HILLARY
Hillary
The surname Hillary is of Anglo-Saxon origin, derived from the personal name Hilary, ultimately coming from the Latin name “Hilaria”, meaning cheerful or merry. The name was popularized in Britain by the veneration of St. Hilary of Poitiers, a 4th-century French bishop and theologian.
The surname Hillary is widely distributed throughout the United Kingdom, with notable concentrations in certain regions. The first recorded instance of the surname can be traced back to the early 12th century in Norfolk. Over time, branches of the family established themselves in various parts of England, Wales, and Scotland, contributing to the diverse fabric of the British population.
Throughout history, individuals bearing the surname Hillary have made significant contributions to various fields, including politics, academia, and the arts. One of the most famous bearers of the surname is Sir Edmund Hillary, the New Zealand mountaineer who, along with Tenzing Norgay, became the first climbers known to have reached the summit of Mount Everest in 1953.
The surname Hillary continues to endure today, with descendants of its namesakes scattered across the globe. Whether through ancestral ties or personal choice, the name Hillary remains a distinctive marker of British heritage and identity.
There are approximately 1,166 people named Hillary in the UK. That makes it roughly the 6,558th most common surname in Britain. Around 18 in a million people in Britain are named Hillary.
Surname type: From given name or forename
Origin: English
Region of origin: British Isles
Country of origin: England
Religion of origin: Christian
Language of origin: English
Typical given names associated with the surname
Male
- Alan
- Andrew
- Christopher
- David
- John
- Mark
- Michael
- Paul
- Richard
- Robert
Female
- Amanda
- Anne
- Christine
- Emma
- Karen
- Kathleen
- Lesley
- Linda
- Margaret
- Mary
- Michelle
- Rebecca
- Sarah
- Victoria
Similar and related surnames
Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.