Surname Hillegast - Meaning and Origin
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Hillegast: What does the surname Hillegast mean?
The last name Hillegast is of German origin, and is derived from two words – hille meaning hill or mound, and gast meaning guest or stranger. This name could suggest an ancestral tie to a guest who either settled on or near a hill or a stranger who did the same.
It is also possible that the name could be derived from a combination of two places, for example, a hill and a village. It could be that in ancient times a family made the journey from one place to another, settling in a new area and needing to identify themselves differently.
The Hillegasts may have taken on this last name as a way of setting themselves apart and claiming a place as their own, which would have been important for early immigrants.
Through generations, the Hillegasts have likely carried this name as a way to remember both their heritage and their ancestors – a link to the land and the people who lived on it. The Hillegasts could have been people of humble beginnings, which in German could be interpreted as hille-gast, depending on the spelling.
The Hillegasts may have taken on this name to stand as a reminder that even if they are strangers, they can still belong to a place and be accepted and valued for their contributions, while also embracing their roots.
Order DNA origin analysisHillegast: Where does the name Hillegast come from?
The last name Hillegast is mainly found today in German-speaking countries, particularly in Germany and Austria. According to recent figures, the name is relatively rare, with fewer than 500 occurrences across the entire German-speaking region. It is thought to be of Germanic origin, although the exact origin is unknown.
The Hillegast family name is believed to go back centuries in parts of Germany and Central Europe. Records show the family name was present in parts of the former East Prussia, now Kaliningrad Oblast in modern-day Russia, until the early 20th century. However, most Germans bearing the name are believed to originate from the former West Germany.
The last name Hillegast is nowadays found all across Germany, with most people bearing the name living in the states of Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg. In 2020, for example, the highest concentrations of people with the Hillegast surname was in Heilbronn, Ravensburg and Munich. In Austria, the name is more common in the state of Upper Austria and the city of Vienna.
In other Germanic-speaking countries, the Hillegast surname is relatively rare. For instance, there were less than 50 occurrences of this name in the Netherlands according to the most recent records. In Switzerland, it is even rarer, with 10 known occurrences. In the United States and Canada, the number of people with the last name Hillegast is even smaller.
Today, the last name Hillegast is rapidly declining in both Germany and Austria. The name is more common in some parts and regions than others, however, suggesting it will likely remain a distinguishing name in German-speaking countries for some time yet.
Variations of the surname Hillegast
The surname Hillegast is of Dutch origin and there is an extensive list of variants and spelling of the name, which were adopted by different branches of the family over the years.
The most common variant is Hilligas, with different spellings such as Hilligash, Hilliges, Hilligesh, Hilligesch, Hilleges, Hillegesh, Hillegesch, Hillegash and Hilligis. The surname Hilliges is particularly popular in Germany and in some parts of Russia.
Other common variants include Hilgast, Hilligast, Hillegast, Hilligast, Hiligast, Hilligasch, Hillegasch, Hilgisch, Hiligisch, Hilligisch, Hilgesch, Hilgisch and Hilligisch.
Some variants of the surname have also been used in other countries, such as Hilgest (in Netherlands), Hillikas (in Ukraine), Hilligaz (in Hungary) and Hilligax (in Sweden).
Other surnames connected to the origin of Hillegast include Hillegass, Hilligass, Hilligoss, Hilligesch, Hilligossen, Hilligess, Hillegeissen, Hillegessen, Hilleggen and Hillegassen.
The surname Hillegast is not only present in Europe but also in the United States and Canada, due to the immigration of the Dutch settlers in the 19th century. It is not unusual to find variants such as Hilligus, Hilligh, Hilliguess and Hilligusen among American and Canadian families with this surname.
Famous people with the name Hillegast
- Dutch slalom skier, Douwe Hillegast
- Dutch professional motocross rider, Clinton Hillegast
- Dutch middle-distance runner, Thijs Hillegast
- Dutch actor, Tom van Hillegast
- Dutch composer, Hille Hillegast
- Dutch cartoonist, Elly Hillegast
- American actor, Don Hillegast
- German athlete, Paul Hillegast
- German painter, Christian Hillegast
- German engineer, Wilhelm Hillegast