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

Hill, 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 Hill surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Hill in America

Hill is the 39th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Hill surname appeared 434,827 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 147 people would have the surname Hill.

We can also compare 2010 data for Hill 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 Hill

The surname Hill has its origins in England and can be traced back to the Anglo-Saxon era. The name is derived from the Old English word "hyll," which referred to a hill or a raised piece of land. It is believed that the name was initially given as a descriptive surname to individuals who lived near a prominent hill or on higher ground.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Hill surname can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of landowners in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. The Domesday Book mentions several individuals with the surname Hill, indicating that the name was already in use during the Norman conquest of England.

Throughout the Middle Ages, the Hill surname continued to be prevalent in various regions of England, particularly in areas with hilly terrain or settlements situated on elevated ground. Notable examples include the Hill family of Spaxton in Somerset, whose ancestry can be traced back to the 13th century, and the Hills of Shropshire, who were prominent landowners in the 16th and 17th centuries.

The Hill surname has also been associated with several notable individuals throughout history. One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname was Roger Hill (c. 1235–1305), an English judge and clergyman who served as Lord Chief Justice of the Common Pleas during the reign of King Edward I.

Another prominent figure was Rowland Hill (1744-1833), an English teacher and social reformer, known for his efforts in establishing a low-cost, uniform postal system in Britain. Hill's innovative ideas led to the introduction of the Penny Black, the world's first adhesive postage stamp, in 1840.

The Hill surname has also been associated with literary figures, such as Geoffrey Hill (1932-2016), an English poet and professor of literature who won numerous accolades, including the Wilfred Owen Memorial Prize and the Truman Capote Award for Literary Criticism.

In the realm of sports, Damon Hill (born 1960) is a notable figure, having won the Formula One World Drivers' Championship in 1996 and achieving several other victories throughout his racing career.

While the Hill surname originated in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world through immigration and migration. Over time, variations in spelling, such as Hills, Hilles, and Hyll, have emerged, reflecting regional dialects and language changes.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Hill

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

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

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

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