Contents [hide]

Hilliard History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

United States Canada Australia New Zealand West Indies

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Citations

Hilliard History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The Anglo-Saxon name Hilliard comes from the family having resided in Surrey. As a local name, it was derived from the local 'at the hill-garth' or 'hill-yard.' 1

"Hildyard, formerly Hildheard, [was] an ancient personal name. The family are said to have sprung from Robert Hildheard, of Normanby, Yorkshire, in the year 1109." 2

Alternatively, the name could have been derived from the Old German Hildigard, Hildiardis (f) ‘war stronghold’ 3

And finally, the name could also have been an occupational name for a hellier who was a roofer, tiler, or thatcher. 4

Early Origins of the Hilliard family

The surname Hilliard was first found in Surrey where the name was first listed as a forename, Hildiard de Trule in the Curia Regis Rolls of 1206. Hyldeiard (with no forename) was registered in the Feet of Fines for Essex in 1228 and Robert Hildyard, Hiliard was listed in the Hundredorum Rolls for 1275 in Yorkshire. 3

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 included: Robert de Hildgard, Yorkshire; Robert de Hildyard, Yorkshire; Robert Hiliard, Yorkshire; Robert Hildeyerd, Yorkshire. "These four entries represent, no doubt, the same individual." 1

Early History of the Hilliard family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Hilliard research. Another 157 words (11 lines of text) covering the years 1109, 1485, 1537, 1602, 1612, 1619, 1640, 1660, 1670, 1685, 1689, 1690, 1716, 1729, 1743, 1746, 1781 and 1814 are included under the topic Early Hilliard History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Hilliard Spelling Variations

Hilliard has been spelled many different ways. Before English spelling became standardized over the last few hundred years, spelling variations in names were a common occurrence. As the English language changed in the Middle Ages, absorbing pieces of Latin and French, as well as other languages, the spelling of people's names also changed considerably, even over a single lifetime. Spelling variants included: Hilliard, Hildyard, Hillard, Hildheard and others.

Early Notables of the Hilliard family

Notables of the family at this time include

Nicholas Hilliard (1537-1619), was an English miniature painter, court painter to Elizabeth and to James I. His son, Lawrence Hilliard (d. 1640), English miniature painter continued his father's work...

Hilliard Ranking

In the United States, the name Hilliard is the 1,270^th most popular surname with an estimated 24,870 people with that name. 5 However, in Newfoundland, Canada, the name Hilliard is ranked the 708^th most popular surname with an estimated 61 people with that name. 6

Hilliard migration to the United States +

In an attempt to escape the chaos experienced in England, many English families boarded overcrowded and diseased ships sailing for the shores of North America and other British colonies. Those families hardy enough, and lucky enough, to make the passage intact were rewarded with land and a social environment less prone to religious and political persecution. Many of these families became important contributors to the young colonies in which they settled. Early immigration and passenger lists have documented some of the first Hilliards to arrive on North American shores:

Hilliard Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Gregory Hilliard, who arrived in Virginia in 1622 7
John and Gregory Hilliard, who settled in Virginia in 1623
John Hilliard, who landed in Maryland in 1633 7
Hugh Hilliard, who arrived in Massachusetts in 1634 7
Charles Hilliard, who settled in Virginia in 1635
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Hilliard Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Sarah Hilliard, who landed in Maryland or Virginia in 1730 7
Samuel Hilliard, who settled in Maryland in 1741
Richard Hilliard, who arrived in New York in 1794 7

Hilliard Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Christopher Hilliard, who arrived in Maryland in 1808 7

Hilliard migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Hilliard Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Henry Hilliard, aged 19, who landed in Canada in 1815
John Hilliard, aged 18, a labourer, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Cupid" in 1834
Lonson Hilliard, who landed in Canada in 1840
Mrs. Johanna Hilliard, aged 30 who immigrated to Canada, arriving at the Grosse Isle Quarantine Station in Quebec but died on Grosse Isle In August 1847 8
Miss. Ann Hilliard who was emigrating through Grosse Isle Quarantine Station, Quebec aboard the ship "Ajax" departing 16th April 1847 from Liverpool, England; the ship arrived on 23rd June 1847 but she died on board 9
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Hilliard migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Hilliard Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

William Hilliard, English convict from Durham, who was transported aboard the "Ann" on August 1809, settling in New South Wales, Australia 10
Mr. Christopher Hilliard, (b. 1811), aged 17, English labourer who was convicted in Middlesex, England for life for pick pocketing, transported aboard the "Eliza" on 25th June 1828, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, he died in 1839 11
Mr. Patrick Hilliard, English convict who was convicted in Chester, Cheshire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Equestrian" on 27th August 1852, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Island) 12

Hilliard migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Hilliard Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

George Hilliard, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1841

Hilliard migration to West Indies +

The British first settled the British West Indies around 1604. They made many attempts but failed in some to establish settlements on the Islands including Saint Lucia and Grenada. By 1627 they had managed to establish settlements on St. Kitts (St. Christopher) and Barbados, but by 1641 the Spanish had moved in and destroyed some of these including those at Providence Island. The British continued to expand the settlements including setting the First Federation in the British West Indies by 1674; some of the islands include Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Island, Turks and Caicos, Jamaica and Belize then known as British Honduras. By the 1960's many of the islands became independent after the West Indies Federation which existed from 1958 to 1962 failed due to internal political conflicts. After this a number of Eastern Caribbean islands formed a free association. 13

Hilliard Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century

Jo Hilliard, aged 18, who landed in Barbados in 1635 7
Mr. John Hilliard, (b. 1600), aged 35, British settler traveling aboard the ship "Matthew" arriving in St Christopher (Saint Kitts) in 1635 14
Mr. John Hilliard, (b. 1617), aged 18, British settler travelling aboard the ship "Expedition" arriving in Barbados in 1636 15

Contemporary Notables of the name Hilliard (post 1700) +

William A. Hilliard (1927-2017), American journalist and first African-American editor of The Oregonian (1987-1994)
Henry Washington Hilliard (1808-1892), American statesman and diplomat
Ike Hilliard (b. 1976), professional American football player
Earl F. Hilliard (b. 1942), American politician and former congressman
Dalton Hilliard (b. 1964), former American football player
Denison Hewitt Hilliard (1798-1871), American politician, Supervisor of Delhi Township, Michigan, 1853-54, 1855-56, 1857-58, 1863; Appointed 1863 16
Clarence Ross Hilliard (1894-1976), American Republican politician, Ingham County Clerk, 1925-72; Member of Michigan Republican State Central Committee, 1957-59 16
Christopher Hilliard, American Democratic Party politician, Postmaster at Hagerstown, Maryland, 1847-49 16
Carole Hilliard, American Republican politician, Lieutenant Governor of South Dakota; Elected 1994; Presidential Elector for South Dakota, 2000 16
C. M. Hilliard, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate for Wisconsin State Assembly from Buffalo and Pepin counties, 1902 16
... (Another 19 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Hilliard family +

RMS Titanic

Mr. Herbert Henry Hilliard (d. 1912), aged 44, American First Class passenger from Brighton, Massachusetts who sailed aboard the RMS Titanic and died in the sinking 17

Citations +

Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Burke, John and Burke, Sir Bernard, C.B. LL.D Burke's Peerage, Baronetage & Knightage. London: Harrison, 59, Pall Mall, 1865, Print.
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
The order of Common Surnames in 1955 in Newfoundland retrieved on 20th October 2021 (retrieved from Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland by E.R. Seary corrected edition ISBN 0-7735-1782-0)
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)
Charbonneau, André, and Doris Drolet-Dubé. A Register of Deceased Persons at Sea and on Grosse Île in 1847. The Minister of Canadian Heritage, 1997. ISBN: 0-660-198/1-1997E (p. 34)
Charbonneau, André, and Doris Drolet-Dubé. A Register of Deceased Persons at Sea and on Grosse Île in 1847. The Minister of Canadian Heritage, 1997. ISBN: 0-660-198/1-1997E (p. 80)
State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2016, October 27) Ann voyage to New South Wales, Australia in 1809 with 200 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/ann/1809
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 17th February 2022). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/eliza
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 16th May 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/equestrian
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_West_Indies
Pilgrim Ship's of 1600's (Retrieved October 4th 2021 from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm
Pilgrim Ship Lists Early 1600's retrieved 29th September 2021. Retrieved from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 29) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
Titanic Passenger List - Titanic Facts. (Retrieved 2016, July 13) . Retrieved from http://www.titanicfacts.net/titanic-passenger-list.html