranking it 129th. Wikipedia lists more than 200 notable bearers, among them the Renaissance architect Juan de Herrera, designer of El Escorial.
Our historical archives hold much more on the Herrera name: dates, names and records of early bearers.
This overview covers the Herrera name in Spain. We also hold records of the name in other countries, such as Mexico, Colombia and Venezuela; your full pack is researched for your family's country of origin.
Get your full Herrera family history
Your full Herrera pack adds the researched history, early records and migration, with your painted coat of arms ready to print.
Herrera name FAQ
What does the Herrera name mean?
Forge, ironworks. Common variants include Herreras, Herrero, Ferrera.
Where does the Herrera surname come from?
It originates in Spain, and is also found in Mexico, Colombia and Venezuela.
Is there a Herrera coat of arms?
Arms were granted to individuals, not whole surnames, so there is no single Herrera crest. Herald Lab paints a personalized Herrera coat of arms based on historic heraldry.
What does Herrera mean?
It relates to iron: an ironworks or iron mine, from Latin ferraria.
Is Ferreira the same name as Herrera?
They share the root; Ferreira is the Portuguese and Galician form.
Further reading on Herrera
Researching your ancestors? Our Herrera family history and genealogy page lists the archives to use, and famous people named Herrera introduces notable bearers.
Researched by Herald Lab Research Studio, since 1993. Sources: Roberto Faure, María Asunción Ribes & Antonio García, Diccionario de apellidos españoles (Espasa, 2001); Dictionary of American Family Names (Oxford). Facts and figures: Forebears surname distribution (estimates); US Census Bureau, 2010 surname file; Wikipedia, "Herrera (surname)". Forebears figures are modelled estimates, rounded.