General Chat

Top tip - using the Genes Reunited community

Welcome to the Genes Reunited community boards!

  • The Genes Reunited community is made up of millions of people with similar interests. Discover your family history and make life long friends along the way.
  • You will find a close knit but welcoming group of keen genealogists all prepared to offer advice and help to new members.
  • And it's not all serious business. The boards are often a place to relax and be entertained by all kinds of subjects.
  • The Genes community will go out of their way to help you, so don’t be shy about asking for help.

Quick Search

Single word search

Icons

  • New posts
  • No new posts
  • Thread closed
  • Stickied, new posts
  • Stickied, no new posts

Unusual Christian name - Hilyard

ProfilePosted byOptionsPost Date

oldbean

oldbean Report 29 Dec 2010 19:01

Please can anyone tell me if the name Hilyard for a female relative as a christian name means anything to anyone ie origin and why would it would be given.? I have only seen it as a surname.
Thank you.

RutlandBelle

RutlandBelle Report 29 Dec 2010 19:14

I always thought it was a male christian name. Perhaps it is a mother's maiden name passes down through the generations

Annina

Annina Report 29 Dec 2010 19:17

Hi Oldbean,my handbook of baby names by Clare Gibson,does not list this name,or any like it.

However,P H Reaney's Dictionary of British Surnames has.

Was the mothers maiden name Hilyard? sometimes babies were given this as a middle name.

oldbean

oldbean Report 29 Dec 2010 19:20

Thank you for your reply RutlandBelle, sadly that is not the case. I have traced a couple of generations back and this name is not to be found! I know that the family originated from Ireland and we have Danish connections too but I have not found the Danes yet!

Thistledown

Thistledown Report 29 Dec 2010 21:09

I have relatives that have used a Irish surname as a christian name, but they used the Gailic for it.

Annina

Annina Report 30 Dec 2010 13:22

Yes Oldbean, that is my name,if you google it you will find lots of interesting red light establishments in Germany. It was a surprise to me,finding out that my Christian name and Surname were German,but have not managed to establish any connections to that country as yet.

Hope that you solve your mystery soon. Annina in Sheffield.

oldbean

oldbean Report 30 Dec 2010 22:33

Apologies Thistledown and Annina for not replying before, battery needed recharging, computer not mine!! Thanks both for your input to my quest I think that it may prove to be the irish side of the family that has provided me with the conundram! Hey Ho onwards I go.

Thanks again all
Andrea