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

Hillyer, 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 Hillyer surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Hillyer in America

Hillyer is the 11714th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Hillyer surname appeared 2,676 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 Hillyer.

We can also compare 2010 data for Hillyer 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 Hillyer

The surname Hillyer is of English origin, derived from the Old English words "hyll" meaning hill and "hyrde" meaning herdsman or keeper. It was initially an occupational surname given to those who tended livestock on the hillsides or lived in elevated areas. The name is believed to have emerged in the 11th century, around the time of the Norman Conquest of England.

One of the earliest known recordings of the Hillyer name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it was listed as "Hildierd" and "Hildier." This historical document, commissioned by William the Conqueror, was a comprehensive survey of landowners and their holdings throughout England.

In the 13th century, the surname appeared in various forms, including "Hillyerde," "Hilliard," and "Hillyard." These variations were likely due to regional dialects and the inconsistent spelling practices of the time. During this period, the name was primarily concentrated in the counties of Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, and Hertfordshire.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Hillyer surname is that of William Hillyer, a landowner from Oxfordshire, who lived in the late 13th century. Another notable figure was Sir Robert Hillyer, a knight who fought in the Hundred Years' War and was mentioned in historical records from the 14th century.

In the 16th century, the name took on its more modern spelling of "Hillyer." During this time, the surname was associated with several prominent individuals, including John Hillyer, a renowned scholar and theologian who served as the Dean of Worcester Cathedral from 1561 to 1570.

The 17th century saw the rise of another notable Hillyer, Reverend Robert Hillyer, an English clergyman and author born in 1607. He is best known for his work "The Heavenly Arcadian," a collection of sermons published in 1668.

In the 19th century, the Hillyer name gained further recognition with the poet and critic Edmund Hillyer (1801-1872). He was a respected figure in literary circles and contributed to various publications, including the Quarterly Review and the Edinburgh Review.

Another notable figure from this era was Shaler Hillyer (1834-1919), an American lawyer and politician who served as the Assistant Secretary of State under President Ulysses S. Grant. He played a significant role in the resolution of the Alabama Claims dispute with Great Britain.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Hillyer

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

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

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

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