Hiles
A surname most likely meaning “at the hill,” used for someone who lived by or on a hill.
The #8,356 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 77,927 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Bardsley treats Hiles as a local surname from the hill, with the final -s reflecting the genitive or possessive form, essentially meaning “of the hill” or “at the hill.” The underlying word is the Old English hill term, which appears in Middle English forms like atte Hile. In some cases the name may also reflect spellings influenced by related hill-based surnames such as Hile, Hill, or Hiley.
History
The name appears in English records as a topographic byname for someone living by a prominent hill. Later spellings varied, and forms such as Hile, Hiles, Hills, and Hiley were sometimes treated as related or overlapping. Modern bearers are concentrated in English-speaking countries, especially the United States and the UK.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
The old phrase atte Hile literally meant “at the hill,” a common medieval way of forming place-based surnames.
From the historical record
“Hlloe. — Local, 'at the hill,' from residence thereon, genitive Hiles; cf. HilUforHill. Thus also S' ' " ilmes, Brooks, Hills, &c. te Hilc, eo. Soon., 1 Edw. I Cam Dir.,j; Ol(bnl,4;”
— A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, with special American instances