Surname Hillis - Meaning and Origin
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Hillis: What does the surname Hillis mean?
The last name Hillis is an English surname of Anglo-Saxon origin. It is thought to have first appeared in the counties of Yorkshire and Lancashire. It is likely derived from the Old English personal name Hill, which is derived from Middle English hille, meaning “hill” or “mound.” The surname is mainly found in the scottish country, with the largest concentrations in Scotland and most especially found in the Fife area.
The earliest recorded instance of the name is found in Yorkshire, where it appears as William Hilles and William Hilly in the 1297 Subsidy Rolls. It also appears as well in retired Rothesay Provost John Hilly in the year 1576. The spelling of the name has likely altered over the centuries, and sometimes is rendered as Hillie, Hillies, or Hilly.
Descendants of the Hills family may be found all over the world today, predominantly in English speaking countries. In Scotland, the population of the family largely remains concentrated in Fife, along with smaller clusters in Ayrshire and the town of Newport in North Ayrshire. In England the family is mainly found in the Yorkshire region, with pockets of the family also living in Lancashire, Merseyside, and Cheshire. The Hillis family today is renowned for their creative talent, an eye for detail, independence, and wit.
Order DNA origin analysisHillis: Where does the name Hillis come from?
The last name Hillis is most strongly associated with the United States. Records indicate that as many as 65,000 people in America currently carry the surname. It is especially popular in states like Texas, Ohio, and Virginia.
The Hillis family in the United States likely originated in England, where the surname first appears in records in the late 12th century, mainly in County Durham and Northumberland. The American Hillises stem from a branch of the family that emigrated to the US in the 1700s.
The name is most common in areas such as South, Central and Eastern Virginia, particularly in the counties of Augusta, Greene, Goochland, and Nelson. In Ohio, Hillis families are found mainly in Cuyahoga, Hamilton, Summit, and Knox counties. In Texas, the name is most highly concentrated in Harris, Dallas, and Tarrant counties.
In recent decades, the name Hillis has been found in Texas, Ohio, Michigan, South Carolina, Tennessee, and many other states. Clan organizations such as the United Hillis Family Genealogical Society in alliance with the Clans of Ireland have sprung up, focused on uncovering records and histories associated with the various branches of the Hillis family.
Variations of the surname Hillis
The variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin for the surname Hillis are Hilles, Hills, Hille, Hillas, Hilis, Hollis, Helleis, Helleos, Helles, Hilleis, and Hilliard.
Hilles is a variant of the surname Hillis originating from Scotland. It is from an English and Scottish topographic name derived from Middle English "hil" meaning hill. It is also found as an Americanized spelling of various like-sounding German surnames.
Hills is an English variant of the surname Hillis. It is the most common and probably the oldest spelling, as it is derived from Middle English "hil" meaning hill. This version of the name can also be an Anglicization of several Jewish surnames.
Hille and Hillas are German versions of the surname Hillis. They are both derived from the Middle High German word "hille" which means hill. Both of these surnames are found mainly in the Northwest of Germany.
Hilis is a Lithuanian variant of the surname Hillis. It is derived from the Lithuanian word "hilis" which literally means a hill. It is a very rare surname in Lithuania.
Hollis is an English variation of Hillis derived from the Middle English word "hul" meaning holm or holly. It is also found as an Americanized spelling of various like-sounding German surnames.
Helleis, Helleos, and Helles are Dutch/Flemish versions of Hillis. Helleos is the same as Helleis but with a slight dialectal variation. Both of these variations are derived from Middle Dutch "helle" meaning hill.
Hilleis and Hilliard are English versions of Hillis. Hilleis is derived from Middle English "hille" meaning hill and Hilliard is derived from a location in Leicestershire, England. It is also an Americanized spelling of various like-sounding German surnames.
Famous people with the name Hillis
- Mack Hillis: An American songwriter and artist from Nashville, Tennessee with an impressive discography that includes work with the likes of Grammy winners Dierks Bentley, Tim McGraw, Luke Bryan, and Keith Urban.
- Todd Hillis: An award-winning American actor and screenwriter best known for his leading roles in films such as Quarantine and Killing Lincoln.
- Robert Hillis: The former drummer of rock band Cheap Trick, who played on their multi-platinum selling albums from 1974 to 1981.
- Tim Hillis: A former NFL player and current television analyst who won the Super Bowl with the Denver Bronos.
- D. Michael Hillis: A professor of English and world literature at Vanderbilt University.
- Shanina Shaik Hillis: An Australian model and television actress who has appeared in music videos for artists such as Pharrell Williams, Rita Ora, and Beyonce.
- Amber Hillis: A Grammy-nominated songwriter and record producer who has written and produced songs for artists like Meghan Trainor and Kelly Clarkson.
- Austin Hillis: An American singer-songwriter whose debut album Bones was named one of the best of 2018 by Rolling Stone Magazine.
- Gwen Hillis: A Grammy-winning country music star and songwriter, best known for her hits "Teardrops On My Guitar" and "When It Comes To You".
- Bubba Hillis: A well-known American stand-up comedian who has appeared on Comedy Central, HBO, and Showtime, and has opened for comedians like Kevin Hart and Amy Schumer.