Hill History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Hill is one of the many new names that came to England following the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Hill family lived near or on a hill. Hill, which was extremely popular and widely distributed in England, is a classic example of an English polygenetic surname, which is a surname that was developed in a number of different locations and adopted by various families independently. The name was originally derived from the Old English hyll, which simply meant hill or dweller by the hill. [1]

Early Origins of the Hill family

The surname Hill was first found in Worcestershire, where one line is descended from the De Montes of Castlemorton in Worcestershire. The manor of Hillend in Castlemorton, Worcester was likely built on land held by Odo de Monte, or Hill, in 1238-9. Richard Hill of Castlemorton is mentioned in 1383 and John Hill of Castlemorton in 1408-9. John Hill died about 1623 holding a “messuage” at Hillend, which then passed to his son Thomas. [2]

Other early records of the name include Gilbert del Hill, who was listed in the Pipe Rolls for Norfolk in 1191; William “attehil” (literally at the hill,) who was listed in 1260 in the Assize Rolls of Cornwall, and Simon Hille who was listed in the Rotuli Hundredorum for Worcestershire of 1273. [1]

Again in Cornwall, “the rectory of St. Keverne, which had been appropriated to the priory of Beaulieu in Hampshire, was afterward for many years in the family of Hill. About the middle of the last century, the great tithes were sold by this family to the occupiers of the several estates, for a term of 999 years.” [3]

Scotland was another ancient homeland for the family. In this case, the first record was William de la Hyll, son of Waldeve son of Aldewyn, who resigned lands in Mydilham in 1271. William o’ the Hill rendered homage to King Edward I of England in 1296 and in 1321 William de le Hille was received to the king of England’s peace.” It was Richard de Hulle (Hill), ‘a varlette of Scotland,’ who ‘stikked and killed’ Catarine Mortimer, ‘a damoisel of London,’ one of the inmates of the harem of David II in 1360.” [4]

Early History of the Hill family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Hill research.

Hill Spelling Variations

Anglo-Norman names are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. When the Normans became the ruling people of England in the 11th century, they introduced a new language into a society where the main languages of Old and later Middle English had no definite spelling rules. These languages were more often spoken than written, so they blended freely with one another. Contributing to this mixing of tongues was the fact that medieval scribes spelled words according to sound, ensuring that a person’s name would appear differently in nearly every document in which it was recorded. The name has been spelled Hill, Hille, Hyll, Hills and others.

Early Notables of the Hill family (pre 1700)

Distinguished members of the family include John Hill (1589-1657), an English merchant and politician, Member of Parliament for Dorchester (1628-1629); Roger Hill (1605-1667), of Poundsford, Somerset, an English judge and Member of Parliament; Michael Hill (1672-1699), an English politician, Member of Parliament for Saltash (1692-1695), appointed to the Privy Council of Ireland in 1694; James Hill (died 1734), an English master mason

Hill World Ranking

In the United States, the name Hill is the 33^rd most popular surname with an estimated 465,069 people with that name. [5] However, in Canada, the name Hill is ranked the 73^rd most popular surname with an estimated 32,716 people with that name. [6] And in Newfoundland, Canada, the name Hill is the 441^st popular surname with an estimated 106 people with that name. [7] France ranks Hill as 6,613^rd with 1,000 – 1,500 people. [8] Australia ranks Hill as 31^stwith 48,017 people. [9] New Zealand ranks Hill as 41^st with 5,499 people. [10] The United Kingdom ranks Hill as 30^th with 105,702 people. [11] South Africa ranks Hill as 861^st with 8,118 people. [12]

 Migration of the Hill family to Ireland

Some of the Hill family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.

 Hill migration to the United States +

For many English families, the political and religious disarray that plagued their homeland made the frontiers of the New World an attractive prospect. Thousands migrated, aboard cramped disease-ridden ships. They arrived sick, poor, and hungry, but were welcomed in many cases with far greater opportunity than at home in England. Many of these hardy settlers went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations in which they landed. Among early immigrants bearing the name Hill or a variant listed above were: 

Hill Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

• Mr. Francis Hill, aged 22, who arrived in Virginia in 1619 aboard the ship “Bona Nova” [13]
• Mr. John Hill, aged 26, who arrived in Virginia in 1619 aboard the ship “Bona Nova” [13]
• Mr. Marmaduke Hill, aged 11, who arrived in Virginia in 1619 aboard the ship “Mary Gold” [13]
• Mrs. Jane Hill, aged 14, who arrived in Virginia in 1619 aboard the ship “Mary Gold” [13]
• Edward Hill, who settled in Virginia in 1623

Hill Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

• Ann Hill, who arrived in Boston, Massachusetts in 1767 [14]
• Thomas Hill, who landed in North Carolina in 1775 [14]
• Charles Hill, who arrived in New Hampshire in 1776 [14]
• Casper Hill, who arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1791 [14]
• Christopher Hill, who landed in Frederick County, Maryland in 1795 [14]

Hill Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

• Adam Hill, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1808 [14]
• Alexander Hill, aged 23, who arrived in South Carolina in 1812 [14]
• Anne Hill, who landed in New York, NY in 1816 [14]
• Adam Hill, who sailed from Ireland to New York in 1816
• Arthur Hill, who arrived in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1832 [14]

Hill Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

• Mr. John Hill, (b. 1876), aged 29, Cornish stonemason travelling aboard the ship “New York” arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 4th June 1905 en route to Bangor, Pennsylvania, USA [15]
• Mr. Edward Reginald Hill, (b. 1903), aged 2, Cornish settler travelling aboard the ship “St Louis” arriving at Ellis Island, New York in 1905 en route to Eveleth, Minnesota, USA [15]
• Mrs. Elizabeth Ann Hill, (b. 1881), aged 24, Cornish settler travelling aboard the ship “St Louis” arriving at Ellis Island, New York in 1905 en route to Eveleth, Minnesota, USA [15]

 Hill migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were: 

Hill Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

• Abnel Hill, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1750
• Anthy Hill, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1774
• Mr. James Hill U.E. who arrived at Port Roseway [Shelburne], Nova Scotia on October 26, 1783 was passenger number 196 aboard the ship “HMS Clinton”, picked up on September 28, 1783 at Staten Island, New York [16]
• Mr. Joseph Hill U.E. who arrived at Port Roseway [Shelburne], Nova Scotia c. 1783 was a passenger aboard the ship “HMS Clinton” [16]
• Mr. Nazareth Hill U.E. who settled in Kingston, Ontario c. 1784 [16]

Hill Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

• Alvin Hill, who arrived in Canada in 1828
• Archibald Hill, aged 30, who landed in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1833
• Andrew Hill, aged 30, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship “Susan” in 1838
• Ms. Francis Hill, aged 20 who immigrated to Canada, arriving at the Grosse Isle Quarantine Station in Quebec aboard the ship “John Munn” departing from the port of Liverpool, England but died on Grosse Isle on September 2nd, 1847 [17]
• Mrs. Catherine Hill, aged 60 who was emigrating through Grosse Isle Quarantine Station, Quebec aboard the ship “John and Robert” departing 9th June 1847 from Liverpool, England; the ship arrived on 6th August 1847 but she died on board [18]

 Hill migration to Australia+

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include: 

Hill Settlers in Australia in the 18th Century

• Mr. James Hill, English convict who was convicted in Essex, England for 14 years, transported aboard the “Barwell” in September 1797, arriving in New South Wales, Australia[19]
• Miss Elizabeth Hill, English convict who was convicted in Warwick, Warwickshire, Englandfor 14 years, transported aboard the “Britannia III” on 18th July 1798, arriving in New South Wales, Australia [20]

Hill Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

• Miss Ann Hill, British Convict who was convicted in Middlesex, England for 7 years, transported aboard the “Earl Cornwallis” in August 1800, arriving in New South Wales, Australia [21]
• Miss Sarah Hill, British Convict who was convicted in Worcester, Worcestershire, Englandfor 7 years, transported aboard the “Earl Cornwallis” in August 1800, arriving in New South Wales, Australia [21]
• Miss Elizabeth Hill, British Convict who was convicted in Barnstaple, Devon, England for 7 years, transported aboard the “Experiment” on 4th December 1803, arriving in New South Wales, Australia [22]
• Mrs. Hannah Hill (nee Astbury), (b. 1772), aged 31, British Convict who was convicted in Stafford, Staffordshire, England for 7 years for larceny, transported aboard the “Experiment” on 4th December 1803, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, she died in 1851 [22]
• Miss Jane Hill, British Convict who was convicted in Somerset, England for life, transported aboard the “Experiment” on 4th December 1803, arriving in New South Wales, Australia [22]

 Hill migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include: 

Hill Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

• George Hill, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1840
• George Hill, aged 36, a carpenter, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship “Arab” in 1841
• Ann Hill, aged 38, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship “Arab” in 1841
• Jane Hill, aged 13, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship “Arab” in 1841
• John Hill, aged 11, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship “Arab” in 1841

 Hill migration to West Indies +

The British first settled the British West Indies around 1604. They made many attempts but failed in some to establish settlements on the Islands including Saint Lucia and Grenada. By 1627 they had managed to establish settlements on St. Kitts (St. Christopher) and Barbados, but by 1641 the Spanish had moved in and destroyed some of these including those at Providence Island. The British continued to expand the settlements including setting the First Federation in the British West Indies by 1674; some of the islands include Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Island, Turks and Caicos, Jamaica and Belize then known as British Honduras. By the 1960’s many of the islands became independent after the West Indies Federation which existed from 1958 to 1962 failed due to internal political conflicts. After this a number of Eastern Caribbean islands formed a free association. [23]

Hill Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century

• Mr. John Hill, (b. 1615), aged 19, British settler travelling from Gravesend, UK aboard the ship “Hopewell” arriving in Barbados on 17th February 1634 [14]
• Mr. John Hill, (b. 1612), aged 23, British settler travelling from London, England aboard the ship “Alexander” arriving in Barbados in 1635 [24]
• Miss Joan Hill, (b. 1614), aged 21, British settler traveling aboard the ship “John” arriving in St Christopher (Saint Kitts) in 1635 [25]
• Mr. John Hill, (b. 1617), aged 18, British settler traveling aboard the ship “Matthew” arriving in St Christopher (Saint Kitts) in 1635 [26]
• John Hill, who settled in Barbados in 1654

Contemporary Notables of the name Hill (post 1700) +

• Oliver White Hill Sr. (1907-2007), American civil rights attorney from Richmond, Virginia, known for his work against racial discrimination, recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom
• Dewey Lewis Hill (1925-2023), American politician, Democratic member of the North Carolina General Assembly
• Michael J. Hill ACE (1949-2023), American Academy Award and BAFTA Award winning film editor, known for his work with director Ron Howard, having cut all of Howard’s films from Night Shift (1982) to In the Heart of the Sea (2015)
• Allen Robert “Bobby” Hill (1922-2022), American motorcycle racer who won the A.M.A. Grand National Championship in 1951 and 1952 and won a total of 12 AMA nationals during his professional racing career (1947-1959), inducted to the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 1998
• David Harris “Dave” Hill (1941-2022), American football player, inducted into the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame in 2011 and the Kansas City Chiefs Hall of Honor in 1997
• Lawrence Douglas “Doug” Hill (1950-2021), American Chief Meteorologist for ABC 7 News/WJLA-TV in Washington, D.C., awarded the “Seal of Approval” from the American Meteorological Society
• Joseph Michael “Dusty” Hill (1949-2021), American musician who was the bassist and secondary vocalist of the American rock group ZZ Top, inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2004
• Lew Hill (d. 2021), American college head coach for the Texas–Rio Grande Valley Vaqueros men’s basketball team who died from COVID-19
• Joyce E. Hill (1925-2021), American catcher who played from 1945 through 1952 in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League
• Aubrey Hill (1972-2020), American college football player and coach from Miami, Florida

The Hill Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Avancez
Motto Translation: Advance.