UK surname
A German surname derived from a personal name composed of the elements "hild" meaning battle and "mann" meaning man.
In the 1881 census there were 102 people recorded with the Hilman surname, ranking it #19,518 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 21, ranked #36,596, down from #19,518 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Ashton, Long, East Dean, Little Dean, Flaxley, Abinghall, Weston-under-Penyard (Ross, Herefordshire), Lea (Ross, H and Llanhilleth. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Hilman is 216 in 1851. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 79.4%.
1881 census count
102
Ranked #19,518
Modern count
21
2016, ranked #36,596
Peak year
1851
216 bearers
Map years
4
1851 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Hilman surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Hilman surname density by area, 1881 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 216 | #9,818 |
| 1861 | historical | 193 | #12,371 |
| 1881 | historical | 102 | #19,518 |
| 1891 | historical | 119 | #21,415 |
| 1901 | historical | 95 | #23,462 |
| 1911 | historical | 20 | #31,288 |
| 1997 | modern | 6 | #37,704 |
| 1998 | modern | 8 | #37,334 |
| 1999 | modern | 10 | #37,072 |
| 2000 | modern | 8 | #37,264 |
| 2001 | modern | 7 | #37,293 |
| 2002 | modern | 11 | #36,780 |
| 2003 | modern | 9 | #37,101 |
| 2004 | modern | 7 | #37,496 |
| 2005 | modern | 8 | #37,422 |
| 2006 | modern | 8 | #37,481 |
| 2007 | modern | 10 | #37,335 |
| 2008 | modern | 13 | #37,056 |
| 2009 | modern | 13 | #37,140 |
| 2010 | modern | 16 | #36,937 |
| 2011 | modern | 16 | #36,932 |
| 2012 | modern | 14 | #37,078 |
| 2013 | modern | 19 | #36,691 |
| 2014 | modern | 18 | #36,811 |
| 2015 | modern | 17 | #36,887 |
| 2016 | modern | 21 | #36,596 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Ashton, Long, East Dean, Little Dean, Flaxley, Abinghall, Weston-under-Penyard (Ross, Herefordshire), Lea (Ross, H, Llanhilleth, Aberystruth and Preston. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ashton, Long | Somerset |
| 2 | East Dean, Little Dean, Flaxley, Abinghall, Weston-under-Penyard (Ross, Herefordshire), Lea (Ross, H | Gloucestershire |
| 3 | Llanhilleth | Monmouthshire |
| 4 | Aberystruth | Monmouthshire |
| 5 | Preston | Lancashire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Hilman surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Hilman, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Hilman surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Hilman household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Hilman is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Hilman is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Hilman, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Hilman is of English origin, tracing its roots back to the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "hyll" meaning hill and "mann" meaning man, suggesting that the name may have been given to someone who lived near or on a hill.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Hilman" in Essex. This suggests that the name was already in use by the late 11th century.
In the 13th century, the name appears in various forms such as "Hilleman" and "Hylleman" in different parts of England, including Yorkshire and Lincolnshire. This indicates that the name had spread to other regions and was subject to slight variations in spelling.
The earliest known bearer of the name was William Hilman, born in 1275 in Northamptonshire. He served as a bailiff in the village of Everdon during the reign of King Edward I.
Another notable figure was John Hilman, born in 1440 in Leicestershire. He was a prominent merchant and alderman in the city of Leicester during the Wars of the Roses.
In the 16th century, the name was also found in the Netherlands, where it was spelled as "Hilleman" or "Hillemann." This suggests that the name may have been introduced to the Low Countries through trade or migration from England.
Sir Edward Hilman, born in 1585 in Kent, was a renowned lawyer and member of the English Parliament during the reign of King James I. He played a significant role in the drafting of several legal reforms.
During the English Civil War, Captain Thomas Hilman, born in 1610 in Gloucestershire, served as a cavalry officer in the Parliamentarian forces under Oliver Cromwell. He fought in several battles, including the Battle of Naseby in 1645.
In the 19th century, Reverend John Hilman, born in 1820 in Oxfordshire, was a notable clergyman in the Church of England and served as the vicar of St. Mary's Church in Oxford for over three decades.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Hilman surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Sussex leads with 22 Hilmans recorded in 1881 and an index of 12.50x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Sussex | 22 | 12.50x |
| Middlesex | 13 | 1.25x |
| Devon | 11 | 5.06x |
| Monmouthshire | 10 | 13.26x |
| Kent | 7 | 1.97x |
| Channel Islands | 5 | 16.17x |
| Glamorgan | 5 | 2.75x |
| Gloucestershire | 5 | 2.44x |
| Staffordshire | 5 | 1.42x |
| Cornwall | 4 | 3.39x |
| Somerset | 4 | 2.38x |
| Surrey | 3 | 0.59x |
| Lincolnshire | 2 | 1.20x |
| Warwickshire | 2 | 0.76x |
| Yorkshire | 2 | 0.19x |
| Aberdeenshire | 1 | 1.03x |
| Cambridgeshire | 1 | 1.51x |
| Durham | 1 | 0.32x |
| Hampshire | 1 | 0.47x |
| Oxfordshire | 1 | 1.55x |
| Wiltshire | 1 | 1.08x |
| Worcestershire | 1 | 0.73x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Aberystruth in Monmouthshire leads with 10 Hilmans recorded in 1881 and an index of 150.38x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Aberystruth | 10 | 150.38x |
| Islington London | 9 | 8.90x |
| Hurstpierpoint | 8 | 816.33x |
| Framfield | 6 | 1090.91x |
| Tiverton | 6 | 160.43x |
| Llanwonno | 5 | 76.57x |
| Sedgley | 5 | 38.23x |
| Illogan | 4 | 127.80x |
| St Peter Port | 4 | 69.93x |
| Clifton | 3 | 28.99x |
| Greenwich | 3 | 18.06x |
| Sidbury | 3 | 638.30x |
| Bedminster | 2 | 12.67x |
| Birmingham | 2 | 2.28x |
| Brighton | 2 | 5.63x |
| Chertsey | 2 | 60.79x |
| Crayford | 2 | 129.03x |
| Old Artillery Ground | 2 | 222.22x |
| Sidmouth | 2 | 161.29x |
| St Peterin Eastgate | 2 | 384.62x |
| Bingley | 1 | 15.17x |
| Bristol St Augustine | 1 | 30.30x |
| Bristol St Paul In | 1 | 18.35x |
| Broadwater | 1 | 24.75x |
| Chipping Norton | 1 | 67.11x |
| Clapham | 1 | 7.66x |
| Cuckfield | 1 | 56.18x |
| Easton | 1 | 833.33x |
| Handsworth | 1 | 36.63x |
| Hastings St Mary | 1 | 22.83x |
| Hove | 1 | 12.95x |
| Lewisham | 1 | 5.27x |
| Lindfield | 1 | 135.14x |
| Monquhitter | 1 | 100.00x |
| Plumstead | 1 | 8.42x |
| Southampton St Michael | 1 | 142.86x |
| St Bride London | 1 | 163.93x |
| St Saviour | 1 | 58.48x |
| Stockton On Tees | 1 | 6.68x |
| Stoke Newington London | 1 | 12.30x |
| The Holy Sepulchre | 1 | 625.00x |
| Timsbury | 1 | 196.08x |
| Westbourne | 1 | 113.64x |
| Wollaston | 1 | 116.28x |
| Yatton | 1 | 153.85x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Hilman surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Hilman surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
FAQ
In 1881, 102 people were recorded with the Hilman surname. That placed it at #19,518 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 21 in 2016. That gives Hilman a modern rank of #36,596.
A German surname derived from a personal name composed of the elements "hild" meaning battle and "mann" meaning man.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Hilman bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.