Show ContentsHilbert History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Hilbert is a name that first reached England following the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Hilbert family lived in Dorset, at the manor of Ilberton, from where they took their name.

Early Origins of the Hilbert family

The surname Hilbert was first found in Dorset where they were anciently Lords of the manor of Iberton in that shire, after the Norman Conquest by William the Conqueror in 1066 A.D. Ilbert was a Norman under-tenant who conjecturally held the King's land, consisting of a rating of four cows.

Early History of the Hilbert family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Hilbert research. Another 150 words (11 lines of text) covering the years 1605 and 1800 are included under the topic Early Hilbert History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Hilbert Spelling Variations

The English language only became standardized in the last few centuries. For that reason, spelling variations are common among many Anglo-Norman names. The shape of the English language was frequently changed with the introduction of elements of Norman French, Latin, and other European languages; even the spelling of literate people's names were subsequently modified. Hilbert has been recorded under many different variations, including Illbert, Ilbert, Ibbert and others.

Early Notables of the Hilbert family

More information is included under the topic Early Hilbert Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Hilbert Ranking

In the United States, the name Hilbert is the 5,340th most popular surname with an estimated 4,974 people with that name. [1]


United States Hilbert migration to the United States +

To escape the uncertainty of the political and religious uncertainty found in England, many English families boarded ships at great expense to sail for the colonies held by Britain. The passages were expensive, though, and the boats were unsafe, overcrowded, and ridden with disease. Those who were hardy and lucky enough to make the passage intact were rewarded with land, opportunity, and social environment less prone to religious and political persecution. Many of these families went on to be important contributors to the young nations of Canada and the United States where they settled. Hilberts were some of the first of the immigrants to arrive in North America:

Hilbert Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • John Hilbert, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1765 [2]
  • Claus Hilbert, who landed in America in 1777 [2]
Hilbert Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Johannes Hilbert, who arrived in North America in 1836 [2]
  • Leonhard Hilbert, who landed in North America in 1836 [2]
  • Gerhard Hilbert, aged 26, who landed in Missouri in 1848 [2]
  • Laura Hilbert, aged 23, who arrived in New York, NY in 1855 [2]
  • Peter Hilbert, aged 50, who landed in New York, NY in 1874 [2]
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Hilbert Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Anton Hilbert, aged 42, who landed in America, in 1903
  • Annie Hilbert, aged 3, who landed in America from Liverpool, England, in 1904
  • Clifford Hilbert, aged 9, who settled in America from Liverpool, England, in 1904
  • E. Hilbert, who immigrated to the United States, in 1904
  • Ernest Hilbert, aged 19, who settled in America from Liverpool, England, in 1907
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Hilbert (post 1700) +

  • Vi Hilbert (1918-2008), Native American tribal elder
  • Stephen R. Hilbert, American mathematician, recipient of the Distinguished College Teaching of Mathematics Award (1994)
  • Morton Shelley Hilbert (1917-1998), American professor of public health and environmentalist, co-founder of Earth Day
  • Ernest Lenard Hilbert (1920-1942), American Air Force Aviation Ordnanceman killed in the Battle of Midway, recipient of the Distinguished Flying Cross, eponym of the USS Hilbert (DE-742)
  • Ernest Hilbert (b. 1970), American poet, critic, and editor
  • Donna Hilbert (b. 1946), American poet and writer of short stories, plays, and essays
  • Andrew John "Andy" Hilbert (b. 1981), American NHL hockey player
  • Frederic Hilbert (b. 1912), American Republican politician, Member of Michigan Republican State Central Committee, 1959; Member of Michigan State Senate 8th District, 1961-64; Defeated in primary, 1964, 1968 [3]
  • Emert C. Hilbert (b. 1876), American Democratic Party politician, Lewis County Prosecuting Attorney, 1911-14; Circuit Judge in Missouri 1st Circuit, 1935-37 [3]
  • Edward A. Hilbert, American Republican politician, Candidate in primary for Montana State House of Representatives 38th District, 2010 [3]
  • ... (Another 12 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Pan Am Flight 103 (Lockerbie)
  • Rodney Peter Hilbert (1948-1988), American Passenger from Newton, Pennsylvania, America, who flew aboard the Pan Am Flight 103 from Frankfurt to Detroit, known as the Lockerbie bombing in 1988 and died [4]


The Hilbert Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Nulla rosa sine spinis
Motto Translation: No rose without thorns.


  1. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  2. Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
  3. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, January 20) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
  4. Pan Am Flight 103's victims: A list of those killed 25 years ago | syracuse.com. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.syracuse.com/news/index.ssf/2013/12/pan_am_flight_103s_victims_a_list_of_those_killed_25_years_ago.html


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