Surname Hilliard - Meaning and Origin

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Q. Hilliard

Hilliard: What does the surname Hilliard mean?

Hilliard is a surname of English origin which dates back to medieval times. It is derived from the Old English terms "hyll," meaning "hill," and "weard," meaning "guardian" or "protector." Thus, the original bearers of the surname Hilliard were likely tasked with the responsibility of guarding or protecting a hill, perhaps a strategically important location in a certain community or region. The surname could also refer to someone who lived by or on a hill. Over the years, variations of this surname such as Hillard, Hillyard, Hillier, Hillyer have also emerged. Like many other surnames, Hilliard has also been used as a first name. Some notable people with this surname include: Nicholas Hilliard, an English goldsmith and miniaturist; and Jaime Hilliard, an American football player.

Hilliard: Where does the name Hilliard come from?

The surname Hilliard is of English origin. It stems from an old English personal name, Hildeheard, which is composed of two elements: “hild”, meaning strife or battle, and “heard”, meaning hardy, brave, or strong. The objectives of early adopters of this surname were to create a link to these desirable traits.

The surname was first recorded in the 13th century in Yorkshire, Northern England. It remains popular in this region. Additionally, due to the historic migration patterns of the English people, the surname Hilliard is also commonly found in the United States, Australia, and Canada. The largest concentration of individuals with the Hilliard surname currently resides in the United States. This occurred largely due to the wave of migration that followed the Norman Conquest of England in 1066, where many sought a new life away from their homeland. The Hilliard surname has therefore become deeply embedded in these societies and retains links to the original English heritage.

Variations of the surname Hilliard

The surname Hilliard is of Old English origin, primarily from the Southern and Central region of England. Some of the common spelling variants for this surname include Hillier, Hillers, Hillery, Hilary, Hilery, Hillard, Hillaire, Hilleard, Hyllier, Hillear, Hillered, and Hillyard.

Many of these variations originate from the Old English words "hyll," which means hill, and "geriht," which means straight or direct, often used metaphorically representing a just or fair person. It’s important to note that different spellings of the last name typically occurred based on phonetic transcription by different clerks and scribes.

Over time, the surname Hilliard also blended with other surnames or evolved to form new ones. For instance, Hillier sometimes merged with Hill, Illiers, Hillyer or Hillar. It's also possible that in non-English-speaking countries, the surname was modified to fit the native language.

Though there are all these variants, the original spelling and the recognized modern variant is still Hilliard. All of these surnames share a common probable ancestry and root in medieval English history.

Famous people with the name Hilliard

• Tahj Mowry: Best known for his role as Tucker Dobbs on Freeform's series Baby Daddy, he’s the younger brother of twins Tia Mowry and Tamera Mowry-Housley.
• Justin Hilliard: An American football outside linebacker for the New York Giants.
• Dave Hilliard: An American bluegrass musician who plays the banjo and is a founding member of the Hillbenders.
• Robert Hilliard: An American attorney specializing in civil litigation with a focus on consumer protection and class action litigation.
• Mike Hilliard: An English former professional footballer who played in the Football League for Millwall and Cardiff City.
• Kenny Hilliard: An American football running back who was drafted by the Houston Texans in the seventh round of the 2015 NFL Draft.
• Donavon Hilliard: A Louisiana businessman and politician, who is the president and CEO of Donavon Hilliard Enterprises.
• Mekayla Diehl: An American beauty pageant titleholder from Indiana, who was crowned Miss Indiana 2014 and won the Miss USA pageant.
• Ebony Hilliard: An American actress and filmmaker, best known for her work on films such as “Child of Grace” and “Love by Numbers.”
• Gordon Hilliard: An American novelist known for historical fiction and science fiction novels, such as “Days of Heaven” and “Tales of a Genetic Rebel.”

Other surnames

Hilliar