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

Hiller, 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 Hiller surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Hiller in America

Hiller is the 3387th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Hiller surname appeared 10,546 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 4 people would have the surname Hiller.

We can also compare 2010 data for Hiller 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 Hiller

The surname Hiller is derived from a German occupational name for a maker of hill staffs, also known as a pitchfork. It originates from the Middle High German word "hille" meaning hill or heap, and the suffix "-er" denoting someone who does something.

The earliest recorded instance of the name Hiller dates back to the 13th century, appearing in the Codex Traditionum Monasterii Mellicensis, a medieval cartulary from the Melk Abbey in Austria. In this document, a certain "Heinricus Hillarius" is mentioned in relation to a land transaction in the year 1256.

During the Middle Ages, the name Hiller was predominantly found in the southern regions of Germany, particularly in the areas around Bavaria and Austria. It is believed that the name may have first emerged in these regions due to the prevalence of agricultural communities and the need for specialized occupations such as pitchfork makers.

In the 14th century, the Hiller name can be found in various historical records, including the Württembergisches Urkundenbuch, a collection of documents from the region of Württemberg in southwestern Germany. One notable entry from 1358 mentions a "Hainrich Hiller" in relation to a land dispute.

As the name spread throughout Germany and beyond, variations in spelling emerged, such as Hiller, Hiller, and Hillert. These variations were often influenced by regional dialects and the personal preferences of scribes and record-keepers.

Notable individuals with the surname Hiller include:

1. Johann Adam Hiller (1728-1804), a German composer and writer on music theory.
2. Ferdinand Hiller (1811-1885), a German composer and conductor who was a friend of Robert Schumann and Felix Mendelssohn.
3. Wendy Hiller (1912-2003), an English actress best known for her role in the film "Pygmalion" (1938).
4. Lejaren Hiller (1924-1994), an American composer and chemist who pioneered the use of computer technology in music composition.
5. Arthur Hiller (1923-2016), a Canadian-American film director known for movies such as "Love Story" (1970) and "The In-Laws" (1979).

While the Hiller surname is predominantly associated with German-speaking regions, it has since spread to other parts of the world through migration and intermarriage. However, its origins can be traced back to the occupational name for pitchfork makers in medieval Germany.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Hiller

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

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

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

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