Hilbers History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Etymology of Hilbers

What does the name Hilbers mean?

Hilbers is an ancient Norman name that arrived in England after the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Hilbers family lived in Dorset, England at the manor of Ilberton, from where they took their name. Early records show the name as a more frequent personal name than a surname having derived from the Old French name "Ilbert." 1 In fact, the earliest record of the name in England was that of Ilbert de Hertford who was listed in the Domesday Book of 1086. 2

Early Origins of the Hilbers family

The surname Hilbers 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 Hilbers family

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

Hilbers Spelling Variations

Norman surnames are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. The frequent changes in surnames are largely due to the fact that the Old and Middle English languages lacked definite spelling rules. The introduction of Norman French to England, as well as the official court languages of Latin and French, also had pronounced influences on the spelling of surnames. Since medieval scribes and church officials recorded names as they sounded, rather than adhering to any specific spelling rules, it was common to find the same individual referred to with different spellings. The name has been spelled Illbert, Ilbert, Ibbert and others.

Early Notables of the Hilbers family

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

Migration of the Hilbers family

Many English families emigrated to North American colonies in order to escape the political chaos in Britain at this time. Unfortunately, many English families made the trip to the New World under extremely harsh conditions. Overcrowding on the ships caused the majority of the immigrants to arrive diseased, famished, and destitute from the long journey across the stormy Atlantic. Despite these hardships, many of the families prospered and went on to make invaluable contributions to the development of the cultures of the United States and Canada. Early North American immigration records have revealed a number of people bearing the name Hilbers or a variant listed above: Charles Ibbert who landed in America in 1771.

Contemporary Notables of the name Hilbers (post 1700) +

Imogene M. Hilbers, American Republican politician, Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from California, 1972 3

The Hilbers 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.

Sources +

Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, January 20) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html