Surname Hilligoss - Meaning and Origin
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Hilligoss: What does the surname Hilligoss mean?
The last name Hilligoss is of German origin. It is derived from the Old High German words hiling, meaning “warrior” and gos, meaning “goose”. Some conclude that the name is a reference to a characteristic in a person, i.e. someone who is strong and courageous yet can also display a certain gracefulness, akin to the graceful flight of a goose. Alternatively, it could indicate a place where wild geese are found.
The surname is most common in the United States, however it is relatively rare. Although it is unclear when the original Hilligoss family arrived in the United States, records of the name date back to 17th century Pennsylvania.
Today, Hilligoss is a unique surname, and not easily recognized by many people. As a proud holder of the name, it might be rewarding to take the time to research its origins, and connect with the Hilligoss diaspora. Researching the surname could help uncover a greater knowledge of, and pride in, the family name. Perhaps there are stories to be discovered of the lives of the Hilligoss family during their sojourn in the United States as well.
Order DNA origin analysisHilligoss: Where does the name Hilligoss come from?
The last name Hilligoss is not especially common in today's society, but it can be found primarily in the United States. Hilligoss seems to be concentrated heavily in the Midwest and Great Lakes regions, where many of its earliest bearers originally migrated. This includes Wisconsin, specifically Dane and surrounding counties, where the Hilligoss family settled in the early 1800s. A few other states that have a few Hilligoss bearers include Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, and Pennsylvania.
Despite it not being a common surname today, a few famous people have carried the last name Hilligoss. For example, Charles W. Hilligoss was an American politician who served as a member of the Wisconsin State Assembly. Another is William Henry Hilligoss who worked in the legal field that was a speaker at the state's Bar Association meeting.
The Hilligoss family has a long history in the United States, dating back to 1763. Records suggest that the Hilligoss family was of German descent and later immigrated to the United States from Pennsylvania. In more modern times, the Hilligoss family remains a prominent name in the United States, though it has become much less common than it once was.
Variations of the surname Hilligoss
The surname Hilligoss is most commonly found across English-speaking countries, or those with a strong English heritage. Most variants of Hilligoss include Hilligose, Hilliges, Hilligus, Hilligas, and Hilliges.
Variant spellings of Hilligoss are also often seen, such as Hilligouse, Hilligosse, Hilligas, Hilligans, Hilligans, Hilligous, Hilligose, Hilligas, Hilligges, Hilliges, Hilligis, Hilligus and Hilliges.
In addition, the name is generally considered equivalent to the surnames Hilgert and Hilger, and may be spelled as Hillery, Hillery, Hillger, Hilgert, Hilger, and Hillser.
In Germany, the name is seen as Hille mit dem Kose, Hillegross, Hillegross, Hilligross, and Hillegose.
In Austria, situations exist in which the surname Hilligoss evolved from either Hillger or Hilgert, and is spelled Hiller, Hillger, Hilger, Hilgers, Hilgert, Hilgers, Hilgertz, Hillertz, Hilgert, Hillerz, Hillertz, or Hilligross.
The variations in spelling amongst all of these variants of Hilligoss can often make it difficult to trace the origin of the name. Despite these variations, the root name Hilligoss is likely to be derived from the Old High German words 'hilig','hilg' and 'hulg' that refer to a hill near a body of water, a body of water itself, or a raised area near a marsh or lake.
Famous people with the name Hilligoss
- Richard Hilligoss: Former Major League Baseball Outfielder, primarily with the Chicago Cubs.
- Jan Hilligoss: Emmy Nominated Danish Actress, known for her roles in the television series, "Borgen" and "Taxa".
- Peter Hilligoss: 20th century American Artist. He primarily focused on oil paintings, drawings, and sculptures.
- Marney Hilligoss: Award-winning Television Producer, who worked on such shows as "60 Minutes" and "Arthur".
- Margot Hilligoss: Businesswoman and Entrepreneur from the United Kingdom.
- Bill Hilligoss: American Writer who has authored over a dozen books, including the Amazon best-seller "The Savage Year".
- Forrest Hilligoss: Grammy-winning Recording Engineer and Producer, having worked with some of the top acts in the music industry in the late 1960s.
- William Hilligoss: World War II US Air Force Pilot.
- Dorothy Hilligoss: Award-winning Author, known for her books on the subjects of history and human rights.
- Anne Hilligoss: Award-winning Environmental Scientist from Australia.
- Chris Hilligoss: British Actor who has made numerous appearances on the stage, in films, and on television.
- Laurie Hilligoss: Academy Award-winning Production Designer, having worked on such films as "The Magnificent Seven" and "Dune".
- Selwyn Hilligoss: Award-winning Photographer from South Africa.
- Justin Hilligoss: Winner of the 2010 Pulitzer Prize for Feature Writing for his coverage of the Chilean mine disaster.
- Julian Hilligoss: Award-winning Wildlife Photographer from Canada.