Find out how popular the last name Highfill is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Highfill.

Highfill, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Highfill surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Highfill in America

Highfill is the 12968th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Highfill surname appeared 2,368 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Highfill.

We can also compare 2010 data for Highfill to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Highfill

The surname Highfill originated in England during the late medieval period. It is a locational name derived from a place name, most likely a former residence or landholding. The name is believed to have originated in Derbyshire, where there was a hamlet called Highfield or Highfill. This place name is composed of the Old English elements "heah" meaning high and "feld" meaning field or open land, referring to a high-lying area of cultivated ground.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Highfill can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Derbyshire from 1327, where a William de Highfeld is mentioned. The spelling variations in these early records include Highfeld, Highfyld, and Heyfeld. It is likely that the name was originally rendered as de Highfeld, indicating someone from the place called Highfeld.

In the 16th century, the name appeared in various parish records and tax rolls across Derbyshire and neighboring counties. Notable examples include John Highfelde, mentioned in the Chesterfield Parish Registers in 1548, and Richard Highfyld, recorded in the Lay Subsidy Rolls of Staffordshire in 1524.

One of the earliest known bearers of the name was Sir Robert Highfill (c. 1580 - 1648), a prominent landowner and Member of Parliament for Derbyshire during the reign of King Charles I. He played a significant role in the English Civil War, initially supporting the Royalist cause but later switching allegiance to the Parliamentarians.

Another notable figure was Captain Thomas Highfill (1638 - 1711), a naval officer who served in the Royal Navy during the Anglo-Dutch Wars. He distinguished himself in several naval engagements and was later appointed as the Governor of the Bahamas in 1697.

In the 18th century, the name Highfill spread beyond its Derbyshire origins. A prominent example is William Highfill (1724 - 1798), a wealthy merchant and landowner from Yorkshire. He amassed a considerable fortune through his trading ventures and invested heavily in real estate.

During the 19th century, the Highfill family was well-established in various parts of England. One notable member was Reverend John Highfill (1812 - 1889), a prominent clergyman and scholar who served as the Vicar of St. Mary's Church in Nottinghamshire. He was known for his extensive writings on theology and church history.

Additionally, Sir Arthur Highfill (1845 - 1923) was a distinguished British military officer who served in the Indian Army. He rose to the rank of Lieutenant-General and was awarded the prestigious Order of the Bath for his services during the Second Anglo-Afghan War.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Highfill

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Highfill.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Highfill was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Highfill has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Highfill was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Highfill, please contact us.

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