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

Hightower, 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 Hightower surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Hightower in America

Hightower is the 1787th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Hightower surname appeared 20,065 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 7 people would have the surname Hightower.

We can also compare 2010 data for Hightower 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 Hightower

The surname Hightower has its origins in England, and it can be traced back to the early medieval period. The name is believed to be derived from the Old English words "hēah" and "tor," meaning "high" and "tower," respectively. This combination likely referred to a person who lived near or worked in a tall tower or fortification.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Hightower can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Worcestershire from the year 1220, where a certain Robert de Hightower is mentioned. The "de" prefix indicates that the name was originally a locational surname, referring to a specific place or landmark.

In the 13th century, the name appeared in various spellings, such as "Hightower," "Heitoure," and "Hietour," reflecting the regional variations in pronunciation and orthography at the time. The Hundred Rolls of 1273 record a Walter de Hightower living in Oxfordshire.

During the 14th century, the name Hightower gained further recognition, particularly in connection with notable individuals. John Hightower, a prominent merchant and landowner, was born in Bristol in 1312 and played a significant role in the city's economic affairs.

The Domesday Book, a comprehensive record of landholdings in England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086, does not contain any direct references to the surname Hightower. However, it does mention several locations with the word "tower" in their names, suggesting a potential connection to the name's origins.

In the 16th century, the Hightower family established itself in Gloucestershire, with Thomas Hightower (1542-1611) serving as a prominent member of the local gentry. His son, William Hightower (1575-1638), was a respected lawyer and landowner.

Another notable figure bearing the surname was Sir John Hightower (1620-1689), a Member of Parliament for Gloucestershire during the reign of Charles II. He was known for his staunch support of the Church of England and his opposition to the Catholic policies of James II.

Throughout the centuries, the Hightower name has been associated with various professions and social classes, from merchants and landowners to lawyers and members of parliament. The name's enduring presence in historical records and its connection to distinctive landmarks have contributed to its lasting legacy in English surname history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Hightower

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

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 Hightower 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 Hightower 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 Hightower was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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