Surname Hillgert - Meaning and Origin

Hillgert: What does the surname Hillgert mean?

The surname Hillgert is believed to be of German origin. It is likely derived from the German word 'Hilger', which means 'strong wood' or 'strong forest'. This suggests that Hillgerts were a family of woodsmen who lived and worked in forestry.

The Hillgerts who lived in Europe likely resided in the area of present-day Germany, Austria, or Switzerland. It's also possible that some Hillgerts could have made their way to the United States when German immigration began in the late 1700s.

In modern times, Hillgerts are scattered around the world, with the majority of them continue to reside in Europe. Strong family values and deep respect for nature are traits that Hillgerts often possess. As a result, many Hillgerts still find strong ties to their deep-rooted heritage, often celebrating German customs through special events and celebrations.

The Hillgerts are known for their strength and hard work, traits that have been passed down through generations of the family. It is clear that the surname will remain with Hillgerts as they continue to move forward with their lives, cherishing their family history and traditions.

Hillgert: Where does the name Hillgert come from?

The last name Hillgert is most commonly found in Germany. This name is most often encountered in middle and southern Germany, as well as parts of Austria and the Czech Republic. Hillgert is a habitational name, derived from the Old High German terms hilg meaning “hill” and hart meaning “hard.” As the name suggests, the geographic area represented by this name likely was home to a hill that was difficult to traverse for unknown reasons.

The Hillgert name is also found in a few other parts of Europe, such as Poland, Hungary, Italy, and France, but it is much rarer there. It began to spread out from Germany over the course of several centuries with migrations of the Germanic people.

Today, in Germany, Hillgert remains a rather uncommon name, especially in comparison to other German surnames. There are approximately 400 citizens in Germany with this name, and the number only increases slightly with each generation. Hillgert is mainly found in Saxony, Thuringia, and North Rhine-Westphalia. The numbers associated with other European countries that still boast the last name Hillgert are quite low, with the exception of Austria, where roughly 75 people bear the name.

Variations of the surname Hillgert

Hillgert is a Germanic surname that originated in the Middle Ages. It is derived from the personal name Hilger, which is a variation of Hilgar, which in turn comes from helga, an Old German word meaning 'holy' or 'protected by fairy powers'. The surname Hillgert is most commonly spelled with a double 'l', but can also be written Hillger, Hillgerd, Hillgart, Hillgard, Hillgartt, Hillgarth, Hillgartner, Hillgerdt and Hillgertt.

Variations of Hillgert are also common, such as Hillen, Hillers, Hilles, Hillegert, Hillgering, Hillgresser and Hillerding. Some German-speaking regions may instead spell Hillgert with an 's' or an 'sch' instead of a 'g', so it is sometimes seen as Hillser, Hillgeser, or Hillgescher. It can also appear as Hillgrew and Hillgartner in some places.

Other surnames with possible affiliations to Hillgert are Hilkert and Ilger. The surname Hillgert can also be connected to German names such as Halliger, Holinger, Höhler and Holzinger.

Regardless of the spelling, Hillgert derives from the same Old German origin and carries the same meaning. It is likely that anyone who traces their roots back to this surname is descended from the same family line.

Famous people with the name Hillgert

• Sean Hillgert: NFL Tight End
• Marie Hillgert: professional runner
• Jennifer Hillgert: American actress
• Jane Hillgert: American yoga instructor
• Robert Hillgert: author
• Richard Hillgert: classical keyboardist
• Tucker Hillgert: digital artist
• Elizabeth Hillgert: former mayor of Caribou, Maine
• Kevin Hillgert: Canadian Film Actor
• John Hillgert: co-founder of the Sandbox Network

Other surnames

Hillger