NameCensus.

UK surname

Hillery

An English surname derived from a place name referring to a hilly area.

In the 1881 census there were 178 people recorded with the Hillery surname, ranking it #13,840 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 322, ranked #14,033, down from #13,840 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Arkengarth Dale, St Leonard Shoreditch and Nottingham St Nicholas and St Peter. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Northampton and County Durham.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Hillery is 341 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 80.9%.

1881 census count

178

Ranked #13,840

Modern count

322

2016, ranked #14,033

Peak year

2010

341 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Hillery had 178 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #13,840 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 322 in 2016, ranked #14,033.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 230 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Hillery surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Hillery surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Hillery 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 141 #16,072
1881 historical 178 #13,840
1891 historical 172 #16,663
1901 historical 185 #15,892
1911 historical 230 #13,686
1997 modern 325 #12,832
1998 modern 318 #13,362
1999 modern 317 #13,473
2000 modern 322 #13,307
2001 modern 319 #13,168
2002 modern 325 #13,275
2003 modern 327 #13,046
2004 modern 314 #13,473
2005 modern 313 #13,433
2006 modern 317 #13,376
2007 modern 321 #13,403
2008 modern 327 #13,350
2009 modern 324 #13,689
2010 modern 341 #13,477
2011 modern 330 #13,664
2012 modern 322 #13,799
2013 modern 326 #13,893
2014 modern 329 #13,918
2015 modern 317 #14,183
2016 modern 322 #14,033

Geography

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Where Hillerys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Arkengarth Dale, St Leonard Shoreditch, Nottingham St Nicholas and St Peter, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard and Durham St Oswald. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Northampton and County Durham. 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 Arkengarth Dale Yorkshire, North Riding
2 St Leonard Shoreditch London (East Districts)
3 Nottingham St Nicholas and St Peter Nottinghamshire
4 Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard Nottinghamshire
5 Durham St Oswald Durham

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Northampton 017 Northampton
2 County Durham 045 County Durham
3 Northampton 006 Northampton
4 Northampton 013 Northampton
5 Northampton 014 Northampton

Forenames

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First names often paired with Hillery

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Hillery

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

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations

Nationally, the Hillery surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Hillery 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 is often found in less central parts of London and other major towns and cities. Adults are more likely than the Supergroup average to have never been married and are typically aged less than 45 years. Many have young dependent children and individuals may have been born in Africa. There are many members identifying with a Black ethnic group, with the other ethnic groups (as listed in the glossary) also represented, though Chinese less so. Accommodation in flats, frequently socially rented, is common in these neighbourhoods. Part time employment is also common, and work is often in elementary occupations, while unemployment is also the highest within this Supergroup.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Hillery 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

Hillery is most concentrated in decile 8 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Hillery falls in decile 2 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.

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Hillery

The surname Hillery is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period, possibly as early as the 12th century. It is thought to be derived from the Old English word "hyll," meaning hill or ridge, and the suffix "-ery," indicating a place of residence. Thus, the name likely referred to someone who lived near a hill or ridge.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Lincolnshire from 1195, which mention a William de Hyllerie. The Pipe Rolls were a series of financial records maintained by the English Exchequer during the medieval period, suggesting that the Hillery name had already become established by the late 12th century.

In the 13th century, the name appeared in various forms, such as Hillerie, Hyllery, and Hyllerie, reflecting the variations in spelling common during that era. For example, a John de Hyllery is mentioned in the Assize Rolls of Yorkshire in 1246, while a Robert de Hillerie is recorded in the Hundred Rolls of Buckinghamshire in 1275.

The Hillery surname may also have been influenced by place names in England, such as Hillerah in Lancashire or Hilary in Shropshire. These place names likely derived from the same Old English root, suggesting a connection between the surname and specific geographic locations.

Notable individuals with the surname Hillery throughout history include:

1. Sir Walter Hillery (c. 1505-1563), an English politician and Member of Parliament during the reign of Queen Mary I. 2. John Hillery (1692-1761), an English clergyman and author who served as the Rector of Stratford-upon-Avon and wrote several religious works. 3. William Hillery (1771-1819), a British Army officer who served in the Napoleonic Wars and was awarded the Army Gold Medal for his service at the Battle of Waterloo. 4. Mary Hillery (1847-1928), an Irish author and journalist who wrote extensively on women's rights and social issues. 5. Everett Hillery (1894-1966), an American lawyer and politician who served as a United States Senator from West Virginia from 1949 to 1955.

While the Hillery surname has maintained a presence throughout the centuries, it is important to note that this history focuses on the origins and early records of the name, rather than providing a comprehensive account of its modern usage or geographic distribution.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Hillery families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Hillery 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. Durham leads with 54 Hillerys recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.45x.

County Total Index
Durham 54 10.45x
Yorkshire 33 1.92x
Nottinghamshire 27 11.54x
Hampshire 12 3.37x
Lancashire 11 0.53x
Northamptonshire 11 6.74x
Middlesex 9 0.52x
Leicestershire 8 4.16x
Surrey 4 0.47x
Worcestershire 3 1.32x
Lanarkshire 2 0.36x
Sussex 2 0.68x
Gloucestershire 1 0.29x
Monmouthshire 1 0.80x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Elvet in Durham leads with 13 Hillerys recorded in 1881 and an index of 348.53x.

Place Total Index
Elvet 13 348.53x
Northampton All Sts 11 198.56x
Nottingham St Nicholas 11 344.83x
Helmington Row 10 414.94x
Crumpsall 9 185.19x
Lynesack Softley 7 500.00x
Nottingham St Mary 7 11.56x
Guisbrough Tocketts 6 2857.14x
Leeds 6 6.18x
Warblington 6 425.53x
Beeston 5 185.87x
Coundon Grange 5 442.48x
Horton In Bradford 5 18.61x
Melsonby 5 1562.50x
Shoreditch London 5 6.64x
Stranton 5 28.75x
Blaby 4 519.48x
Bradford 4 9.60x
Leicester St Margaret 4 8.52x
Radford 4 33.64x
Witton Le Wear 4 273.97x
Longdon 3 937.50x
Portsea 3 4.30x
St Pancras London 3 2.15x
Brighton 2 3.39x
Darlington 2 10.03x
Dawdon 2 31.50x
Eldon 2 243.90x
Guisbrough 2 53.19x
Merton 2 135.14x
Richmond 2 74.35x
Washington 2 92.17x
Atherton 1 13.33x
Barony 1 0.70x
Bishop Auckland 1 14.43x
Chorlton On Medlock 1 3.06x
Clifton 1 5.81x
Fareham 1 23.36x
Glasgow 1 1.00x
Hampstead London 1 3.70x
Kingston On Thames 1 4.92x
Lambeth 1 0.66x
Portsmouth 1 12.21x
Pudsey 1 10.87x
St Woollos 1 7.14x
Stoke Charity 1 1428.57x
Wath In Ripon Norton 1 476.19x
Whitworth 1 26.46x
York St Mary 1 14.03x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 17
Sarah 11
Elizabeth 9
Jane 5
Eliza 4
Hannah 4
Ann 3
Isabella 3
Margaret 3
Martha 3
Alice 2
Annie 2
Elizth. 2
Emma 2
Amelia 1
Anna 1
Anne 1
Beatrice 1
Bessy 1
Catherine 1
Dorothy 1
Eleanor 1
Elizibth. 1
Emily 1
Esther 1
Gertrude 1
Jemmima 1
Katherine 1
Laura 1
Lizzie 1
Maria 1
Nancy 1
Nelley 1
Rose 1
Ruth 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 13
George 12
Thomas 9
William 9
Henry 4
Charles 3
Edward 3
Joseph 3
Ralph 3
Alfred 2
Arthur 2
Benjm. 2
Christopher 2
Frank 2
Thos. 2
Albert 1
Alexander 1
Barslagam 1
Daved 1
Geo. 1
Harry 1
Hennery 1
James 1
Matthew 1
Robert 1
Robt. 1
Saml. 1
Timothy 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Hillery surname: questions and answers

How common was the Hillery surname in 1881?

In 1881, 178 people were recorded with the Hillery surname. That placed it at #13,840 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Hillery surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 322 in 2016. That gives Hillery a modern rank of #14,033.

What does the Hillery surname mean?

An English surname derived from a place name referring to a hilly area.

What does the Hillery map show?

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