Show ContentsHilaire History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Hilaire family

The surname Hilaire was first found in Normandy (French: Normandie), the former Duchy of Normandy, where they were formerly seated in the barony of Saint Hilaire de Sancto Hilario. The first of the name was James de Sancto Hilario who held the castle of St. Hilaire about the year 1100. James, who was the son of Harsculf de St. James who also held the castle of St. Hilaire, was the first to adopt the name of his castle for his surname. Saint Hilaire du Harcourt is in Manche in the arrondissement of Mortain, the canton of St. Hilaire du Harcourt.

Over in Cornwall, England evidence was found of a migration there as St. Hilary is a parish of some size. "This parish is indebted for its present name to St. Hilary, bishop of Poictiers, who was driven into Phrygia for his attachment to the rectitude of faith, and invincible adherence to the doctrine of the godhead of Christ. He was banished in the year 556, but was recalled about the year 560, and died at Poietiers about six years afterwards. At what particular period this parish first assumed the name of its patron saint, is rather uncertain ; but it is known to have been distinguished by this appellation early in the fourteenth century." 1

Early History of the Hilaire family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Hilaire research. Another 87 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1373, 1412, 1689 and 1770 are included under the topic Early Hilaire History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Hilaire Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: St. Hilaire, Saint Hilaire, Hilaire, St-Hillaire, Saint-Hillaire, St-Hillier, Saint-Hillier, St-Hylaire, Saint-Hylaire, St-Hilary, Saint-Hilary, D'Hilaire and many more.

Early Notables of the Hilaire family

Another 31 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Hilaire Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Hilaire Ranking

In France, the name Hilaire is the 1,957th most popular surname with an estimated 3,175 people with that name. 2

Migration of the Hilaire family

Some of the first settlers of this family name or some of its variants were: Jean St.Hilaire, who settled in New Orleans in 1757; Alexandre Allaire, who settled in New York in 1686; Catherine Allaire, who settled in Carolina in 1695.


Contemporary Notables of the name Hilaire (post 1700) +

  • Gerald St. Hilaire, American politician, Mayor of Gardner, Massachusetts, 2007 3
  • Dan St. Hilaire, American Republican politician, Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from New Hampshire, 2008 3
  • Joseph-Pierre Hilaire Belloc (1870-1953), British (French-born) poet, historian, Catholic apologist, and essayist
  • Hilaire Benoît Reynaud, French Brigadier General during the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars from 1789 to 1815 4
  • Hilaire Neveu (1839-1913), Canadian farmer and politician who represented Joliette in the Canadian House of Commons from 1889 to 1891
  • Hilaire Chardonnet (1839-1924), French chemist


  1. Hutchins, Fortescue, The History of Cornwall, from the Earliest Records and Traditions to the Present Time. London: William Penaluna, 1824. Print
  2. http://www.journaldesfemmes.com/nom-de-famille/nom/
  3. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 21) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
  4. Generals Who Served in the French Army during the Period 1789-1815. (Retrieved 2015, August 27) Hilaire Reynaud. Retrieved from http://www.napoleon-series.org/research/c_frenchgenerals.html


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