Show ContentsHugill History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The name Hugill has a long Anglo-Saxon heritage. The name comes from when a family lived in Howgill or Hugill. Howgill is in Sedburgh, in the West Riding of Yorkshire. Hugill is in Westmorland (now part of Cumbria). The names have a common origin, however. They are based on the Old Norse word haugrgeil, which means "barrow (hill) in a ravine."

Early Origins of the Hugill family

The surname Hugill was first found in Yorkshire 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 Hugill family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Hugill research. Another 68 words (5 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Hugill History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Hugill 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 Hugill have been found, including Hewgill, Hugill, Hugil and others.

Early Notables of the Hugill family

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


United States Hugill migration to the United States +

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 Hugill, or a variant listed above:

Hugill Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • William Hugill, who landed in Iowa in 1882 1

Contemporary Notables of the name Hugill (post 1700) +

  • Adam Hugill, English actor, known for Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022), Sherwood (2022) and 1917 (2019)
  • Stan Hugill (1906-1992), English folk music performer, artist and sea music historian
  • Andrew Hugill (b. 1957), British composer, performer, writer, professor and researcher
  • Glenn Hugill (b. 1970), British television presenter and producer
  • John William Hugill (1881-1971), October 3, 1881 – January 13, 1971 was a Canadian lawyer and politician


  1. 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)


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