NameCensus.

UK surname

Hilson

Derived from a place name meaning "hill town" in Old English, or a variant of Hillson, meaning "son of Hill."

In the 1881 census there were 305 people recorded with the Hilson surname, ranking it #9,615 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 491, ranked #10,116, down from #9,615 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Edinburgh and Pertenhall, Little Staughton, Bolnhurst (Riseley, Bedfordshire), Keysoe (Riseley, Bedfordshire). In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Fauldhouse, Bathgate East and Hammersmith and Fulham.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Hilson is 729 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 61.0%.

1881 census count

305

Ranked #9,615

Modern count

491

2016, ranked #10,116

Peak year

1861

729 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Hilson had 305 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #9,615 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 491 in 2016, ranked #10,116.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 729 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities.

Hilson surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Hilson surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Hilson 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 482 #5,171
1861 historical 729 #3,734
1881 historical 305 #9,615
1891 historical 586 #6,517
1901 historical 437 #8,894
1911 historical 335 #10,584
1997 modern 487 #9,482
1998 modern 496 #9,658
1999 modern 493 #9,765
2000 modern 517 #9,384
2001 modern 502 #9,440
2002 modern 504 #9,578
2003 modern 491 #9,612
2004 modern 475 #9,871
2005 modern 481 #9,702
2006 modern 485 #9,691
2007 modern 483 #9,816
2008 modern 486 #9,852
2009 modern 486 #10,069
2010 modern 482 #10,319
2011 modern 473 #10,376
2012 modern 463 #10,457
2013 modern 476 #10,385
2014 modern 487 #10,289
2015 modern 486 #10,216
2016 modern 491 #10,116

Geography

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Where Hilsons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Edinburgh, Pertenhall, Little Staughton, Bolnhurst (Riseley, Bedfordshire), Keysoe (Riseley, Bedfordshire) and Glasgow. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Fauldhouse, Bathgate East, Hammersmith and Fulham, Old Town, Princes Street and Leith Street and Cherwell. 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 London parishes London 1
2 London parishes London 3
3 Edinburgh Edinburgh
4 Pertenhall, Little Staughton, Bolnhurst (Riseley, Bedfordshire), Keysoe (Riseley, Bedfordshire) Huntingdonshire
5 Glasgow Lanark

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Fauldhouse West Lothian
2 Bathgate East West Lothian
3 Hammersmith and Fulham 023 Hammersmith and Fulham
4 Old Town, Princes Street and Leith Street City of Edinburgh
5 Cherwell 008 Cherwell

Forenames

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First names often paired with Hilson

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Hilson

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

Legacy Communities

Group

Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities

Nationally, the Hilson surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities, within Legacy Communities. This does not mean every Hilson household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Households in these areas often include divorced or separated parents and commonly include children and young adults. The age structure is heavily skewed towards the most advanced age groups. Individuals identifying as members of ethnic minorities are not present in large numbers. Flats predominate, with some terraced, semi-detached, and detached units. Multiple car ownership is low, and housing is predominantly in the private and social rented sectors. Employment is less skewed towards traditional routine industrial occupations. Levels of educational attainment are generally low. The Group occurs principally in the Central Lowlands of Scotland and other Scottish towns.

Wider pattern

These neighbourhoods characteristically comprise pockets of flats that are scattered across the UK, particularly in towns that retain or have legacies of heavy industry or are in more remote seaside locations. Employed residents of these neighbourhoods work mainly in low-skilled occupations. Residents typically have limited educational qualifications. Unemployment is above average. Some residents live in overcrowded housing within the social rented sector and experience long-term disability. All adult age groups are represented, although there is an overall age bias towards elderly people in general and the very old in particular. Individuals identifying as belonging to ethnic minorities or Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups are uncommon.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Hilson is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

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

Hilson is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Hilson falls in decile 5 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.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Hilson

The surname Hilson has its origins in England, emerging in the late medieval period around the 13th or 14th century. It is believed to be a locational surname, derived from a place name such as Hill's Town or Hilton. The earliest recorded instances of the name date back to the late 13th century, with variations like Hylston and Hilston appearing in historic documents.

One of the earliest known bearers of the name was Robert de Hilston, who was mentioned in the Subsidy Rolls of Staffordshire in 1327. Another early record is that of John Hilston, listed in the Court Rolls of the Manor of Wakefield in Yorkshire in 1379.

The name Hilson can be traced back to various place names across England, including Hilston in Monmouthshire, Hilton in Staffordshire, and Hilton in Derbyshire. These place names likely originated from the Old English words "hyll" or "hyl," meaning hill, and "tun," meaning a settlement or farmstead.

In the 16th century, the Hilson surname gained prominence with the birth of Thomas Hilson (c. 1550-1625), an English lawyer and Member of Parliament. He served as the Recorder of Coventry and represented the borough in the House of Commons during the reign of James I.

Another notable figure was John Hilson (1599-1657), an English Puritan minister and one of the authors of the Westminster Confession of Faith. He was a prominent figure in the English Reformation and served as the rector of Croscombe in Somerset.

In the 18th century, William Hilson (1718-1786) was a renowned English engraver and printmaker, known for his intricate etchings and engravings of landscapes and architectural subjects.

The 19th century saw the birth of John Hilson (1835-1916), a Scottish-born Australian businessman and politician. He was a member of the Legislative Assembly of Queensland and played a significant role in the development of the sugar industry in the state.

In the 20th century, notable individuals with the surname Hilson include Herbert Hilson (1903-1981), an English cricketer who played first-class cricket for Gloucestershire and represented England in Test matches against South Africa and the West Indies.

The surname Hilson has a rich history rooted in various regions of England, with its origins dating back to the medieval period. While the name has evolved over the centuries, it remains a testament to the diverse linguistic and cultural influences that have shaped English surnames.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Hilson families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Hilson 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. Roxburghshire leads with 41 Hilsons recorded in 1881 and an index of 75.84x.

County Total Index
Roxburghshire 41 75.84x
Middlesex 36 1.21x
Bedfordshire 32 20.71x
Devon 27 4.35x
Midlothian 25 6.25x
Lanarkshire 23 2.38x
Northamptonshire 17 6.06x
Yorkshire 14 0.47x
Northumberland 12 2.70x
Huntingdonshire 11 18.56x
Surrey 10 0.69x
Lancashire 9 0.25x
Kent 6 0.59x
Cheshire 5 0.76x
Derbyshire 5 1.07x
Hampshire 5 0.82x
Perthshire 5 3.73x
Berwickshire 4 11.07x
Fife 4 2.26x
Cambridgeshire 3 1.59x
Glamorgan 2 0.38x
Renfrewshire 2 0.86x
Angus 1 0.36x
Essex 1 0.17x
Herefordshire 1 0.82x
Leicestershire 1 0.30x
Lincolnshire 1 0.21x
Peeblesshire 1 7.12x
Royal Navy 1 2.81x
Stirlingshire 1 0.91x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Jedburgh in Roxburghshire leads with 30 Hilsons recorded in 1881 and an index of 566.04x.

Place Total Index
Jedburgh 30 566.04x
Dalserf 13 134.99x
Thurleigh 13 2096.77x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 12 7.46x
Plymouth Charles The 11 40.19x
Elswick 10 28.22x
Plymouth St Andrew 10 20.89x
South Leith 10 22.22x
Turvey 10 1020.41x
Bromley London 7 10.66x
Lambeth 7 2.69x
Bethnal Green London 6 4.63x
Eckford 6 638.30x
Little Staughton 6 1250.00x
Ramsey 6 126.58x
Walkhampton 6 1016.95x
Wilmington 6 422.54x
Barony 5 2.05x
Birkenhead 5 9.52x
Holcot 5 1315.79x
Perth West Church 5 78.62x
Ardwick 4 12.52x
Farnborough 4 62.21x
Friern Barnet 4 60.88x
Mile End Old Town London 4 6.30x
Sawtry St Judith 4 1818.18x
Scoonie 4 104.44x
Stanwick 4 597.01x
Westminster St John 4 11.00x
Whittington 4 61.82x
Edinburgh Buccleuch 3 31.71x
Edrom 3 193.55x
Hackney London 3 1.79x
Hamilton 3 11.14x
Ince In Makerfield 3 18.20x
Kelso 3 55.66x
Northampton All Sts 3 31.48x
Rushden 3 79.79x
Southcoates 3 18.27x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 2 7.26x
Brotton 2 51.81x
Cathcart 2 15.99x
Great Barford 2 246.91x
Greenford 2 363.64x
Jesmond 2 32.00x
Little Harrowden 2 235.29x
Merthyr Tydfil 2 4.00x
Netherthong 2 208.33x
New Monkland 2 7.01x
St Pancras London 2 0.83x
Bottesford 1 73.53x
Brightside Bierlow 1 1.72x
Castleton 1 2.83x
Cavers 1 74.07x
Chertsey 1 10.64x
Clerkenwell London 1 1.42x
Coldstream 1 38.17x
Frimley 1 24.15x
Gorton 1 3.00x
Great Driffield 1 16.47x
Great Grimsby 1 3.30x
Holy Trinity Cambridge 1 48.78x
Hornsey 1 2.65x
Huntingdon St Mary 1 67.57x
Lindley Cum Quarmby 1 13.40x
Little Shelford 1 188.68x
Lower Bullingham 1 204.08x
Luton 1 3.74x
Nether Hallam 1 2.50x
Paddington London 1 0.91x
Pilsley In Chesterfield 1 178.57x
Romsey Extra 1 27.47x
Royal Navy 1 3.29x
Southwark St George Martyr 1 1.67x
St Marylebone London 1 0.63x
Stirling 1 7.20x
Stitchel 1 285.71x
Welton Melton 1 116.28x
West Ham 1 0.77x
West Linton 1 87.72x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 13
Mary 8
Sarah 8
Eliza 5
Ann 4
Annie 4
Emma 4
Susan 4
Ada 3
Anna 3
Jane 3
Ellen 2
Emily 2
Hannah 2
Louisa 2
Martha 2
Ruth 2
Adelaide 1
Agnes 1
Alice 1
Anne 1
Betsey 1
Betty 1
Blanche 1
Caroline 1
Charlotte 1
Elisa 1
Eliz. 1
Elzth. 1
Elzth.A. 1
Emmeline 1
Esther 1
Eth. 1
Evangaline 1
Georgina 1
Harriet 1
Hephzibah 1
Lilly 1
Lily 1
Lizie 1
Lousia 1
Maggie 1
Nellie 1
Phillis 1
Priscilla 1
Selina 1
Susannah 1
Ursula 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 15
George 14
Thomas 8
William 8
Henry 5
James 5
Robert 5
Charles 4
Alexander 3
Joseph 3
Samuel 3
Arthur 2
Frederick 2
Albert 1
Amos 1
Andrew 1
Benjamin 1
Daniel 1
David 1
Edwin 1
Ernest 1
Francis 1
Fred 1
Harry 1
Isaac 1
J.D. 1
Philip 1
Phillip 1
Richard 1
Tedbor 1
Thos. 1
Walter 1

FAQ

Hilson surname: questions and answers

How common was the Hilson surname in 1881?

In 1881, 305 people were recorded with the Hilson surname. That placed it at #9,615 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Hilson surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 491 in 2016. That gives Hilson a modern rank of #10,116.

What does the Hilson surname mean?

Derived from a place name meaning "hill town" in Old English, or a variant of Hillson, meaning "son of Hill."

What does the Hilson map show?

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