UK surname
Derived from a Middle English term for a servant or domestic worker in a royal or noble household.
In the 1881 census there were 135 people recorded with the Hile surname, ranking it #16,515 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 34, ranked #35,768, down from #16,515 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to North Molton, Highbray, London parishes and Lambeth. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Hile is 861 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 74.8%.
1881 census count
135
Ranked #16,515
Modern count
34
2016, ranked #35,768
Peak year
1861
861 bearers
Map years
6
1851 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Hile surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Hile surname density by area, 1881 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 | 587 | #4,357 |
| 1861 | historical | 861 | #3,212 |
| 1881 | historical | 135 | #16,515 |
| 1891 | historical | 297 | #11,192 |
| 1901 | historical | 170 | #16,762 |
| 1911 | historical | 118 | #20,649 |
| 1997 | modern | 30 | #34,701 |
| 1998 | modern | 32 | #34,633 |
| 1999 | modern | 28 | #35,127 |
| 2000 | modern | 24 | #35,498 |
| 2001 | modern | 22 | #35,531 |
| 2002 | modern | 25 | #35,428 |
| 2003 | modern | 21 | #35,825 |
| 2004 | modern | 22 | #35,878 |
| 2005 | modern | 23 | #35,924 |
| 2006 | modern | 24 | #35,981 |
| 2007 | modern | 23 | #36,142 |
| 2008 | modern | 22 | #36,281 |
| 2009 | modern | 27 | #36,045 |
| 2010 | modern | 27 | #36,153 |
| 2011 | modern | 27 | #36,136 |
| 2012 | modern | 27 | #36,102 |
| 2013 | modern | 32 | #35,862 |
| 2014 | modern | 31 | #35,953 |
| 2015 | modern | 29 | #36,040 |
| 2016 | modern | 34 | #35,768 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around North Molton, Highbray, London parishes, Lambeth, St Marylebone and Loders, Allington. 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 | North Molton, Highbray | Devon |
| 2 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 3 | Lambeth | London (South Districts) |
| 4 | St Marylebone | London (North Districts) |
| 5 | Loders, Allington | Dorset |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Hile 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 Hile, 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 Hile surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Hile 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, Hile 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 Hile is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Hile, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Hile has its origins in England, dating back to the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "hyll," which means "hill" or "mound," suggesting that the name may have been initially given to someone who lived near a hill or on a hillside.
In the early days, the name was often spelled as "Hille" or "Hylle," reflecting the regional dialects and variations in pronunciation. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Hille."
Records from the 13th and 14th centuries show the name appearing in various parts of England, including Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, and Oxfordshire. It is possible that the name was associated with specific place names, such as Hile in Yorkshire or Hile Abbey in Gloucestershire.
One notable historical figure bearing the Hile surname was John Hile, a merchant and politician who lived in the late 15th century. He served as the Mayor of Bristol in 1488 and was a prominent figure in the city's trade and governance.
In the 16th century, Thomas Hile (c. 1505-1572) was a renowned scholar and theologian who studied at the University of Cambridge. He became a Fellow of Pembroke College and later served as the Master of Clare College from 1549 to 1572.
During the English Civil War in the 17th century, Captain Richard Hile (c. 1620-1679) was a prominent military figure who fought for the Parliamentarian forces. He was noted for his bravery and leadership in several battles, including the Battle of Naseby in 1645.
In the 18th century, the Hile family produced several notable figures, including William Hile (1735-1804), a successful merchant and landowner in Lincolnshire. His son, Thomas Hile (1770-1843), followed in his footsteps and became a respected businessman and philanthropist in the same region.
As the centuries passed, the Hile surname continued to be found across various parts of England, with some members of the family migrating to other parts of the British Isles and even to the American colonies in the 17th and 18th centuries.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Hile 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. Middlesex leads with 19 Hiles recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.45x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Middlesex | 19 | 1.45x |
| Devon | 17 | 6.25x |
| Dorset | 17 | 19.82x |
| Lancashire | 14 | 0.90x |
| Surrey | 11 | 1.73x |
| Kent | 8 | 1.79x |
| Nottinghamshire | 7 | 3.97x |
| Durham | 5 | 1.29x |
| Herefordshire | 5 | 9.33x |
| Derbyshire | 4 | 1.95x |
| Norfolk | 4 | 1.99x |
| Worcestershire | 4 | 2.34x |
| Gloucestershire | 3 | 1.17x |
| Hampshire | 3 | 1.12x |
| Staffordshire | 3 | 0.68x |
| Essex | 2 | 0.78x |
| Somerset | 2 | 0.95x |
| Berkshire | 1 | 1.02x |
| Cheshire | 1 | 0.35x |
| Lanarkshire | 1 | 0.24x |
| Leicestershire | 1 | 0.69x |
| Oxfordshire | 1 | 1.24x |
| Yorkshire | 1 | 0.08x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bere Ferrers in Devon leads with 9 Hiles recorded in 1881 and an index of 2000.00x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Bere Ferrers | 9 | 2000.00x |
| Bradpole | 9 | 1285.71x |
| Arnold | 7 | 272.37x |
| Brandon Byshottles | 5 | 102.67x |
| Lambeth | 5 | 4.39x |
| Liverpool | 5 | 5.31x |
| St Margaret Moses London | 5 | 25000.00x |
| Westhide | 5 | 7142.86x |
| Bold | 4 | 1052.63x |
| Bradford | 4 | 55.10x |
| Hayfield | 4 | 317.46x |
| Loders | 4 | 930.23x |
| Middleton | 4 | 1025.64x |
| Plymouth Charles The | 4 | 33.36x |
| St Pancras London | 4 | 3.80x |
| Battersea | 3 | 6.24x |
| Bromley London | 3 | 10.43x |
| Plumstead | 3 | 20.19x |
| Preston | 3 | 967.74x |
| Walsall Foreign | 3 | 13.16x |
| Westminster St James | 3 | 22.32x |
| Acton | 2 | 26.11x |
| Camberwell | 2 | 2.40x |
| Hackney London | 2 | 2.73x |
| Leyton | 2 | 45.05x |
| Painswick | 2 | 110.50x |
| Wolverley | 2 | 133.33x |
| Woolwich | 2 | 12.14x |
| Alverstoke | 1 | 10.31x |
| Barony | 1 | 0.93x |
| Brading | 1 | 28.09x |
| Bruton | 1 | 120.48x |
| Burnley | 1 | 7.66x |
| Canterbury St Peter | 1 | 200.00x |
| Clifton | 1 | 7.72x |
| Compton Bishop | 1 | 400.00x |
| Compton Vallence | 1 | 1666.67x |
| Frensham | 1 | 106.38x |
| Great Malvern | 1 | 28.09x |
| Halwell | 1 | 333.33x |
| Headington | 1 | 80.00x |
| Kenton | 1 | 116.28x |
| Leicester St Margaret | 1 | 2.83x |
| Lewisham | 1 | 4.21x |
| Manaton | 1 | 666.67x |
| Nantwich | 1 | 29.85x |
| Ramsgate | 1 | 13.74x |
| Rawdon | 1 | 65.36x |
| Reading St Giles | 1 | 10.38x |
| South Stoneham | 1 | 17.21x |
| Stourbridge | 1 | 22.78x |
| Withycombe Rawleigh | 1 | 70.42x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Hile surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
| Name | Count |
|---|---|
| Mary | 9 |
| Elizabeth | 5 |
| Jane | 5 |
| Ann | 3 |
| Margaret | 3 |
| Maria | 3 |
| Sarah | 3 |
| Alice | 2 |
| Annie | 2 |
| Catherine | 2 |
| Florence | 2 |
| Harriet | 2 |
| Phebe | 2 |
| Sophia | 2 |
| A.H.H | 1 |
| Ada | 1 |
| Agnes | 1 |
| Beatrix | 1 |
| Betsy | 1 |
| Caroline | 1 |
| Charlotte | 1 |
| Elisabeth | 1 |
| Emily | 1 |
| Euphemia | 1 |
| Fanny | 1 |
| Flora | 1 |
| Frances | 1 |
| Francis | 1 |
| Gwendoline | 1 |
| Hephzebath | 1 |
| Isabel | 1 |
| Josephine | 1 |
| Julia | 1 |
| Keturah | 1 |
| Louise | 1 |
| Margt. | 1 |
| Marianne | 1 |
| May | 1 |
| Rosaline | 1 |
| Rose | 1 |
| Susanna | 1 |
| Tamer | 1 |
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Hile surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
FAQ
In 1881, 135 people were recorded with the Hile surname. That placed it at #16,515 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 34 in 2016. That gives Hile a modern rank of #35,768.
Derived from a Middle English term for a servant or domestic worker in a royal or noble household.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Hile 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.