NameCensus.

UK surname

Hiley

An English surname derived from the Old English "hyl", meaning "hill".

In the 1881 census there were 762 people recorded with the Hiley surname, ranking it #4,843 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,075, ranked #5,435, down from #4,843 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Yardley, Halifax and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Walsall, East Lindsey and Sheffield.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Hiley is 1,173 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 41.1%.

1881 census count

762

Ranked #4,843

Modern count

1,075

2016, ranked #5,435

Peak year

1998

1,173 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Hiley had 762 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,843 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,075 in 2016, ranked #5,435.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,134 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Hiley surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Hiley surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Hiley 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 603 #4,262
1861 historical 690 #3,907
1881 historical 762 #4,843
1891 historical 909 #4,540
1901 historical 1,038 #4,610
1911 historical 1,134 #4,107
1997 modern 1,127 #4,969
1998 modern 1,173 #4,971
1999 modern 1,170 #5,035
2000 modern 1,163 #5,032
2001 modern 1,115 #5,107
2002 modern 1,130 #5,169
2003 modern 1,107 #5,154
2004 modern 1,088 #5,235
2005 modern 1,064 #5,282
2006 modern 1,058 #5,302
2007 modern 1,060 #5,343
2008 modern 1,057 #5,396
2009 modern 1,083 #5,386
2010 modern 1,112 #5,388
2011 modern 1,093 #5,407
2012 modern 1,093 #5,320
2013 modern 1,128 #5,266
2014 modern 1,113 #5,343
2015 modern 1,084 #5,411
2016 modern 1,075 #5,435

Geography

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Where Hileys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Yardley, Halifax, London parishes, Sutton Coldfield and Huddersfield. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Walsall, East Lindsey, Sheffield and Runnymede. 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 Yardley Warwickshire
2 Halifax Yorkshire, West Riding
3 London parishes London 3
4 Sutton Coldfield Warwickshire
5 Huddersfield Yorkshire, West Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Walsall 031 Walsall
2 East Lindsey 018 East Lindsey
3 Sheffield 001 Sheffield
4 Runnymede 010 Runnymede
5 Sheffield 075 Sheffield

Forenames

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First names often paired with Hiley

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Hiley

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

Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living

Nationally, the Hiley surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Hiley household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Families with resident dependent children (but not students) are common. Established family groups and White ethnicity predominate, as do individuals born in the UK. They are more likely than the Supergroup average to have been resident in their terraced, semi-detached, or detached houses for more than one year. Levels of multiple car ownership are high. Properties are owned and typically have surplus living space. Associate professionals and administrative occupations are prevalent, and parents are likely to be in middle age or approaching retirement. Educational attainment is above the Supergroup average. Scattered developments and concentrations are found in many small towns.

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

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Hiley is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

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

Hiley is most concentrated in decile 9 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.

9
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Hiley falls in decile 10 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.

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Hiley is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Hiley

The surname Hiley has its origins in England, with records tracing it back to the 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "hyll," meaning a hill or raised ground. The name was likely taken by someone who lived near a prominent hill or ridge.

One of the earliest known bearers of the name was John atte Hylle, recorded in the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex in 1296. The use of the prefix "atte" suggests the name was originally a descriptive byname referring to someone living near a hill.

In the 14th century, the name appeared in various spellings, such as Hille, Hille, and Hylle, reflecting the inconsistencies in spelling during that period. The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 mention a William de la Hulle, while the Yorkshire Poll Tax of 1379 lists a John del Hyll.

The Hiley name has been associated with several notable individuals throughout history. One of the earliest was Sir Walter Hiley (c. 1360-1420), a prominent English landowner and member of Parliament. Another was John Hiley (1614-1679), an English clergyman and author of several religious works.

In the 18th century, the name gained recognition with the birth of Samuel Hiley (1765-1841), a British naval officer who served during the Napoleonic Wars. His son, Samuel Hiley (1789-1868), followed in his footsteps and became an admiral in the Royal Navy.

Another notable bearer of the name was William Hiley (1712-1782), an English painter and engraver known for his landscape and architectural works. His contemporary, Thomas Hiley (1718-1793), was a renowned clockmaker and inventor from Doncaster.

The name has also been associated with several places, such as Hiley Farm in Oxfordshire and Hiley Wood in Gloucestershire, both of which likely derive their names from early Hiley inhabitants or landowners.

Throughout its history, the Hiley surname has been spelled in various ways, including Hily, Hyley, and Heyley, reflecting the diverse regional dialects and pronunciation variations across England. While not as common today as other English surnames, the Hiley name has left a lasting mark on the historical records of the country.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Hiley families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Hiley 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 278 Hileys recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.77x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 278 3.77x
Monmouthshire 74 13.75x
Warwickshire 67 3.57x
Middlesex 48 0.64x
Staffordshire 45 1.79x
Lincolnshire 41 3.45x
Nottinghamshire 39 3.89x
Surrey 31 0.85x
Lancashire 30 0.34x
Derbyshire 22 1.89x
Worcestershire 18 1.85x
Berkshire 15 2.68x
Glamorgan 9 0.69x
Brecknockshire 6 4.03x
Hertfordshire 6 1.17x
Gloucestershire 5 0.34x
Hampshire 5 0.33x
Cheshire 4 0.24x
Kent 3 0.12x
Westmorland 3 1.83x
Leicestershire 2 0.24x
Midlothian 2 0.20x
Norfolk 2 0.17x
Shropshire 2 0.31x
Durham 1 0.05x
Essex 1 0.07x
Northamptonshire 1 0.14x
Northumberland 1 0.09x
Oxfordshire 1 0.22x
Suffolk 1 0.11x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Aston in Warwickshire leads with 42 Hileys recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.13x.

Place Total Index
Aston 42 8.13x
Armley 38 116.82x
Risca 25 246.55x
Hunslet 19 16.52x
Yardley 18 72.38x
Horton In Bradford 17 14.76x
Sutton Coldfield 17 86.16x
Huddersfield 15 13.96x
Bedwellty 13 13.68x
Ovenden 13 39.61x
St Pancras London 13 2.17x
Weybridge 11 141.39x
Allerton 10 106.38x
Elksley 9 1071.43x
Metheringham 9 189.47x
Mirfield 9 22.23x
New Windsor 9 47.92x
Whitwell 9 194.38x
Birmingham 8 1.28x
Bradford 8 4.48x
Gainsborough 8 28.51x
Halifax 8 7.39x
Longwood 8 67.28x
Manningham 8 8.80x
Shipley 8 20.90x
Stoke Upon Trent 8 3.00x
Ystradyfodwg 8 7.04x
Burton Extra 7 48.61x
Chertsey 7 29.88x
Graig 7 289.26x
Hulme 7 3.80x
Kexborough 7 443.04x
Langfield 7 54.26x
Leeds 7 1.68x
Lichfield St Mary 7 96.55x
St Anne Soho London 7 16.47x
Trevethin 7 13.78x
Upper Machen 7 189.70x
Bowling 6 8.21x
Clayworth 6 535.71x
Clerkenwell London 6 3.42x
Derby St Peter 6 16.17x
Great Barr 6 209.06x
Llanelly 6 33.69x
Louth 6 22.00x
Northowram 6 11.60x
Sawbridgeworth 6 77.22x
Sheffield 6 2.56x
Shenstone 6 93.90x
St Botolph Lincoln 6 70.09x
Thorp Arch 6 600.00x
Wortley In Bramley 6 10.27x
Eccleshill 5 27.86x
Great Driffield 5 33.03x
Islington London 5 0.69x
Litchurch 5 10.66x
Llanwenarth Ultra 5 127.23x
Portsea 5 1.67x
St George Hanover Square 5 3.81x
Sunninghill 5 64.52x
Yarm 5 131.93x
Aberystruth 4 8.43x
Barton Upon Irwell 4 6.02x
Broughton In Salford 4 4.95x
Burton Upon Trent 4 6.81x
Edwinstowe 4 168.07x
Egham 4 17.97x
Kimberworth 4 9.77x
North Bierley 4 10.05x
Spalding 4 16.93x
Teddington London 4 23.72x
Wednesbury 4 6.37x
Battersea 3 1.10x
Bramley In Bramley 3 10.63x
Horton 3 97.40x
Newington 3 1.09x
Perlethorpe 3 882.35x
Rusholme 3 12.73x
St Michael Lincoln 3 92.88x
Upper Llanvrechva 3 35.89x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 48
William 45
James 32
George 28
Thomas 25
Joseph 24
Charles 22
Henry 12
Frederick 10
Alfred 8
Arthur 8
Samuel 8
Ernest 6
Frank 6
Fred 6
Herbert 5
Albert 4
Benjamin 4
David 4
Edward 4
Harry 4
Walter 4
Allen 3
Richard 3
Robert 3
Abraham 2
Jonas 2
Jonathan 2
Louis 2
Reuben 2
Sidney 2
Tom 2
Alan 1
Alvin 1
Arnold 1
Beaumont 1
Caleb 1
Edmund 1
F. 1
Fanny 1
Francis 1
Franks 1
Frederic 1
Frincis 1
Jas. 1
Jim 1
Job 1
Jos.Mellor 1
Mathew 1
Zackariah 1

FAQ

Hiley surname: questions and answers

How common was the Hiley surname in 1881?

In 1881, 762 people were recorded with the Hiley surname. That placed it at #4,843 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Hiley surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,075 in 2016. That gives Hiley a modern rank of #5,435.

What does the Hiley surname mean?

An English surname derived from the Old English "hyl", meaning "hill".

What does the Hiley map show?

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