NameCensus.

UK surname

Hildreth

One who lives near a battle mound or memorial mound, likely derived from Old English hyll and þryð.

In the 1881 census there were 320 people recorded with the Hildreth surname, ranking it #9,298 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 603, ranked #8,687, up from #9,298 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Walsingham, Norton and Darlington. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Chiltern, York and Newcastle upon Tyne.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Hildreth is 654 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 88.4%.

1881 census count

320

Ranked #9,298

Modern count

603

2016, ranked #8,687

Peak year

1998

654 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Hildreth had 320 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #9,298 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 603 in 2016, ranked #8,687.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 514 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Hildreth surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Hildreth surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Hildreth 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 169 #11,832
1861 historical 220 #11,076
1881 historical 320 #9,298
1891 historical 406 #8,765
1901 historical 479 #8,313
1911 historical 514 #7,669
1997 modern 624 #7,925
1998 modern 654 #7,865
1999 modern 641 #8,050
2000 modern 643 #8,004
2001 modern 623 #8,048
2002 modern 613 #8,331
2003 modern 599 #8,351
2004 modern 607 #8,281
2005 modern 601 #8,267
2006 modern 592 #8,368
2007 modern 600 #8,358
2008 modern 614 #8,263
2009 modern 633 #8,240
2010 modern 633 #8,427
2011 modern 627 #8,394
2012 modern 606 #8,541
2013 modern 613 #8,599
2014 modern 612 #8,667
2015 modern 609 #8,643
2016 modern 603 #8,687

Geography

Back to top

Where Hildreths are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Walsingham, Norton, Darlington, London parishes and Gateshead. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Chiltern, York, Newcastle upon Tyne and Northumberland. 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 Walsingham Durham
2 Norton Yorkshire, North Riding
3 Darlington Durham
4 London parishes London 3
5 Gateshead Durham

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Chiltern 005 Chiltern
2 York 011 York
3 Newcastle upon Tyne 028 Newcastle upon Tyne
4 Northumberland 030 Northumberland
5 Northumberland 032 Northumberland

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Hildreth

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Hildreth

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

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Hildreth surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Hildreth 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 comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Hildreth is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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

Mainly concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Hildreth is most concentrated in decile 5 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Hildreth falls in decile 9 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

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

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Hildreth is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

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

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Hildreth

The surname Hildreth has its origins in England, dating back to the 11th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "hild" meaning battle and "ræd" meaning counsel or advice, possibly referring to a person who provided counsel in times of war.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Hildret" in the county of Worcestershire. This suggests that the name may have been more prevalent in the West Midlands region of England during the medieval period.

Over time, the name evolved into various spellings, such as Hildred, Hildret, and Hildreth. Some of these variations can be found in historical records, including the Pipe Rolls of the 12th century and the Hundredorum Rolls of the 13th century.

In the 14th century, a notable figure bearing the name Hildreth was Sir John Hildreth (c. 1320-1389), a knight who fought in the Hundred Years' War and was granted lands in Gloucestershire for his service to the Crown.

Another significant bearer of the name was Richard Hildreth (1807-1865), an American journalist, author, and historian who wrote extensively on the history of the United States. His works, such as "History of the United States of America" and "Theory of Politics," were influential in shaping the understanding of American history and political thought.

In the literary world, James Hildreth (1788-1856), an English poet and writer, gained recognition for his collections of poetry, including "The Seasons" and "Rural Scenes and Prospects."

The name Hildreth has also been associated with several place names in England, such as Hildreth Hall in Staffordshire and Hildreth Farm in Cambridgeshire, further reflecting its historical presence in various regions of the country.

Other notable individuals with the surname Hildreth include John Hildreth (1625-1715), an early settler in Massachusetts and founder of Hildreth's Landing, and Ezekiel Hildreth (1716-1773), a prominent merchant and landowner in Boston during the colonial era.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Hildreth families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Hildreth 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. Durham leads with 104 Hildreths recorded in 1881 and an index of 11.20x.

County Total Index
Durham 104 11.20x
Yorkshire 97 3.14x
Surrey 23 1.51x
Buckinghamshire 21 11.13x
Lancashire 14 0.38x
Berkshire 13 5.55x
Middlesex 11 0.35x
Lincolnshire 10 2.00x
Northumberland 9 1.94x
Nottinghamshire 6 1.43x
Renfrewshire 3 1.24x
Warwickshire 3 0.38x
Kent 2 0.19x
Cornwall 1 0.28x
Cumberland 1 0.37x
Denbighshire 1 0.85x
Sussex 1 0.19x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Darlington in Durham leads with 22 Hildreths recorded in 1881 and an index of 61.37x.

Place Total Index
Darlington 22 61.37x
Wolsingham 19 224.59x
Catterick 18 2608.70x
Gateshead 17 24.45x
Kirkleatham 12 287.08x
Norton In Malton 12 320.00x
South Ferriby 10 1265.82x
Amersham 8 298.51x
Ardwick 7 20.95x
Barton 7 1272.73x
Cookham 7 95.89x
Great Missenden 7 300.43x
Lambeth 7 2.57x
York St Mary 7 54.64x
Hartlepool 6 45.45x
Haughton Le Skerne 6 779.22x
Hornsey 6 15.20x
Nottingham St Nicholas 6 104.71x
Southcoates 6 34.94x
Barforth 5 3571.43x
Chirton 5 47.57x
Dawdon 5 43.78x
Newington 5 4.34x
Rillington 5 531.91x
Westoe 5 9.50x
Whitburn 5 231.48x
Barton Upon Irwell 4 14.35x
Bermondsey 4 4.30x
Bray 4 58.14x
Cleatlam 4 3076.92x
Headingley Cum Burley 4 20.09x
Hughenden 4 207.25x
Piercebridge 4 1818.18x
South Crosland 4 122.70x
Stranton 4 12.80x
Battersea 3 2.61x
Birmingham 3 1.14x
Byker 3 13.07x
Cockerton 3 100.67x
Halifax 3 6.61x
Hutton Bushell 3 566.04x
Kirby Under Dale 3 937.50x
St Marylebone London 3 1.80x
Walton On Hill 3 14.95x
West Greenock 3 6.91x
Abingdon St Helen 2 29.20x
Forcett With Carkin 2 333.33x
Herne 2 42.37x
Kensington London 2 1.15x
Southwark St George Martyr 2 3.18x
Bilton Cum Harrogate 1 9.45x
Chirk 1 43.10x
Clifton In York 1 15.46x
Egham 1 10.71x
Eston 1 14.84x
Grindall 1 526.32x
Hastings St Leonards 1 12.92x
Illogan 1 10.68x
Linthorpe 1 5.42x
Little Missenden 1 84.03x
Neasham 1 222.22x
Riding 1 434.78x
Rotherhithe 1 2.59x
Shildon 1 13.40x
West Auckland 1 29.41x
Whitehaven 1 6.98x
Winston 1 277.78x
Wycombe 1 7.11x
York All Sts North 1 65.36x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 25
Elizabeth 20
Jane 12
Ellen 11
Ann 9
Harriet 6
Eliza 5
Sarah 5
Alice 4
Annie 4
Emily 4
Emma 4
Ada 3
Catherine 3
Margaret 3
Caroline 2
Edith 2
Ethel 2
Fanny 2
Jennie 2
Laura 2
Louisa 2
Lucy 2
Martha 2
Theadosia 2
Agatha 1
Amy 1
Barbara 1
Charlotte 1
Chris. 1
Dacr 1
Elenanor 1
Eola 1
Florance 1
Florence 1
Frances 1
Francis 1
Hannah 1
Helen 1
Isabell 1
Isabella 1
Isobel 1
Johannah 1
Lavinia 1
Lilley 1
Lilly 1
Lottie 1
Louise 1
Mabel 1
Margareta 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 20
George 14
William 13
James 12
Thomas 12
Joseph 6
Alfred 5
Richard 5
Henry 4
Charles 3
Christopher 3
David 3
Herbert 3
Albert 2
Arthur 2
Francis 2
Frank 2
Frederick 2
Harold 2
Mark 2
Owen 2
Philip 2
Robert 2
Wm. 2
Alexander 1
Benjamin 1
Bryan 1
Charley 1
Earnest 1
Edwin 1
Fred 1
Fred. 1
Jas. 1
Manfred 1
Ramsden 1
Reuben 1
Simeon 1
Thos. 1
Walter 1
Wm.C. 1

FAQ

Hildreth surname: questions and answers

How common was the Hildreth surname in 1881?

In 1881, 320 people were recorded with the Hildreth surname. That placed it at #9,298 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Hildreth surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 603 in 2016. That gives Hildreth a modern rank of #8,687.

What does the Hildreth surname mean?

One who lives near a battle mound or memorial mound, likely derived from Old English hyll and þryð.

What does the Hildreth map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Hildreth 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.