UK surname
Derived from a place name meaning "hill stream" or "stream by a hill" in Old English.
In the 1881 census there were 37 people recorded with the Hilburn surname, ranking it #28,418 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 50, ranked #34,889, down from #28,418 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Acton, Willesden and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Hilburn is 160 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 35.1%.
1881 census count
37
Ranked #28,418
Modern count
50
2016, ranked #34,889
Peak year
1891
160 bearers
Map years
2
1861 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Hilburn surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Hilburn surname density by area, 1891 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.
| Year | Period | Count | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1851 | historical | 27 | #28,467 |
| 1861 | historical | 116 | #18,751 |
| 1881 | historical | 37 | #28,418 |
| 1891 | historical | 160 | #17,555 |
| 1901 | historical | 80 | #25,251 |
| 1911 | historical | 74 | #25,423 |
| 1997 | modern | 53 | #32,329 |
| 1998 | modern | 54 | #32,518 |
| 1999 | modern | 60 | #32,078 |
| 2000 | modern | 57 | #32,417 |
| 2001 | modern | 57 | #32,275 |
| 2002 | modern | 61 | #32,286 |
| 2003 | modern | 57 | #32,704 |
| 2004 | modern | 59 | #32,787 |
| 2005 | modern | 63 | #32,602 |
| 2006 | modern | 61 | #33,142 |
| 2007 | modern | 59 | #33,634 |
| 2008 | modern | 59 | #33,827 |
| 2009 | modern | 55 | #34,355 |
| 2010 | modern | 57 | #34,421 |
| 2011 | modern | 56 | #34,450 |
| 2012 | modern | 48 | #34,938 |
| 2013 | modern | 53 | #34,715 |
| 2014 | modern | 53 | #34,753 |
| 2015 | modern | 51 | #34,834 |
| 2016 | modern | 50 | #34,889 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Acton, Willesden, London parishes, St Leonard Bromley and St Anne Limehouse. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Acton | Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts) |
| 2 | Willesden | Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts) |
| 3 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 4 | St Leonard Bromley | London (East Districts) |
| 5 | St Anne Limehouse | London (East Districts) |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Hilburn surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Hilburn, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.
These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.
The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.
UK neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Hilburn surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Hilburn household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Hilburn is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Hilburn is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Hilburn, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Hilburn is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period. It is derived from a combination of the Old English words "hyll" meaning hill and "burna" meaning stream or brook. Therefore, the name likely referred to someone who lived near a hill and a stream or brook.
The earliest recorded instances of the name can be traced back to the 13th century. One of the earliest known bearers of the name was John de Hulleburn, who was mentioned in the Assize Rolls of Staffordshire in 1272. The spelling "Hulleburn" reflects the old spelling of the name before it evolved into its modern form.
In the 14th century, the name appeared in various records with different spellings such as Hilburn, Hilborne, and Hilburn. For example, a William Hilbourne was mentioned in the Subsidy Rolls of Derbyshire in 1327.
The Hilburn surname was particularly prevalent in the counties of Staffordshire, Derbyshire, and Cheshire, where many early records of the name can be found. This suggests that the name may have originated in one of these areas.
One notable bearer of the Hilburn name was Sir Robert Hilburn, who lived in the 15th century and served as a member of parliament for Staffordshire. Another was John Hilburn, a 16th-century English printer and bookseller who is known for publishing works by notable authors such as John Foxe.
In the 17th century, the name appeared in various parish records and local histories. For instance, a Thomas Hilburn was mentioned in the parish registers of Eccleshall, Staffordshire, in 1624. Additionally, the Hilburn family is mentioned in the history of the town of Leek, Staffordshire, where they were prominent landowners.
Other notable individuals with the Hilburn surname include William Hilburn (1786-1864), an English clergyman and author, and James Hilburn (1844-1915), a British politician who served as a member of parliament for Rochdale.
While the Hilburn name has its roots in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world through migration and immigration. However, the name's origins can be traced back to the medieval period in England, where it referred to someone living near a hill and a stream or brook.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Hilburn surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Surrey leads with 9 Hilburns recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.12x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Surrey | 9 | 5.12x |
| Kent | 8 | 6.50x |
| Middlesex | 5 | 1.39x |
| Somerset | 5 | 8.61x |
| Cumberland | 3 | 9.66x |
| Dorset | 3 | 12.67x |
| Worcestershire | 2 | 4.24x |
| Clackmannanshire | 1 | 33.56x |
| Northumberland | 1 | 1.86x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Newington in Surrey leads with 9 Hilburns recorded in 1881 and an index of 67.52x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Newington | 9 | 67.52x |
| Chatham | 6 | 176.99x |
| Tottenham | 5 | 86.96x |
| Chard | 4 | 571.43x |
| Distington | 3 | 1875.00x |
| Upway | 3 | 3333.33x |
| Stoulton | 2 | 4000.00x |
| Elswick | 1 | 23.36x |
| Gillingham | 1 | 39.37x |
| Ilchester | 1 | 1250.00x |
| Tillicoultry | 1 | 151.52x |
| Tonbridge | 1 | 22.52x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Hilburn surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Hilburn surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
FAQ
In 1881, 37 people were recorded with the Hilburn surname. That placed it at #28,418 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 50 in 2016. That gives Hilburn a modern rank of #34,889.
Derived from a place name meaning "hill stream" or "stream by a hill" in Old English.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Hilburn bearers relative to the surrounding population.
The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.