This surname is derived from the name of an ancestor. —the son of Herbert.' 'St. Haribert was archbishop of Cologne about the year 1000, and at that time the name became extremely common among the French nobility. A Norman settler had brought it to England even in the time of Edward the Confessor' (Yonge's Christian Names, ii. 407). It was a popular and fashionable personal name throughout England in the lath and 13th centuries. Hence it obtained surnominal honours. Herbison is a corrupted form of Herbertson.

Thomas Herebert, Henry III-Edward I: Testa de Nevill, sive Liber Feodorum, temp. Henry III-Edward I.

Emma Hereberd, ibid.

Herbertus de Hereford, ibid.

Gilbert Herebert or Hereberd, Cambridgeshire, 1273. Hundred Rolls.

Richard fil. Herebert, Salop, ibid.

1768. Married — John Herbertson and Ann Bettridge: St. George, Hanover Square.

1799. — James Herbertson and Sarah Fitch: ibid.

From the Old English personal name Herebeorht, 'army bright.' About the year 1200 Herbert filius Herberti de Camera granted a half carucate in Dunipace to the Abbey of Cambuskenneth (Camobus., 79). One or other of these Herberts most probably gave name to Herbertshire near Denny, Stirlingshire. Herbert, third abbot of Selkirk, was bishop of Glasgow, 1147—1164.

'son of Herbert,' from Old English personal name Herebeorht, meaning 'army bright.' Archibald Herbertson was burgess of Glasgow in 1525 (REG., 497), and Robert Herbertsoune was notary public there in 1536. The name is common in the Glasgow Protocol books of the sixteenth century as Herbisone (1551), Herbisoune (1550). George Harbertsone is recorded as a witness in Glasgow in 1559 (HP., II, p. 203), William Herbesone of North Berwick is mentioned in 1555 (CMN., p. 70), and Richard Harbertson, son of John Harbertsoun, notary, was burgess of Glasgow in 1605 (Inquis. Tut., 75). Margaret Herbertson is recorded in the parish of Monkland in 1619 (Campsie), and Martin Herbertson was tenant in the barony of Mousewall (Mouswald, Dumfriesshire) in 1673 (PSAS., XXIII, p. 74). An action at law against Georg Harbiesone in Hairshaw, 1706 (Corsehili, p. 213). Harbersone, Harbertsone, Harbeson, and Harbisone 1706, Herbertsoun 1609.

Herbert’s Son: v. Herbert

An ancient personal name. The noble Herberts descend from Herbert, Count of Vemandois, who came hither with the Conqueror, and was chamberlain to William Rufus. B.L.G. Collins says: "the genealogists deduce the family from Herbert, a natural son of King Henry I., but I think it more evident that Henry Fitz-Herbert, chamberlain to the said king, was ancestor to all of the name of Herbert."

(Saxon.) From Here, a soldier, and beorht, bright—an expert soldier, or the glory of an army; famous in war.

The present home of the Herberts is in the continuous area of Monmouthshire, Gloucestershire, and Oxfordshire. Werndee in Monmouthshire was the cradle of the distinguished family of Herbert, so long connected with that county, Fitz - Herbert, the chamberlain of Henry I., being claimed as their ancestor (Coxe's "Monmouthshire"). In the 13th century Herbert, Herberd, Herebert, and Hereberd occurred in Oxfordshire, Bucks, Norfolk, Suffolk, etc., Herberd being especially characteristic of the east of England (H. R.).