Map of Ireland showing where the Herron arms are recorded
The Herron arms were recorded in Kerry, c. 1645.
Kerry was mountain and coast country in the far south-west of Ireland. Its land was poor and held by a few families for a very long time, and long unbroken holding fills a register.
This is where the arms were entered in the register. Families often moved to other parts of the country, so the same name can turn up in more than one region.
The body that granted and recorded arms in Ireland in this period.
Charles I of England
Sovereign of the period
Charles I of England
1625–1649
Reigning in Ireland when the Herron arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Ireland
The Ulster King of Arms granted coats of arms to individuals who proved their social standing and good character. These symbols were typically inherited by all legitimate descendants of the original holder. If a family branch wanted a unique look, they could apply for a specific change to their design through the office to ensure their identity remained distinct.
Granting authority
The Ulster King of Arms acted as the official body that regulated and issued all coats of arms throughout Ireland.
How they got arms
Families obtained their arms through formal grants issued by the office after proving their eligibility and paying the required fees.
Where arms were recorded
All official grants were recorded in the registers held by the Ulster King of Arms starting from the year 1552.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Kerry.
Origin & History of the Herron Family in Ireland
The surname Herron has deep roots in Ireland, particularly within County Kerry where the family was well-established by the mid-seventeenth century. The name is generally considered an anglicized version of the Gaelic name Ó hIarain, which translates to descendant of the dark or iron-colored one. During the 1600s, families in Kerry often lived in close-knit rural communities that relied on agriculture and local trade. Because the region was frequently affected by political unrest and land redistribution during this era, families like the Herrons often faced significant challenges in maintaining their ancestral holdings. Despite these pressures, the name persisted throughout the southwest of Ireland, reflecting a long history of resilience and adaptation within the local landscape.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
O hEaráin
Derived from the Gaelic word for a dark or swarthy person.
This name
HerronA patronymic surname signifying a descendant of the dark or swarthy one.
also spelled
Heron
Herron
Herone
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
MacLysaght, Edward, The Surnames of Ireland, 1985
O'Hart, John, Irish Pedigrees; or, The Origin and Stem of the Irish Nation, 1892
National Archives of Ireland, Civil Survey of County Kerry, 1654-1656
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heronPatience and quiet watchfulness
heronPatience and quiet watchfulness
