NameCensus.

UK surname

Hillaby

In the 1881 census there were 79 people recorded with the Hillaby surname, ranking it #22,357 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 125, ranked #26,827, down from #22,357 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Nafferton, Beeford and Pontefract. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Kirklees, North Kesteven and Kingston upon Hull.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Hillaby is 160 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 58.2%.

1881 census count

79

Ranked #22,357

Modern count

125

2016, ranked #26,827

Peak year

1911

160 bearers

Map years

6

1891 to 2016

Key insights

  • Hillaby had 79 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #22,357 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 125 in 2016, ranked #26,827.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 160 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Hillaby surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Hillaby surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Hillaby 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 33 #27,390
1861 historical 40 #28,970
1881 historical 79 #22,357
1891 historical 101 #23,870
1901 historical 134 #19,288
1911 historical 160 #17,151
1997 modern 141 #21,941
1998 modern 136 #23,013
1999 modern 142 #22,607
2000 modern 137 #23,048
2001 modern 127 #23,781
2002 modern 131 #23,793
2003 modern 116 #25,415
2004 modern 124 #24,559
2005 modern 124 #24,529
2006 modern 125 #24,611
2007 modern 124 #25,086
2008 modern 119 #26,067
2009 modern 122 #26,220
2010 modern 125 #26,448
2011 modern 115 #27,634
2012 modern 127 #25,992
2013 modern 132 #25,789
2014 modern 132 #25,971
2015 modern 122 #27,245
2016 modern 125 #26,827

Geography

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Where Hillabys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Nafferton, Beeford, Pontefract, Garton-on-the-Wolds and Lowthorp. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Kirklees, North Kesteven, Kingston upon Hull and East Lindsey. 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 Nafferton Yorkshire, East Riding
2 Beeford Yorkshire, East Riding
3 Pontefract Yorkshire, West Riding
4 Garton-on-the-Wolds Yorkshire, East Riding
5 Lowthorp Yorkshire, East Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Kirklees 044 Kirklees
2 North Kesteven 011 North Kesteven
3 Kingston upon Hull 002 Kingston upon Hull, City of
4 East Lindsey 013 East Lindsey
5 North Kesteven 010 North Kesteven

Forenames

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First names often paired with Hillaby

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Hillaby

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

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Hillaby is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Hillaby is most concentrated in decile 6 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.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Hillaby 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 Hillaby 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 Hillaby, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

1881 census detail

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Hillaby families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Hillaby 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 71 Hillabys recorded in 1881 and an index of 9.30x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 71 9.30x
Cheshire 4 2.35x
Essex 2 1.32x
Kent 1 0.38x
Lincolnshire 1 0.81x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Nafferton in Yorkshire leads with 23 Hillabys recorded in 1881 and an index of 6969.70x.

Place Total Index
Nafferton 23 6969.70x
Lowthorpe 10 20000.00x
Bridlington 7 400.00x
Beeford 6 3157.89x
Sheffield 6 24.69x
York St Saviour 6 821.92x
Birkenhead 4 29.50x
Tanshelf 4 655.74x
Cressing 2 1428.57x
Garton On Wolds 2 1428.57x
York All Sts North 2 526.32x
Deptford St Paul 1 4.93x
Dunnington In Skirlaugh 1 5000.00x
Great Driffield 1 63.69x
Great Kelk 1 2000.00x
Scarborough 1 14.41x
Spittlegate 1 58.82x
Wales 1 166.67x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 6
Elizabeth 4
Annie 3
Jane 3
Alice 2
Ann 2
Harriet 2
Sarah 2
Ada 1
Aleathea 1
Emily 1
Ethel 1
Fanny 1
Hannah 1
Henrietta 1
Louisa 1
Margaret 1
Maria 1
Millisent 1
Rhoda 1
Selina 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 7
George 6
Charles 4
William 4
Henry 3
Richard 3
Arthur 2
Robert 2
Samuel 2
Walter 2
Alfred 1
Edward 1
Ernest 1
Frank 1
Frederick 1
Joseph 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Hillaby surname: questions and answers

How common was the Hillaby surname in 1881?

In 1881, 79 people were recorded with the Hillaby surname. That placed it at #22,357 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Hillaby surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 125 in 2016. That gives Hillaby a modern rank of #26,827.

What does the Hillaby map show?

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