Hillner Surname History

Origins Available:
England

Etymology of Hillner

What does the name Hillner mean?

The name Hillner is of Anglo-Saxon origin and came from the name Hildemar. In Old English, patronyms were formed by adding a variety of suffixes to personal names, which changed over time and from place to place. For example, after the Norman Conquest, sunu and sune, which meant son, were the most common patronymic suffixes. In the 12th and 13th centuries, the most common patronymic names included the word filius, which meant son. By the 14th century, the suffix son had replaced these earlier versions. Surnames that were formed with filius or son were more common in the north of England and it was here that the number of individuals without surnames was greatest at this time.

Early Origins of the Hillner family

The surname Hillner was first found in Huntingdonshire, where they held a family seat from very early times.

Early History of the Hillner family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Hillner research. Another 53 words (4 lines of text) covering the year 1273 is included under the topic Early Hillner History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Hillner 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 Hillner include Hillmer, Hilmer, Hillmers, Hilmers, Hillner and many more.

Early Notables of the Hillner family

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

Hillner 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:

Hillner Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Amalie Hillner, who landed in Texas in 1845
Amalie Hillner, who arrived in Galveston, Tex in 1845 1

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)