NameCensus.

UK surname

Hillam

A locational surname referring to someone from the English place of that name.

In the 1881 census there were 271 people recorded with the Hillam surname, ranking it #10,449 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 278, ranked #15,579, down from #10,449 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Halifax, St John Hackney and Peterborough St John the Baptist. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Bradford, Kirklees and Sunderland.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Hillam is 313 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 2.6%.

1881 census count

271

Ranked #10,449

Modern count

278

2016, ranked #15,579

Peak year

1911

313 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Hillam had 271 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #10,449 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 278 in 2016, ranked #15,579.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 313 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Hillam surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Hillam surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Hillam 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 219 #9,712
1861 historical 228 #10,703
1881 historical 271 #10,449
1891 historical 273 #11,918
1901 historical 298 #11,695
1911 historical 313 #11,108
1997 modern 312 #13,182
1998 modern 302 #13,839
1999 modern 302 #13,895
2000 modern 277 #14,688
2001 modern 272 #14,654
2002 modern 284 #14,524
2003 modern 275 #14,652
2004 modern 272 #14,843
2005 modern 270 #14,822
2006 modern 262 #15,255
2007 modern 274 #14,932
2008 modern 270 #15,219
2009 modern 288 #14,838
2010 modern 301 #14,697
2011 modern 300 #14,591
2012 modern 288 #14,934
2013 modern 286 #15,259
2014 modern 284 #15,455
2015 modern 285 #15,307
2016 modern 278 #15,579

Geography

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Where Hillams are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Halifax, St John Hackney, Peterborough St John the Baptist, Bradford and London parishes. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Bradford, Kirklees and Sunderland. 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 Halifax Yorkshire, West Riding
2 St John Hackney London (North Districts)
3 Peterborough St John the Baptist Northamptonshire
4 Bradford Yorkshire, West Riding
5 London parishes London 2

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Bradford 054 Bradford
2 Kirklees 004 Kirklees
3 Kirklees 001 Kirklees
4 Sunderland 025 Sunderland
5 Bradford 059 Bradford

Forenames

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First names often paired with Hillam

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Hillam

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Hillam, 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 Hillam surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Hillam 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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Hillam is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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 neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Hillam 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

Hillam falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

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

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Hillam

The surname Hillam is of English origin, derived from a place name in Yorkshire. The name is believed to have originated in the 12th century, referring to a location near the town of Selby. The earliest recorded spelling of the name was "de Hillum" in the Yorkshire Poll Tax returns of 1379.

The name Hillam is thought to be derived from the Old English words "hyll" meaning hill and "ham" meaning homestead or settlement. This suggests that the name likely referred to a homestead situated on or near a hill in the Yorkshire region. Similar place names from the same period include Hilham in Norfolk and Hullam in Derbyshire.

In the Domesday Book of 1086, a record of landholders in England compiled by order of William the Conqueror, there are references to several places with similar names, such as Hillum and Hilium, which may be related to the origins of the Hillam surname.

One of the earliest known bearers of the Hillam name was John de Hillum, who was recorded in the Yorkshire Chantry Rolls of 1349. Another early reference is to William Hillam, mentioned in the Calverley Charters of Yorkshire in 1435.

Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals with the surname Hillam. One such person was Robert Hillam (1663-1736), an English clergyman and author who served as the Rector of Hawarden in Flintshire, Wales. Another was John Hillam (1760-1825), a British painter and engraver known for his landscapes and portraits.

In the 18th century, the Hillam family had a presence in the village of Heslington, near York. Henry Hillam (1745-1821) was a farmer and landowner in Heslington, and his son, also named Henry Hillam (1772-1853), continued the family's agricultural pursuits in the area.

Another notable individual with the Hillam surname was William Hillam (1805-1867), a successful businessman and philanthropist from Yorkshire. He made his fortune in the wool trade and was a significant benefactor to various charitable causes in the region.

It is worth noting that while the surname Hillam has its origins in Yorkshire, it has since spread to other parts of England and beyond, with bearers of the name found in various regions and countries over the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Hillam families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Hillam 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 187 Hillams recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.14x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 187 7.14x
Lincolnshire 16 3.79x
Middlesex 15 0.57x
Huntingdonshire 9 17.15x
Norfolk 9 2.21x
Durham 7 0.89x
Northamptonshire 6 2.41x
Lancashire 4 0.13x
Essex 3 0.57x
Shropshire 3 1.31x
Surrey 3 0.23x
Devon 2 0.36x
Hampshire 2 0.37x
Nottinghamshire 2 0.56x
Bedfordshire 1 0.73x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.63x
Kent 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. Horton In Bradford in Yorkshire leads with 76 Hillams recorded in 1881 and an index of 185.77x.

Place Total Index
Horton In Bradford 76 185.77x
Bowling 28 107.90x
Bradford 15 23.65x
Hackney London 13 8.77x
Clee With Weelsby 8 86.49x
Tong 8 158.10x
Spittlegate 7 119.66x
West Rainton 7 288.07x
Yaxley 7 569.11x
Drighlington 6 157.07x
North Bierley 6 42.43x
Peterborough 6 33.33x
Elland Cum Greetland 5 42.37x
Hunslet 5 12.24x
South Lynn 5 108.93x
Halifax 4 10.40x
Kimberworth 4 27.51x
Kings Lynn St Margaret 4 32.79x
Manningham 4 12.40x
Gomersal 3 24.53x
Oswestry Town 3 41.04x
Southowram 3 37.50x
Sowerby In Halifax 3 35.01x
West Ham 3 2.60x
East Budleigh 2 77.22x
Fletton 2 119.05x
Heaton 2 71.17x
High Low Bishopside 2 86.21x
Holdenhurst 2 14.07x
Liversedge 2 17.15x
North Meols 2 6.51x
Pudsey 2 14.29x
Sculcoates 2 4.82x
Snenton 2 14.29x
Battersea 1 1.03x
Bingley 1 6.00x
Ewell 1 36.76x
Fulwood 1 29.50x
Great Grimsby 1 3.73x
Great Missenden 1 50.76x
Ilkley 1 23.36x
Islington London 1 0.39x
Kensington London 1 0.68x
Knottingley 1 21.74x
Leeds 1 0.68x
Melchbourne 1 500.00x
Merton 1 44.44x
Northowram 1 5.44x
Prestwich 1 12.77x
Southcoates 1 6.88x
West Peckham 1 238.10x
Wyke In Bradford 1 21.37x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 25
Sarah 15
Emma 8
Elizabeth 7
Hannah 7
Louisa 6
Ann 5
Florence 5
Annie 4
Harriet 4
Amanda 3
Lilly 3
Alice 2
Clara 2
Eliza 2
Ellen 2
Emily 2
F. 2
Henrietta 2
Martha 2
Rebecca 2
Sevina 2
Violet 2
Ada 1
Anne 1
Annis 1
Catherine 1
Dora 1
Edith 1
Grace 1
Harriett 1
Kate 1
Lilias 1
Marian 1
Matilda 1
Nancy 1
Rhoda 1
Susan 1
Sushanna 1
W.E.M. 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 19
Alfred 7
James 7
Joseph 7
Charles 6
Ernest 5
George 5
William 5
Arthur 4
Albert 3
Frank 3
Isaac 3
Robert 3
Samuel 3
Walter 3
David 2
Fred 2
Henry 2
Herbert 2
Jonas 2
Levi 2
M. 2
Oliver 2
Richard 2
Andy 1
Anson 1
Ben 1
Benjamin 1
Charlie 1
Craven 1
Edward 1
Ellis 1
Ephraim 1
Feather 1
Ferby 1
Frances 1
Geo. 1
Harry 1
Herod 1
Holdsworth 1
Horrace 1
Jacob 1
Job 1
Joe 1
Lesley 1
Lister 1
Louis 1
Luke 1
Oswell 1
Paul 1

FAQ

Hillam surname: questions and answers

How common was the Hillam surname in 1881?

In 1881, 271 people were recorded with the Hillam surname. That placed it at #10,449 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Hillam surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 278 in 2016. That gives Hillam a modern rank of #15,579.

What does the Hillam surname mean?

A locational surname referring to someone from the English place of that name.

What does the Hillam map show?

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