Hilgen History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Etymology of Hilgen

What does the name Hilgen mean?

The ancestors of the Hilgen surname lived among the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture. The name comes from when they lived on or near a hill. Further research showed the name was derived from the Old English words hyll, which meant hill. Combined the name means "dweller on the hill."

Early Origins of the Hilgen family

The surname Hilgen was first found in Hampshire where they held a family seat from very ancient times, some say well before the Norman Conquest and the arrival of Duke William at Hastings in 1066 A.D.

Early History of the Hilgen family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Hilgen research. Another 86 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1273 and 1327 are included under the topic Early Hilgen History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Hilgen Spelling Variations

Before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago, spelling variations of names were a common occurrence. Elements of Latin, French and other languages became incorporated into English through the Middle Ages, and name spellings changed even among the literate. The variations of the surname Hilgen include Hillman, Hilman, Hilleman and others.

Early Notables of the Hilgen family

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

Hilgen migration to the United States +

A great wave of immigration to the New World was the result of the enormous political and religious disarray that struck England at that time. Families left for the New World in extremely large numbers. The long journey was the end of many immigrants and many more arrived sick and starving. Still, those who made it were rewarded with an opportunity far greater than they had known at home in England. These emigrant families went on to make significant contributions to these emerging colonies in which they settled. Some of the first North American settlers carried this name or one of its variants:

Hilgen Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Frederick Hilgen, who arrived in Charleston, South Carolina in 1836 1

Hilgen Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Auna Hilgen, aged 18, who arrived in New York in 1920 aboard the ship "Achilles" from Port au Prince, Haiti 2
Arend Hilgen, aged 18, who arrived in New York in 1920 aboard the ship "Achilles" from Cap Haitien, Haiti 2

Contemporary Notables of the name Hilgen (post 1700) +

Frederick Hilgen, American politician, Presidential Elector for Wisconsin, 1872 3

Sources +

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)
Ellis Island Search retrieved 15th November 2022. Retrieved from https://heritage.statueofliberty.org/passenger-result
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, January 20) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html