NameCensus.

UK surname

Hildebrand

A surname of German origin, composed of the elements "hild" meaning "battle" and "brand" meaning "sword."

In the 1881 census there were 55 people recorded with the Hildebrand surname, ranking it #25,862 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 127, ranked #26,566, down from #25,862 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Camden, Bexley and Westminster.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Hildebrand is 127 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 130.9%.

1881 census count

55

Ranked #25,862

Modern count

127

2016, ranked #26,566

Peak year

2016

127 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Hildebrand had 55 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #25,862 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 127 in 2016, ranked #26,566.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 70 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Hildebrand surname distribution map

The map shows where the Hildebrand surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Hildebrand surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Hildebrand over time

The 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 23 #29,205
1861 historical 24 #30,922
1881 historical 55 #25,862
1891 historical 49 #30,349
1901 historical 62 #27,252
1911 historical 70 #25,853
1997 modern 89 #28,490
1998 modern 104 #26,981
1999 modern 103 #27,305
2000 modern 108 #26,549
2001 modern 105 #26,620
2002 modern 113 #26,024
2003 modern 114 #25,664
2004 modern 119 #25,200
2005 modern 106 #27,044
2006 modern 106 #27,332
2007 modern 110 #27,087
2008 modern 118 #26,212
2009 modern 114 #27,363
2010 modern 117 #27,557
2011 modern 116 #27,477
2012 modern 123 #26,561
2013 modern 120 #27,406
2014 modern 119 #27,813
2015 modern 121 #27,405
2016 modern 127 #26,566

Geography

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Where Hildebrands are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Camden, Bexley, Westminster, Dartford and Barnet. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Camden 017 Camden
2 Bexley 010 Bexley
3 Westminster 003 Westminster
4 Dartford 003 Dartford
5 Barnet 035 Barnet

Forenames

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First names often paired with Hildebrand

These lists show first names that appear often with the Hildebrand surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Hildebrand

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Hildebrand, 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

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Diverse Educated Urban Singles

Nationally, the Hildebrand surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Hildebrand household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group includes many never-married individuals not living with dependent children. Many were born in EU countries and are now aged between 25-44. This Group is characterised by its ethnic group diversity, although those identifying as Asian are not well represented. Affiliation with the Christian religion amongst residents is low. Reported disability rates are low. Neighbourhoods include some central locations in London and other major cities. Private renting is the norm, and there is some overcrowding. Many individuals are educated to degree level, and full-time employment is common, particularly in managerial and professional occupations.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Hildebrand is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Hildebrand is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Hildebrand falls in decile 6 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Hildebrand is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Hildebrand, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Hildebrand

The surname Hildebrand originated in Germany during the medieval period. It derives from the Old Germanic words "hild" meaning battle and "brand" meaning sword, thus literally translating to "battle-sword". The name was likely used to describe a fierce warrior or soldier.

The name can be traced back to the 8th century, with one of the earliest recorded instances appearing in the Codex Laureshamensis, an important medieval manuscript from the Lorsch Abbey in present-day Germany. In this text, a nobleman named Hildebrand von Ripuarien is mentioned.

Another early reference comes from the Nibelungenlied, a famous German epic poem dating back to around 1200 AD. One of the main characters is a warrior named Hildebrand who serves under King Gunther.

The Hildebrand surname appeared in various historic records throughout the Middle Ages, including the Domesday Book of 1086 which catalogued landowners in England after the Norman Conquest. An entry lists a landowner named Hildebrand in Gloucestershire.

Notable individuals with the Hildebrand surname include Pope Gregory VII (c.1020-1085), born Hildebrand of Sovana in Tuscany, who played a key role in the Investiture Controversy against the Holy Roman Emperor. Georg Friedrich Hildebrand (1764-1826) was a German theologian and writer. Rudolf Hildebrand (1824-1894) was a German sculptor celebrated for his works in Berlin.

Ferdinand Tönnies (1855-1936), a German sociologist and philosopher, was born Ferdinand Hildebrand before changing his surname. Hans Hildebrand (1901-1989) served as a general in the German Army during World War II. More recently, Heinrich Hildebrand (1919-2011) was an influential Austrian architect.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Hildebrand families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Hildebrand surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Wiltshire leads with 12 Hildebrands recorded in 1881 and an index of 25.30x.

County Total Index
Wiltshire 12 25.30x
Middlesex 11 2.05x
Suffolk 8 12.25x
Hertfordshire 6 16.23x
Surrey 6 2.30x
Durham 5 3.13x
Kent 3 1.64x
Sussex 2 2.21x
Berkshire 1 2.48x
Leicestershire 1 1.68x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. East Barnet in Hertfordshire leads with 6 Hildebrands recorded in 1881 and an index of 821.92x.

Place Total Index
East Barnet 6 821.92x
East Coulston 6 30000.00x
Edington 6 3529.41x
Ipswich St Mary At Elms 6 2857.14x
Bishopwearmouth 5 36.50x
St Luke London 5 58.14x
Islington London 4 7.69x
Battersea 3 15.20x
Crayford 3 375.00x
Lambeth 3 6.41x
Ipswich St Helen 2 259.74x
Keymer 2 312.50x
Kibworth Beauchamp 1 476.19x
Sandhurst 1 128.21x
St Martin In Fields 1 31.15x
Whitechapel London 1 18.90x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Hildebrand surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Mary 3
Elizabeth 2
Elizth. 2
Martha 2
Ada 1
Anna 1
Annie 1
Caroline 1
Ellen 1
Ellenor 1
Emiliar 1
Flora 1
Frederica 1
Gertrude 1
Grotchen 1
Harriet 1
Hilda 1
Isabella 1
Jane 1
Katherine 1
Lenester 1
Phayre 1
Violet 1

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Hildebrand surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Fredk. 3
William 3
Augustus 2
Charles 2
Edmund 2
Albert 1
Alfred 1
Allington 1
Arthur 1
August 1
Aylmer 1
Charls.P. 1
Clonard 1
Ernest 1
Gadfrey 1
Gustave 1
Harold 1
Harry 1
Henry 1
Lloyd 1

FAQ

Hildebrand surname: questions and answers

How common was the Hildebrand surname in 1881?

In 1881, 55 people were recorded with the Hildebrand surname. That placed it at #25,862 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Hildebrand surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 127 in 2016. That gives Hildebrand a modern rank of #26,566.

What does the Hildebrand surname mean?

A surname of German origin, composed of the elements "hild" meaning "battle" and "brand" meaning "sword."

What does the Hildebrand map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Hildebrand bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

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.