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Hillier History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables World Ranking

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Citations

Hillier History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The name Hillier is Anglo-Saxon in origin. It was a name given to a hellier, or one who tiles a roof, a thatcher or slater. Interestingly, The Ordinances of Worcester includes the following early reference: The helynge of their houses, and the dores ben all of wode Also that non Tylers were called hillyers of the cite compelle ne charge ne make no tyler straunger to serve at his rule and assignement.

Early Origins of the Hillier family

The surname Hillier was first found in Kent, where we find the earliest reference to this name.

Early History of the Hillier family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Hillier research. Another 67 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1273 and 1347 are included under the topic Early Hillier History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Hillier Spelling Variations

Until the dictionary, an invention of only the last few hundred years, the English language lacked any comprehensive system of spelling rules. Consequently, spelling variations in names are frequently found in early Anglo-Saxon and later Anglo-Norman documents. One person's name was often spelled several different ways over a lifetime. The recorded variations of Hillier include Hillier, Hillyer, Hilliar and others.

Early Notables of the Hillier family

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

Hillier World Ranking

In the United States, the name Hillier is the 12,602^nd most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 1 However, in Canada, the name Hillier is ranked the 984^th most popular surname with an estimated 5,494 people with that name. 2 And in Newfoundland, Canada, the name Hillier is the 43^rd popular surname with an estimated 518 people with that name. 3 Australia ranks Hillier as 987^th with 4,026 people. 4

Hillier migration to the United States +

Thousands of English families boarded ships sailing to the New World in the hope of escaping the unrest found in England at this time. Although the search for opportunity and freedom from persecution abroad took the lives of many because of the cramped conditions and unsanitary nature of the vessels, the opportunity perceived in the growing colonies of North America beckoned. Many of the settlers who survived the journey went on to make important contributions to the transplanted cultures of their adopted countries. The Hillier were among these contributors, for they have been located in early North American records:

Hillier Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

John Hillier, who arrived in Virginia in 1653 5
Isaak Hillier, who landed in Virginia in 1666 5

Hillier Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Martha Hillier, who landed in Virginia in 1714 5
Mary Hillier, who arrived in South Carolina in 1728 5
Richard Hillier, who arrived in New York, NY in 1796 5
Anna Hillier, who arrived in New York, NY in 1796 5

Hillier migration to Australia +

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

Hillier Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. Arthur Hillier1808, English ploughman who was convicted in Wiltshire, England for 7 years for machine breaking, transported aboard the "Eliza" on 2nd February 1831, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 6
Mr. William Hillier, English convict who was convicted in Wiltshire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Eliza" on 2nd February 1831, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 6
John F. Hillier, who arrived in Holdfast Bay, Australia aboard the ship "Katherine Stewart Forbes" in 1837 7
Jane Hillier, who arrived in Holdfast Bay, Australia aboard the ship "Katherine Stewart Forbes" in 1837 7
Caroline Hillier, who arrived in Holdfast Bay, Australia aboard the ship "Katherine Stewart Forbes" in 1837 7
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Hillier 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:

Hillier Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Dr Hillier, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1841 aboard the ship Lady Nugent
Ann Elizabeth Hillier, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Persia" in 1860
Mrs. Mary Hillier, (b. 1819), aged 40, British settler travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Roman Emperor" arriving in Lyttlelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 26th January 1860 8
Mr. William Hillier, (b. 1839), aged 20, British settler travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Roman Emperor" arriving in Lyttlelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 26th January 1860 8
Miss Elizabeth Hillier, (b. 1841), aged 18, British settler travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Roman Emperor" arriving in Lyttlelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 26th January 1860 8
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Hillier (post 1700) +

LaDeana Hillier, American biomedical engineer and computational biologist, one of the earliest scientists involved in the Human Genome Project
Stanley "Stan" Hillier (b. 1904), English professional football player and manager
Sir Harold George Hillier (1905-1985), English horticulturist, founder and namesake of Sir Harold Hillier Gardens, Hampshire
David Hillier (b. 1969), English former professional footballer and manager
Mr. John Edward Hillier B.E.M., British Field Team Leader for Environment Agency, was appointed Medallist of the British Empire Medal 29th December 2018 for services to Flood Risk Management 9
Craig Hillier (b. 1978), Canadian former professional ice hockey goaltender
Erwin Hillier (1911-2005), German-born, British BAFTA Award nominated cinematographer
James Hillier OC (1915-2007), Canadian-born scientist and inventor who designed and co-built the first successful high-resolution electron microscope in North America (1938)
General Rick Hillier OC, CMM, MSC, CD (b. 1955), Canadian former Chief of the Defence Staff of the Canadian Forces
Major George Hillier, British military secretary to Sir Peregrine Maitland, eponym of Hillier, ONtario
... (Another 5 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Hillier family +

HMS Royal Oak

Charles William Hillier (1908-1939), British Ordnance Artificer 2nd Class with the Royal Navy aboard the HMS Royal Oak (1939) when she was torpedoed by U-47 and sunk; he died in the sinking 10

SS Caribou

Mrs. Media Hillier (b. 1916), British passenger from North Sydney, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia was travelling aboard the railway ferry "SS Caribou" when it was struck by a German submarine torpedo on 14th October 1942, the most significant sinking in Canadian waters at that time, she survived the sinking

Citations +

"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
"Surnames Meanings, Origins & Distribution Maps - Forebears." Forebears, https://forebears.io/surnames
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)
"Most Common Last Names in Australia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/australia/surnames
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)
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 28th February 2022). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/eliza
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) KATHERINE STEWART FORBES 1837 arrived Holdfast Bay, near Adelaide, on October 17, 1837. . Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1837KatherineStewartForbes.htm
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
"Birthday and New Year Honours Lists (1940 to 2019)." Issue 62507, 28 December 2018 | London Gazette, The Gazette, Dec. 2018, www.thegazette.co.uk/honours-lists
Ships hit by U-boats crew list HMS Royal Oak (08) - (Retrieved 2018 February, 9th) - retrieved from https://uboat.net/allies/merchants/crews/ship68.html