Hill
The origin of the surname Hill
Hill was given to someone who lived on or near a hill.
What kind of surname is Hill?
As a toponymic (locational) surname, the surname Hill originally described where its bearer lived or came from — a village, region, landscape feature or landmark. When people moved from one place to another, neighbours often identified the newcomer by their place of origin, and that association became a lasting family name. Some toponymic surnames name a specific town or county; others describe the local terrain, such as a hill, wood, field, ford or bridge beside which a family lived. These names are a kind of map of migration and settlement, recording where earlier generations put down roots.
How English surnames work
English surnames became hereditary between roughly the 12th and 15th centuries and fall into four great classes: occupational (Smith, Baker, Wright), locational (Hill, Wood, Preston), patronymic (Johnson, Wilson, Richardson) and descriptive nicknames (Brown, Long, Little). Many were shaped by both Anglo-Saxon and Norman-French influence, and a great number spread worldwide through emigration and empire, which is why English surnames are among the most common family names across the English-speaking world.
Variants & spellings
- Hille
Frequently asked questions
What does the surname Hill mean?
The surname Hill means Dweller on a hill. Hill was given to someone who lived on or near a hill.
Where does the surname Hill come from?
Hill is a surname of English origin.
What kind of surname is Hill?
Hill is a toponymic surname, originally describing where the bearer lived or came from.
How common is the surname Hill in the United States?
Hill is the 41st most common surname in the United States (2010 U.S. Census), recorded for about 411,770 people.