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

Hilley, 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 Hilley surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Hilley in America

Hilley is the 16171st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Hilley surname appeared 1,787 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 Hilley.

We can also compare 2010 data for Hilley 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 Hilley

The surname Hilley has its origins in England, with records dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "hyll" or "hill", meaning a small hill or raised ground, and the suffix "-ey", which often denotes a location or place name. This suggests that the name was initially given to someone who lived near or on a small hill or elevated area.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Hilley can be found in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, where it appears as "Hille". This record was a census-like survey of landholders and their properties in England during the reign of King Edward I.

In the 14th century, the name appears in various forms, such as "Hylley" and "Hilleye", in records from counties like Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire. This indicates that the name was well-established in different parts of England during this period.

A notable figure from history bearing the surname Hilley was Sir Robert Hilley, a 15th-century English knight and landowner. He was born around 1420 and served as a Member of Parliament for Buckinghamshire in 1449 and 1455.

Another individual of note was John Hilley, a 16th-century English clergyman who served as the Bishop of Durham from 1577 to 1584. He was born in Derbyshire around 1515 and played a significant role in the religious and political affairs of his time.

In the 17th century, the name appears in various records, including the baptismal records of St. James Parish in Clerkenwell, London, where a child named Hester Hilley was baptized in 1639.

One of the earliest known emigrants to America with the surname Hilley was Thomas Hilley, who arrived in Virginia in 1635. He was among the early settlers in the British colonies of North America.

In the 18th century, the name Hilley can be found in various parish records and historical documents. For example, a man named William Hilley was listed as a freeholder in the town of Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire, in 1748.

Another notable figure from this period was Samuel Hilley, a British naval officer who served during the American Revolutionary War. He was born in Gloucestershire in 1743 and participated in several naval engagements against the American colonists.

The 19th century saw the surname Hilley spread further across England and beyond. One notable individual was John Hilley, a British engineer and inventor born in Staffordshire in 1813. He is credited with various improvements in the design and manufacturing of steam engines and boilers.

Overall, the surname Hilley has a rich history spanning several centuries, with its roots firmly planted in England. While the name has undergone various spelling variations over time, its core meaning and connection to geographical features like hills or elevated areas remains a consistent thread throughout its evolution.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Hilley

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

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

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

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