NameCensus.

UK surname

Hiles

Derived from a place name meaning "hills" in Old English, likely referring to someone who lived near hills.

In the 1881 census there were 680 people recorded with the Hiles surname, ranking it #5,298 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,016, ranked #5,735, down from #5,298 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Stockport, Wellington and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Barnsley, Shropshire and North East Lincolnshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Hiles is 1,057 in 2002. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 49.4%.

1881 census count

680

Ranked #5,298

Modern count

1,016

2016, ranked #5,735

Peak year

2002

1,057 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Hiles had 680 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,298 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,016 in 2016, ranked #5,735.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 978 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Hiles surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Hiles surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Hiles 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 571 #4,456
1861 historical 742 #3,675
1881 historical 680 #5,298
1891 historical 791 #5,081
1901 historical 911 #5,096
1911 historical 978 #4,624
1997 modern 1,004 #5,485
1998 modern 1,050 #5,440
1999 modern 1,052 #5,472
2000 modern 1,035 #5,525
2001 modern 1,029 #5,464
2002 modern 1,057 #5,443
2003 modern 1,030 #5,468
2004 modern 1,046 #5,409
2005 modern 1,009 #5,508
2006 modern 1,012 #5,510
2007 modern 1,005 #5,586
2008 modern 984 #5,725
2009 modern 1,014 #5,700
2010 modern 1,023 #5,772
2011 modern 999 #5,831
2012 modern 1,016 #5,672
2013 modern 1,035 #5,679
2014 modern 1,044 #5,658
2015 modern 1,038 #5,632
2016 modern 1,016 #5,735

Geography

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Where Hiles' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Stockport, Wellington, London parishes and Shrewsbury St Alkmond, St Julian, St Mary (pt), Meole Brace. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Barnsley, Shropshire, North East Lincolnshire, East Riding of Yorkshire and Herefordshire. 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 Stockport Cheshire
2 Wellington Somerset
3 London parishes London 1
4 London parishes London 3
5 Shrewsbury St Alkmond, St Julian, St Mary (pt), Meole Brace Shropshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Barnsley 014 Barnsley
2 Shropshire 038 Shropshire
3 North East Lincolnshire 001 North East Lincolnshire
4 East Riding of Yorkshire 015 East Riding of Yorkshire
5 Herefordshire 021 Herefordshire, County of

Forenames

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First names often paired with Hiles

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Hiles

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Hiles, 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 Hiles surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Hiles 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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Hiles 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

Hiles 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

Hiles falls in decile 7 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.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Hiles 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 Hiles, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Hiles

The surname HILES originated in England during the late medieval period. It is derived from the Old English word "hil," meaning a hill or a mound. The name likely referred to someone who lived near a hill or a ridge.

The earliest known record of the HILES surname dates back to the 13th century in the county of Dorset, where it was spelled as "Hyles." This spelling variation was common in those times due to the lack of standardized spelling conventions.

In the Hundred Rolls of 1273, a collection of administrative records from the reign of King Edward I, there is a mention of a person named "Reginald de la Hyle," which is believed to be an early reference to the HILES surname.

During the 14th century, the HILES surname appeared in various historical documents and records, including the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire in 1327, where a "John atte Hule" was listed.

One of the earliest known bearers of the HILES surname was Sir Robert Hilles, who lived in the 15th century and served as the Lord Mayor of London in 1472. He was a prominent merchant and played a significant role in the city's affairs during his tenure.

Another notable individual with the HILES surname was Richard Hilles, a 16th-century English merchant and diplomat. He was born in Middlesex around 1516 and served as a member of the Muscovy Company, which was involved in trade with Russia.

In the 17th century, the HILES surname was associated with the village of Hiles in Gloucestershire, which likely influenced the spelling and pronunciation of the name in that region.

John Hiles, born in 1609 in Dorset, was a renowned English clergyman and author who wrote several religious works and served as the rector of Faringdon in Berkshire.

Thomas Hiles, born in 1662 in Somerset, was a notable architect and surveyor who designed several churches and public buildings in the south of England during the late 17th and early 18th centuries.

Over the centuries, the HILES surname has been found in various parts of England, particularly in the southern and western regions, where it has a strong historical presence.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Hiles families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Hiles 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. Yorkshire leads with 93 Hiles' recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.42x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 93 1.42x
Middlesex 58 0.88x
Shropshire 55 9.63x
Lancashire 52 0.66x
Herefordshire 48 17.70x
Somerset 45 4.23x
Surrey 45 1.40x
Gloucestershire 37 2.85x
Durham 26 1.32x
Lincolnshire 24 2.27x
Oxfordshire 21 5.14x
Cheshire 20 1.37x
Hampshire 20 1.48x
Nottinghamshire 14 1.57x
Warwickshire 13 0.78x
Dorset 12 2.76x
Glamorgan 11 0.96x
Staffordshire 10 0.45x
Carmarthenshire 8 2.87x
Kent 8 0.35x
Monmouthshire 8 1.67x
Derbyshire 7 0.68x
Devon 6 0.44x
Norfolk 6 0.59x
Suffolk 5 0.62x
Sussex 5 0.45x
Worcestershire 5 0.58x
Hertfordshire 4 0.88x
Essex 3 0.23x
Lanarkshire 3 0.14x
Northumberland 3 0.30x
Argyllshire 2 1.09x
Northamptonshire 1 0.16x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Baildon in Yorkshire leads with 19 Hiles' recorded in 1881 and an index of 153.97x.

Place Total Index
Baildon 19 153.97x
Wellington 18 124.74x
Hereford All Sts 14 112.72x
Kingsclere 12 193.86x
Aston 11 2.40x
Holmer 11 225.41x
Mile End Old Town London 11 7.81x
Newton 11 18.18x
Blagdon 10 446.43x
Kensington London 10 2.72x
Monkwearmouth Shore 10 26.03x
Puddletown 10 375.94x
Stockport 10 13.31x
Wakefield 10 19.88x
Everton 9 3.60x
Gloucester St Aldate 9 562.50x
Meole Brace 9 304.05x
Middle 9 576.92x
Oxford St Clement 9 87.29x
Roath 9 17.21x
Wandsworth 9 14.14x
Wimbledon 9 24.88x
Battersea 8 3.29x
Gringley On Hill 8 425.53x
Hampton Bishop 8 1333.33x
Lambeth 8 1.39x
Llanelly 8 12.74x
Oxford St Thomas 8 41.97x
St Pancras London 8 1.50x
Church Stretton 7 182.77x
Coulsdon 7 119.45x
Ferry Fryston 7 274.51x
Folkestone 7 15.99x
Hereford St Martin 7 213.41x
Westbury On Severn East 7 23.87x
Alderton 6 625.00x
Baschurch 6 153.45x
Bedminster 6 6.00x
Bromley London 6 4.12x
Castleford 6 25.14x
Hyde 6 13.93x
Kings Lynn St Margaret 6 19.65x
Little Bolton 6 5.95x
Ludlow St Lawrence 6 52.77x
Oswestry Town 6 32.79x
Southcoates 6 16.49x
Broughton In Salford 5 6.97x
Clerkenwell London 5 3.20x
Clifton 5 7.62x
Heaton Norris 5 11.19x
Kirton In Lindsey 5 119.33x
Prestwich 5 25.54x
Sheffield 5 2.40x
Shrewsbury St Mary 5 22.17x
Sturton 5 416.67x
Witton Le Wear 5 89.61x
Aberystruth 4 9.49x
Barnsley 4 5.92x
Brighton 4 1.78x
Castle Church 4 29.81x
Castle Eden 4 201.01x
East Harptree 4 268.46x
Elstree 4 266.67x
Gainsborough 4 16.04x
Hackney London 4 1.08x
Halberton 4 124.61x
Holdenhurst 4 11.25x
Horton In Bradford 4 3.91x
Hoyland Nether 4 24.89x
Kirkley 4 59.35x
Paddington London 4 1.64x
Rowley Regis 4 6.43x
Staveley 4 21.76x
Thornley 4 56.18x
Acaster Malbis 3 500.00x
Barony 3 0.55x
Bowling 3 4.62x
Congresbury 3 111.11x
Messingham 3 117.19x
Pudsey 3 8.56x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 53
Elizabeth 34
Sarah 26
Alice 12
Emily 12
Emma 12
Jane 10
Ann 9
Annie 8
Ellen 7
Lucy 7
Fanny 6
Hannah 6
Louisa 6
Caroline 5
Eliza 5
Susan 5
Edith 4
Harriet 4
Kate 4
Agnes 3
Anne 3
Charlotte 3
Esther 3
Frances 3
Margaret 3
Maria 3
Martha 3
Ada 2
Amelia 2
Amy 2
Bertha 2
Elizh. 2
Florence 2
Harriett 2
Harrietta 2
Isabella 2
Katherine 2
Lilian 2
Marrian 2
Maud 2
Minnie 2
Miriam 2
Rose 2
Violet 2
Bessie 1
Blanche 1
Eliz.J. 1
Isa 1
Isabel 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 41
John 38
George 32
Thomas 24
Henry 22
James 17
Joseph 16
Charles 10
Robert 9
Edward 8
Richard 8
Harry 7
Albert 6
Alfred 6
Walter 6
Arthur 5
Edwin 5
Frederick 5
Samuel 4
Wm. 4
Frederic 3
Thos. 3
Alexander 2
Archibald 2
Frank 2
Geo. 2
Herbert 2
Theobald 2
Augustus 1
Cecil 1
Christopher 1
Danby 1
Daniel 1
David 1
Eli 1
Ernest 1
Francis 1
Fred 1
Geo.A. 1
Geo.Fred. 1
Hector 1
Infant 1
Job 1
Joshua 1
Lenord 1
Leonard 1
Phillip 1
Roland 1
Sheriff 1
Sophia 1

FAQ

Hiles surname: questions and answers

How common was the Hiles surname in 1881?

In 1881, 680 people were recorded with the Hiles surname. That placed it at #5,298 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Hiles surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,016 in 2016. That gives Hiles a modern rank of #5,735.

What does the Hiles surname mean?

Derived from a place name meaning "hills" in Old English, likely referring to someone who lived near hills.

What does the Hiles map show?

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