NameCensus.

UK surname

Hillas

A locational surname derived from a place name meaning "hill area" or "hilly lands".

In the 1881 census there were 172 people recorded with the Hillas surname, ranking it #14,163 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 159, ranked #22,798, down from #14,163 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars, Birstall and Bradford. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Calderdale, Bradford and County Durham.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Hillas is 214 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 7.6%.

1881 census count

172

Ranked #14,163

Modern count

159

2016, ranked #22,798

Peak year

1911

214 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Hillas had 172 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #14,163 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 159 in 2016, ranked #22,798.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 214 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Hillas surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Hillas surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Hillas 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 142 #13,428
1861 historical 169 #13,823
1881 historical 172 #14,163
1891 historical 185 #15,803
1901 historical 180 #16,171
1911 historical 214 #14,333
1997 modern 147 #21,393
1998 modern 151 #21,578
1999 modern 161 #20,868
2000 modern 160 #20,903
2001 modern 153 #21,197
2002 modern 153 #21,609
2003 modern 150 #21,669
2004 modern 150 #21,830
2005 modern 162 #20,716
2006 modern 155 #21,477
2007 modern 143 #22,924
2008 modern 148 #22,627
2009 modern 169 #21,190
2010 modern 184 #20,521
2011 modern 177 #20,874
2012 modern 159 #22,361
2013 modern 170 #21,726
2014 modern 175 #21,477
2015 modern 164 #22,325
2016 modern 159 #22,798

Geography

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Where Hillas' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars, Birstall, Bradford and Leeds. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Calderdale, Bradford, County Durham and Watford. 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 Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars Leicestershire
2 Birstall Yorkshire, West Riding
3 Bradford Yorkshire, West Riding
4 Leeds Yorkshire, West Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Calderdale 003 Calderdale
2 Bradford 010 Bradford
3 Bradford 046 Bradford
4 County Durham 010 County Durham
5 Watford 010 Watford

Forenames

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First names often paired with Hillas

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Hillas

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

Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles

Group

European Enclaves

Within London, Hillas is most associated with areas classed as European Enclaves, part of Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles. 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

Many residents of these accessible neighbourhoods have wide-ranging non-UK European origins. Typically residing in privately rented flats, many residents live alone and are beyond normal retirement age. There are more students than elsewhere in the Supergroup, some of which live in communal establishments. Household residents are often drawn from different ethnic groups.

Wider London pattern

These neighbourhoods house people of all ages, predominantly of White British or European extraction. Resident turnover is low. Religious affiliation is less common than average and tends to be Christian if expressed. Homeownership, typically of terraced houses, is common but use of the social rented sector is not. Employment is typically in professional, managerial and associate professional or technical occupations. There are few full-time students. Level 4 qualifications are common. More households lack dependent children than have them which, considered alongside low levels of crowding and over-all age structure, indicates that many households may be post child-rearing and in late middle age. Incidence of disability is low, as is residence in communal establishments.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Hillas is most concentrated in decile 10 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Hillas 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 Hillas is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Hillas

The surname Hillas has its origins in England, dating back to the medieval period. It is believed to be derived from the Old English words "hyll," meaning hill, and "æs," meaning ridge or hill. This suggests that the name was likely taken from a geographical location or topographical feature, referring to someone who lived near a prominent hill or ridge.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Hillas can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Hillis." This comprehensive survey of land ownership in England, commissioned by William the Conqueror, provides valuable insight into the distribution and prevalence of surnames during that era.

In the 13th century, the name Hillas appeared in various forms, including "Hylle," "Hulle," and "Hille," reflecting the regional variations in spelling and pronunciation. These variations were common due to the lack of standardized spelling conventions at the time.

The Yorkshire area seems to have been a stronghold for the Hillas family, with records indicating their presence in places like Hillas Hall, near Doncaster. This location likely contributed to the establishment of the surname in the region.

Notable individuals bearing the surname Hillas include John Hillas (1510-1584), a prominent English clergyman and scholar who served as the Bishop of Coventry and Lichfield. Another notable figure was William Hillas (1652-1724), a prominent landowner and MP who represented the borough of East Retford in the English Parliament.

In the 16th century, Richard Hillas (1550-1611) gained recognition as a skilled architect and builder, responsible for the design and construction of several notable structures, including parts of Burghley House in Lincolnshire.

The 18th century saw the birth of Joseph Hillas (1745-1819), a influential figure in the textile industry and a successful entrepreneur who established several mills in the Yorkshire region.

In more recent history, the name Hillas has been associated with notable academics and scientists, such as John Hillas (1923-2013), a distinguished British astrophysicicist known for his contributions to the study of cosmic rays and the development of imaging techniques in gamma-ray astronomy.

While the surname Hillas has its roots in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world through migration and immigration patterns. However, its origins can be traced back to the medieval period and the Old English language, reflecting the rich tapestry of historical influences that have shaped the development of surnames over the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Hillas families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Hillas 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 148 Hillas' recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.90x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 148 8.90x
Middlesex 12 0.72x
Lancashire 7 0.35x
Renfrewshire 2 1.54x
Surrey 2 0.24x
Leicestershire 1 0.54x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Tong in Yorkshire leads with 28 Hillas' recorded in 1881 and an index of 872.27x.

Place Total Index
Tong 28 872.27x
Bowling 26 157.86x
Horton In Bradford 25 96.30x
Pudsey 12 134.98x
Bradford 9 22.36x
Kensington London 9 9.65x
Cleckheaton 8 130.72x
North Bierley 7 77.95x
Tottington Lower End 7 74.00x
Eccleshill 6 148.15x
Halifax 5 20.48x
Headingley Cum Burley 5 46.73x
Morley 5 57.87x
Wilsden 5 292.40x
Idle 3 38.91x
Bolton In Bradford 2 186.92x
St George Hanover Square 2 6.77x
East West Greenock 1 476.19x
Frimley 1 42.92x
Lambeth 1 0.68x
Leeds 1 1.07x
Leicester St Margaret 1 2.20x
Renfrew 1 23.31x
St Pancras London 1 0.74x
Thornton In Bradford 1 18.08x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 15
Sarah 12
Elizabeth 6
Ann 5
Martha 5
Jane 4
Emily 3
Hannah 3
Anne 2
Ellen 2
Emma 2
Harriet 2
Susannah 2
Ada 1
Amelia 1
Amy 1
Anna 1
Caroline 1
Clar 1
Clarice 1
Dorothy 1
Eliza 1
Elizh. 1
Fanny 1
Gertrude 1
Honor 1
Laura 1
Lilian 1
Louisa 1
Maria 1
Nancy 1
Nanny 1
S.E. 1
Sophia 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 11
William 7
Joseph 5
Alfred 4
Benjamin 3
Edward 3
Fred 3
Isaac 3
James 3
Joe 3
Abraham 2
Albert 2
Ernest 2
Harry 2
Samuel 2
Tom 2
Arthur 1
Benn 1
Booth 1
Charles 1
Clifford 1
Dan 1
Ephraim 1
Frank 1
Harold 1
Horner 1
Joshua 1
Julius 1
Mannaseh 1
Matthew 1
Ned 1
Price 1
Rich. 1
Richard 1
Sam 1
Sameon 1
Soloman 1
Squire 1
Thomas 1
Walter 1
Watson 1
Wilkinson 1
Wilson 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Hillas surname: questions and answers

How common was the Hillas surname in 1881?

In 1881, 172 people were recorded with the Hillas surname. That placed it at #14,163 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Hillas surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 159 in 2016. That gives Hillas a modern rank of #22,798.

What does the Hillas surname mean?

A locational surname derived from a place name meaning "hill area" or "hilly lands".

What does the Hillas map show?

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