Surname Hilles - Meaning and Origin
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Hilles: What does the surname Hilles mean?
The last name Hilles is of English origin, specifically from the Anglo-Saxon tradition. The name is derived from the Old English word "hyll," which means "hill." It was often used as a topographic name for someone who lived on or near a hill. In some cases, it may also have been used as a habitational name for someone from any of the various places named with this word, such as Hill in Worcestershire or Hills in Sussex. Names that described where a person lived were very common during the Middle Ages, as people moved often and took their name from their location. Therefore, the surname Hilles essentially denotes someone originating from or residing near a hill.
Order DNA origin analysisHilles: Where does the name Hilles come from?
The surname Hilles is of Anglo-Saxon origin, initially deriving from the medieval name "Hill", meaning "one who lived by or on a hill". The name may have been given based on the location where an initial bearer lived or worked. It is particularly common in England, where it was first recorded in the early 14th century. Today, it is popularly found in the United States, UK, Canada, and other English-speaking countries. Variations of the name may include Hillis, Hillas, Hills, and others. Like with many surnames, geographically-dispersed branches have formed and these could bear the name Hilles with different meanings or interpretations. However, it is crucial to remember that the occurrence of the Hilles surname may be the result of patronymic naming traditions or direct descendancy from the original English Hilles family.
Variations of the surname Hilles
The surname Hilles is derived from the medieval English origin, and it represented someone who lived by hills or uplands. It might have been originally spelled as "atte Hulle" or "atte Hull" in Old English and eventually changed over the centuries to Hilles. Other commonly known variants or similar spellings include Hilles, Hillis, Hills, Hill, and Hillas.
In some instances, the name was considered habitational, representing certain locations such as Hill in Worcestershire and Hill Deverill in Wiltshire. This implies that Hill or Hilles could also indicate someone originating from these places.
It's also plausible variations could be based on personal names incorporated into the surname, such as Hilliard, Hillary, Hiller or Hilton.
In other cases, the surname may come from the Jewish name Hillel, which might be Anglicized into Hilles.
Irish versions could potentially incorporate "O" or "Mac/Mc", such as O'Hilles, McHilles, or MacHilles.
The surnames can vary in different regions, and adaptations can be based on regional pronunciations, local dialects, accents, or even errors in record transcription. Therefore, it is not completely uncommon to find variations or typos like Hille, Hilis, Hile, Hyllis, or Hylles in historical documents.
Famous people with the name Hilles
- Hollie Hilles: Social media influencer and content creator from London.
- Julie Hilles: An American politician who served as the administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) under the Obama Administration.
- Jennifer Hilles: An American sculptor and glass artist.
- J. D. Hilles: American politician and member of the New York State Senate from 1871 to 1872.
- Jonathon Hilles: American entrepreneur and investor, famous for his role as CEO of the supplement provider Revolt Fitness.
- Josh Hilles: A New Orleans-based chef, restaurateur, and entrepreneur.
- Jordan Hilles: NFL defensive lineman who has been playing for the Los Angeles Rams since 2018.
- Frank Hilles: Former Australian rules football player who represented the Melbourne Football Club from 1966 to 1976.
- Rick Hilles: American Lutheran pastor and theologian, known for his books on faith and culture.
- Laura Hilles: American artist and illustrator specialising in woodcuts and linocuts.