Hilham History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Etymology of Hilham

What does the name Hilham mean?

The ancient history of the Hilham name begins with the ancient Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. The name is derived from when the family resided 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 Hilham family

The surname Hilham 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 Hilham family

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

Hilham Spelling Variations

Until quite recently, the English language has lacked a definite system of spelling rules. Consequently, Anglo-Saxon surnames are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. Changes in Anglo-Saxon names were influenced by the evolution of the English language, as it incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other languages. Although Medieval scribes and church officials recorded names as they sounded, so it is common to find one person referred to by several different spellings of his surname, even the most literate people varied the spelling of their own names. Variations of the name Hilham include Hillman, Hilman, Hilleman and others.

Early Notables of the Hilham family

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

Migration of the Hilham family

Searching for a better life, many English families migrated to British colonies. Unfortunately, the majority of them traveled 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 ocean. For those families that arrived safely, modest prosperity was attainable, and many went on to make invaluable contributions to the development of the cultures of the new colonies. Research into the origins of individual families in North America revealed records of the immigration of a number of people bearing the name Hilham or a variant listed above: Edward Hillman who settled in Virginia in 1654; James Hillman settled in Barbados in 1685; Thomas Hillman settled in New England in 1654; George, and John Hillman arrived in Philadelphia in 1745..