NameCensus.

UK surname

Hillier

A locational surname referring to someone who lived on or near a hill.

In the 1881 census there were 4,031 people recorded with the Hillier surname, ranking it #1,120 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 6,132, ranked #1,104, up from #1,120 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Swindon, Lyddington and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Wiltshire, Bath and North East Somerset and Caerphilly.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Hillier is 6,524 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 52.1%.

1881 census count

4,031

Ranked #1,120

Modern count

6,132

2016, ranked #1,104

Peak year

1999

6,524 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Hillier had 4,031 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,120 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 6,132 in 2016, ranked #1,104.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 5,924 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Hillier surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Hillier surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Hillier 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 2,502 #1,188
1861 historical 2,031 #1,425
1881 historical 4,031 #1,120
1891 historical 4,373 #1,083
1901 historical 5,615 #991
1911 historical 5,924 #876
1997 modern 6,269 #1,047
1998 modern 6,517 #1,047
1999 modern 6,524 #1,055
2000 modern 6,478 #1,058
2001 modern 6,314 #1,056
2002 modern 6,465 #1,057
2003 modern 6,252 #1,070
2004 modern 6,287 #1,064
2005 modern 6,134 #1,070
2006 modern 6,048 #1,079
2007 modern 6,064 #1,085
2008 modern 6,093 #1,086
2009 modern 6,262 #1,085
2010 modern 6,369 #1,095
2011 modern 6,286 #1,091
2012 modern 6,123 #1,096
2013 modern 6,240 #1,096
2014 modern 6,301 #1,090
2015 modern 6,190 #1,096
2016 modern 6,132 #1,104

Geography

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Where Hilliers are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Swindon, Lyddington, London parishes and Bishops Cannings. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Wiltshire, Bath and North East Somerset, Caerphilly and Blaenau Gwent. 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 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
2 Swindon, Lyddington Wiltshire
3 London parishes London 1
4 Bishops Cannings Wiltshire
5 London parishes London 3

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Wiltshire 025 Wiltshire
2 Wiltshire 040 Wiltshire
3 Bath and North East Somerset 022 Bath and North East Somerset
4 Caerphilly 014 Caerphilly
5 Blaenau Gwent 008 Blaenau Gwent

Forenames

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First names often paired with Hillier

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Hillier

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Hillier is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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 concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Hillier is most concentrated in decile 5 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.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Hillier

The surname Hillier originated in England during the late medieval period. It is derived from the Old English word "hyl," meaning "hill," and the occupational suffix "-ier," signifying one who lived or worked on a hill. The name was likely first used to identify individuals residing near or working on a prominent hill or elevated area.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Hillier can be found in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273, which lists a person named William le Hillier in Oxfordshire. This suggests that the name was already in use by the 13th century and may have been adopted earlier.

In the 14th century, the name appeared in various spellings, such as Hyllyer, Hyllere, and Hyllyere, reflecting the regional variations in pronunciation and spelling at the time. The Subsidy Rolls of 1327 and 1332 recorded individuals named John le Hyllere and Adam le Hyllere in Somerset and Wiltshire, respectively.

The surname Hillier is also associated with several place names in England, such as Hillier's Copse in Hampshire and Hillier's Farm in Berkshire. These place names likely originated from individuals bearing the Hillier surname who owned or resided in those locations.

Notable individuals with the surname Hillier throughout history include:

1. Sir Harold Hillier (1905-1985), an English horticulturist and creator of the renowned Hillier Gardens in Hampshire. 2. Alfred Hillier (1839-1920), an English cricketer who played for Surrey and the Marylebone Cricket Club. 3. Thomas Hillier (1785-1867), an English architect responsible for designing several notable buildings in London, including the Corn Exchange and the Haymarket Theatre. 4. Mary Hillier (1776-1847), an English diarist and author who wrote extensively about life in late 18th and early 19th century England. 5. John Hillier (1797-1875), a British painter and illustrator known for his landscapes and depictions of rural life.

While the surname Hillier is predominantly found in England and has its roots in the English language, it has also been adopted in other parts of the world, likely through migration and intermarriage. However, the core meaning and origin of the name remain deeply rooted in the English landscape and its historical records.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Hillier families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Hillier 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. Wiltshire leads with 821 Hilliers recorded in 1881 and an index of 23.57x.

County Total Index
Wiltshire 821 23.57x
Middlesex 715 1.82x
Surrey 460 2.40x
Hampshire 436 5.40x
Somerset 401 6.32x
Gloucestershire 202 2.61x
Kent 152 1.13x
Dorset 106 4.10x
Monmouthshire 97 3.41x
Berkshire 80 2.71x
Sussex 70 1.05x
Lancashire 67 0.14x
Essex 50 0.64x
Devon 42 0.51x
Glamorgan 33 0.48x
Leicestershire 32 0.73x
Yorkshire 31 0.08x
Northamptonshire 27 0.73x
Staffordshire 24 0.18x
Oxfordshire 19 0.78x
Warwickshire 18 0.18x
Buckinghamshire 17 0.71x
Cheshire 16 0.18x
Lincolnshire 13 0.21x
Worcestershire 13 0.25x
Cambridgeshire 10 0.40x
Derbyshire 10 0.16x
Durham 9 0.08x
Herefordshire 7 0.43x
Hertfordshire 7 0.26x
Channel Islands 6 0.51x
Shropshire 6 0.18x
Cornwall 5 0.11x
Norfolk 5 0.08x
Royal Navy 5 1.07x
Lanarkshire 4 0.03x
Bedfordshire 3 0.15x
Nottinghamshire 3 0.06x
Suffolk 3 0.06x
Denbighshire 2 0.13x
Flintshire 2 0.19x
Midlothian 2 0.04x
Montgomeryshire 2 0.22x
Anglesey 1 0.14x
Cumberland 1 0.03x
Huntingdonshire 1 0.13x
Pembrokeshire 1 0.08x
Roxburghshire 1 0.14x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Burbage in Wiltshire leads with 87 Hilliers recorded in 1881 and an index of 489.86x.

Place Total Index
Burbage 87 489.86x
St Marylebone London 65 3.09x
Islington London 62 1.62x
St Pancras London 62 1.96x
Bishops Cannings 60 465.12x
Nunney 56 407.87x
Camberwell 51 2.03x
Lambeth 51 1.48x
Chelsea London 50 4.21x
Bedminster 49 8.22x
Battersea 45 3.10x
Bremhill 40 254.94x
Brighton 40 2.99x
Hackney London 39 1.77x
Newington 39 2.68x
Walcot 39 11.55x
Kensington London 36 1.64x
West Ham 31 1.81x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 30 4.12x
Frome 29 19.12x
Sheepshed 29 48.45x
Alverstoke 28 9.58x
Bermondsey 28 2.39x
Calne 27 37.65x
Willesden 25 6.73x
Christian Malford 24 226.84x
Croydon 24 2.25x
Preshute 23 107.33x
Reigate Foreign 23 11.07x
St Woollos 23 7.24x
Carisbrooke 22 19.63x
Lyneham 22 161.53x
Northwood 22 19.14x
Ryde 22 12.68x
Seend 22 318.84x
Trowbridge 22 14.29x
Kingston On Thames 21 4.55x
Andover 20 26.22x
Bradford On Avon 20 17.93x
Devizes St Mary 20 56.80x
Southwark St George Martyr 20 2.52x
Isleworth 19 10.85x
Lyncombe Widcombe 19 11.45x
Paddington London 19 1.31x
Rotherhithe 19 3.90x
Deptford St Paul 18 1.74x
Heston 18 13.76x
Portsea 18 1.14x
Charlton Next Woolwich 17 12.13x
Harborne 17 3.99x
Hillmarton 17 196.76x
Minchinhampton 17 27.62x
Southampton St Mary 17 3.35x
Southwark St Saviour 17 8.40x
Teddington London 17 19.05x
Bethnal Green London 16 0.94x
Chilbolton 16 346.32x
Marlborough St Peter St 16 89.29x
Millbrook 16 7.87x
Swindon 16 5.92x
Bath St James 15 22.68x
Clerkenwell London 15 1.61x
Devizes St James 15 32.40x
Mile End Old Town London 15 1.79x
Ventnor 15 19.53x
Warminster 15 19.65x
Bromham 14 89.23x
Lewisham 14 1.95x
Newport 14 10.31x
St George In East London 14 3.78x
Winterbourne Bassett 14 396.60x
Wootton Bassett 14 46.20x
Chilcompton 13 149.77x
Chippenham 13 17.80x
Fyfield 13 613.21x
Shinfield 13 74.76x
Shoreditch London 13 0.76x
St Thomas Winchester 13 22.80x
Weston 13 26.66x
Woolwich 13 2.62x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 221
Sarah 145
Elizabeth 131
Eliza 89
Ann 86
Jane 80
Alice 79
Ellen 74
Emily 73
Emma 68
Annie 63
Martha 38
Louisa 36
Harriet 34
Edith 31
Charlotte 30
Maria 30
Caroline 29
Clara 27
Florence 27
Ada 24
Fanny 23
Hannah 22
Amelia 21
Susan 20
Frances 18
Matilda 18
Harriett 17
Kate 17
Rose 17
Margaret 15
Catherine 14
Lucy 14
Sophia 13
Anna 12
Agnes 11
Amy 11
Eleanor 11
Gertrude 11
Laura 10
Anne 8
Esther 8
Minnie 8
Elizth. 7
Helen 7
Jessie 7
Rosa 7
Bessie 6
Lavinia 6
Ruth 6

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 254
John 184
George 156
Henry 137
James 128
Thomas 121
Charles 106
Alfred 51
Frederick 49
Arthur 47
Walter 47
Joseph 41
Richard 39
Edward 37
Harry 35
Albert 34
Robert 34
Frank 26
Samuel 25
Edwin 22
Francis 20
Ernest 16
Herbert 15
David 11
Jesse 11
Fred 9
Isaac 9
Sydney 9
Stephen 8
Wm. 8
Benjamin 7
Fredk. 7
Chas. 6
Daniel 6
Fredrick 6
Jno. 6
Mark 6
Percy 6
Thos. 6
Andrew 5
Job 5
Richd. 5
Sidney 5
Tom 5
Willie 5
Elijah 4
Geo. 4
Lambert 4
Edwd. 3
Eli 3

FAQ

Hillier surname: questions and answers

How common was the Hillier surname in 1881?

In 1881, 4,031 people were recorded with the Hillier surname. That placed it at #1,120 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Hillier surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 6,132 in 2016. That gives Hillier a modern rank of #1,104.

What does the Hillier surname mean?

A locational surname referring to someone who lived on or near a hill.

What does the Hillier map show?

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