Show ContentsHildersem History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Hildersem family

The surname Hildersem was first found in Cambridgeshire at Hildersham, a small village 8 miles south-east of Cambridge. Historically a parish, in the union of Linton, hundred of Chilford, this place formerly belonged to the De Veres, earls of Oxford, who were lords of the manor. A Roman road leading from the station near Cambridge to Colchester bounds the parish and can still be clearly seen today. 1

The Domesday Book of 1086 lists the locale as Hildricesham 2 and the place name literally meant "homestead of a man called Hildric," from the Old English personal name + "ham." 3

Early History of the Hildersem family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Hildersem research. Another 135 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1455, 1487, 1510, 1534, 1563, 1576, 1594, 1600, 1604, 1632, 1648, 1662 and 1674 are included under the topic Early Hildersem History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Hildersem Spelling Variations

Spelling variations in names were a common occurrence before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago. In the Middle Ages, even the literate spelled their names differently as the English language incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other European languages. Many variations of the name Hildersem have been found, including Hildersham, Hildershaw, Hilderham, Hildershaw, Hillersham, Hillershaw, Hildersam, Hildersem and many more.

Early Notables of the Hildersem family

Distinguished members of the family include Arthur Hildersham or Hildersam (1563-1632), English Puritan divine, son of Thomas Hildersam, by his second wife, Anne Pole, born at Stetchworth, Cambridgeshire, on 6 October 1563. "He was of royal descent through his mother, a daughter of Sir Geoffrey Pole, brother to Cardinal Pole. His parents, who were zealous Roman Catholics, designed him for the priesthood; but in preparation for the university he was sent to the grammar school of Saffron Walden, Essex, where Desborough, the master, grounded him in Protestant principles. In 1576 he was entered at Christ's College, Cambridge. Two years later his...
Another 159 words (11 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Hildersem Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Hildersem family

Families began migrating abroad in enormous numbers because of the political and religious discontent in England. Often faced with persecution and starvation in England, the possibilities of the New World attracted many English people. Although the ocean trips took many lives, those who did get to North America were instrumental in building the necessary groundwork for what would become for new powerful nations. Some of the first immigrants to cross the Atlantic and come to North America bore the name Hildersem, or a variant listed above: the name represented in many forms and recorded from the mid 17th century in the great migration from Europe. Migrants settled in the eastern seaboard from Newfoundland, to Maine, to Virginia, the Carolinas, and to the islands..



  1. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  2. Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
  3. Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)


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