Herb <snip>

[Jonathon Green]

While I can offer nothing between this distinctly UK cite and the
popularization of the 1990s, I have found

1938 James Curtis _They Drive by Night_ 13: Good old Pompey [sc.
Portsmouth]. That's where all the right herbs ended up

The context makes it clear that meaning, with its assumption that the name
Herbert is innately funny (plus overtones of nerdish) is that of the later
uses. The UK also has the synonymous 'Herbert'.

Jonathon Green