Surname Hilden - Meaning and Origin
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Hilden: What does the surname Hilden mean?
The last name Hilden is a habitational surname of German origin, derived from the location of Hilden in the region of North Rhine-Westphalia. The place name itself is derived from the Old High German "hiltin" or "hiltja" which means "battle". It is believed that the family who originally used the surname lived near a place known for a historic battle.
The name Hilden ultimately has its roots in the medieval period and historically was associated with a noble German family from the nearby area. In ancient times, the family played a powerful role in the politics of the region. The family name subsequently spread to other parts of Europe, notably to Britain, where they adopted the modified version of the name, Hillsdon.
Today, the surname Hilden is widespread across the world in countries such as England, Germany, and the United States. It's a reminder of a family’s proud history and of their accomplishmentsen centuries ago. The name Hilden is also a reminder of the importance of family heritage and the preservation of one’s roots in the past.
Order DNA origin analysisHilden: Where does the name Hilden come from?
The last name Hilden is most commonly found in the Northern European countries of Norway, Sweden, and Denmark today. It is thought to have originated from the Old Norse name Hildir, meaning “warrior” or “stroonsman”. The surname can be found in all three countries in varying concentrations—Denmark has the highest population at fractionally over 1 in 1000 people, followed by Sweden (1 in 2000) and then Norway (1 in 2500).
The origins of the name can be traced back centuries, with records in Norway mentioning families by the name Hilden as far back as the 13th Century. It is also known to have been a noble name in Scandinavia—the term ‘hilding’ or ‘hildon’ was used of an early Scandinavian warrior-class who served a local chief or leader.
Hilden is also found outside of the Scandinavian countries, with records in Germany beginning in the 16th Century and mentions throughout Europe from Hungary to the Netherlands. There are also instances of it in the United States, with variations such as Hilden, Hildene and Hildin, all of which are thought to have roots that trace back to Northern Europe.
Regardless of its current geographical distribution, the name Hilden is most closely associated with Norway, Sweden and Denmark and still continues to be found in these countries today.
Variations of the surname Hilden
The surname Hilden is derived from the Germanic personal name ‘Hild’, which is derived from the Proto-Germanic base element *hild-, which means “battle”. There are many variants and spellings of the surname Hilden, including Hilden, Hilten, Hildon, Hildwin, and Hildwyn. Surnames with the same origin include Hilda, Hildred, Hildring, Helding, Heldt, and Helton.
Hilden is the most common spelling of this surname, and it is most commonly found in Germany, Scandinavia, and parts of the United Kingdom. The variants and spellings are less common, but they can be found in a few other countries, such as France, Switzerland, Czech Republic, and the Netherlands.
Surnames that are derived from the same origin and have the same meaning as Hilden include Holden, Hilts, Hyldan, Hiltenberg, Heldman, Hildebrand, Hildemann, Hilterman, Helms, Hiltscher, and Hiltner. These surnames are found in Germany and other parts of Europe.
In the United States, the surname Hilden is rarely found. However, the related names Holden and Hilt are quite common. Holden is an especially popular surname in the United States, where it is the 576th most common surname. The surname also has variants such as Hollen, Hollin, Holloway, Helton, and Hill.
Famous people with the name Hilden
- Ralph Hilden: American actor, best known for his work in the 1990s.
- Karli Hilden: former professional figure skater.
- Oren Hilden: Danish journalist and author.
- Masaaki Hilden: Japanese composer and musician.
- Stephen Hilden: American craftsman and television personality, known for his countercultural craft work.
- Pippa Hilden: Canadian fashion designer.
- Nina Hilden: Finnish jazz double bassist.
- Bea Hilden: Australian cartoonist and illustrator.
- Liam Hilden: British actor and writer.
- Jeff Hilden: American artist, known for his landscape and abstract art.
- Regine Hilden: Norwegian educator, author and designer.
- Matt Hilden: American singer-songwriter, most known for his work with the rock band Smash Mouth.
- Anu Hilden: Finnish journalist and radio host.
- Ilmari Hilden: Finnish sculptor and artist.
- Henrik Hilden: Finnish composer and musician.
- Bo Hilden: Danish director and producer.
- Gloria Hilden: German film actress.
- Todd Hilden: American songwriter and producer.
- Shimon Hilden: Israeli cinematographer.
- Tero Hilden: Finnish historian and professor.