Surname Hilling - Meaning and Origin
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Hilling: What does the surname Hilling mean?
The origin of the last name Hilling comes from the Middle English word meaning a hill or a hillside. This term was derived from the Anglo-Saxon word “helling”, which meant a hill or a hillside.
The earliest recorded use of the surname Hilling dates back to 1230 in Yorkshire, England and from this it is known to be an English origin surname. Those from Yorkshire with the surname likely descend from a family who originated in Yorkshire, with English ancestry.
Those from Scotland with the surname are more likely to have originated in Aberdeen, where the first record of the spelling appeared around the late 12th century. This would suggest that they likely descend from a family who moved from Yorkshire and settled in Scotland.
The Hilling family name is associated with being hardworking, industrious, persistent, and determined. They were known to have strived to achieve their goals and make something of their lives, which makes it an excellent surname to have, as it speaks of accomplishment and effort.
Overall, the name Hilling is an English and Scottish origin surname which spreads across the world, being found in the United States, Australia, and parts of Europe, with the family being known as people of hardworking values and determination.
Order DNA origin analysisHilling: Where does the name Hilling come from?
The last name Hilling is a relatively common name in a variety of countries across the world. In the United States, Hilling is the 1,504th most common family name in the country as of the 2000 census, with around 4,745 American citizens sharing the name. It has shown a steady growth in popularity since then, with an estimated 6,090 citizens reported to have the Hilling surname in the year 2018.
In the United Kingdom, the Hilling surname is commonly found across England and Wales. The most recent records from the Office for National Statistics in the United Kingdom show around 600 people across these two countries who share the Hilling surname as of 2018.
The name Hilling can also be found in Germany, where more than 1,000 people share the name, mainly found in Nordrhein-Westfalen, Baden-Wuerttemberg, and Bavaria. In the Spanish-speaking world, the name is especially popular in Argentina, where it ranks at the 430th most common surname in the country.
In addition to these countries, the last name Hilling can also be found in countries such as Greece, Australia, and New Zealand. Given the wide variety of countries where it is found, Hilling is a globally distributed name, and based on recent trends, it looks to be a name that will continue to find more families joining its ranks in the coming years.
Variations of the surname Hilling
The surname Hilling can vary depending on the location and the time frame. The variants and spellings for Hilling include Hillen, Hillenback, Hiller, Hillermans, Hilliard, Hillman, Hillmer, Hillringer, Hillringhaus, Hillson, Hilly, and Hillyer.
Hillen is based on the Old English word “hylle”, which means “hill”. This spelling of the surname is most commonly found in Germany. Hillenback is a variation of Hillen and is typically found in the Netherlands. Hiller is a variation of Hillen found in Germany from older German records. Hillermans is a variation of Hiller, usually found in the Netherlands. Hilliard is derived from the Middle English word ‘hyll’, which means ‘hill’. Hillman is a variation of Hilliard which is found in England and the United States. Hillmer is also a variation of Hilliard found in Germany, while Hillringer is another variation of Hilliard found mostly in Germany and Austria. Hillringhaus is a variation of Hillringer, typically found in Germany and Austria. Hillson is derived from the Old English term ‘hull’, which means ‘hill’. Hilly and Hillyer are two variations of Hillson commonly found in England and the United States.
The various surnames stemming from Hilling can be indicative of the linguistic diversity of the location where the surname is found. As they have evolved over time, the different spellings and variants provide insight to the region's and the family's history.
Famous people with the name Hilling
- Peter Hilling (musician known as lead guitarist, composer and producer)
- Henry Hilling (former professional British navigator and yachtsman)
- Michael Hilling (owner of Boston's nationally-recognized executive search firm, Management Recruiters of Boston North)
- Karl Hilling (American political scientist and author)
- David Hilling (big band-style composer and arranger)
- Russell Hilling (English former footballer)
- Jan Hilling (Dutch businesswoman)
- James Hilling (publisher, editor, and author)
- Lynn Hilling (British ocean rower who broke records travelling solo across the Atlantic in 2007)
- Jeff Hilling (American military veteran who served in Iraq)