Hillary Family Crest, Coat of Arms and Name History

The name Hillary brought to England in the great wave of migration following the Norman Invasion of 1066.  It comes from the old given name Hillary, which originally acquired from the Latin personal name Hilarius, which means cheerful glad, happy and joyful. More common variations are: Hilary, Hillhary, Hillarry, Hillaroy, Hillarey, Hillairy, Hiillary, Hillaery.

The surname Hillary first found in Norfolk where they held a family seat from very early times and granted lands by Duke William of Normandy, their true Lord, for their distinguished assistance at the Battle of Hastings in 1066 AD. Hilary (c.1110-1169) was an old Priest of Chichester.

Some of the people with the name Hillary who arrived in the United States in the 17th century included Susan Hillary, who landed in Virginia in 1652.  Nicholas Hillary, who settled in Nevis in 1654. William Hillary, who settled in Virginia in 1654.  Susanna Hillary, who arrived in Virginia in 1655, and Thomas Hillary, who landed in Maryland in 1661. Some of the people with the surname Hillary who arrived in the United States in the 18th century included Samuel Hillary, who arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1711.  John Hillary, who settled in Charles Town in 1767.  George Hillary, who landed in Savanna(h), Georgia in 1793.

Blazons & Genealogy Notes

1) (Danbury Place, co. Essex, afterwards of Rigg House, co. York, bart., extinct 1855). Ar. three fleurs-de-lis sa. betw. six crosses crosslet az. a bordure of the second. Crest—Out of a mural crown gu. a cubit arm armed ppr. garnished and the joints embattled or, the gauntlet holding a chevaltrap of the last, round the arm a scarf vert. Supporters—Two lions ar. each gorged with a collar or, fimbriated sa. charged with a fleur-de-lis betw. two crosses crosslet of the last. Motto—Virtuti nihil invium.
2) (co. Leicester). Sa. crusily three fleurs-de-lis and a bordure engr. ar.
3) (Daver, co. Norfolk). Ar. a fesse chequy or and sa. (another, of the first and sa.) in chief a mullet of the third.
4) (co. Norfolk). Ar. a fesse counter-componee or and gu.
5) (Hadley, co. Suffolk). Same Arms, a mullet sa. for diff.
6) Sa. three crosses crosslet, two and one, and five fleurs-de-lis ar. one, two, and two.
7) Ar. six crosses crosslet fitchee sa. three, two, and one.
8) (co. Warwick, and Maringe, co. York). Ar. three fleurs-de-lis az. betw. six crosses crosslet fitchee sa. a crescent gu. for diff. Crest—A cubit arm erect in armour ppr. holding in the gauntlet a caltrap ar. round the arm a sash vert.
9) Ar. semee of crosslets sa. three fleurs-de-lis of the last. Crest—A griffin’s head holding in the beak a key ppr.