Hightower
What is the origin of the last name Hightower?
Meaning and origin
The last name Hightower has its origin in medieval England, derived from the Middle English word "hight," meaning "height" or "tallness," and the word "tower," indicating a tall structure. The Hightower name suggests an ancestral connection to a specific location and signifies the significance of verticality or height in the family's history.
The longer story
The surname Hightower has origins rooted in the English language. It is a compound surname consisting of two separate words: "high" and "tower." The word "high" refers to a great or considerable height, while "tower" signifies a tall structure often used for defense or observation. The combination of these words creates a surname that is evocative of a tall or elevated tower.
This connection to a physical landmark indicates a potential occupational or topographical origin for the surname.
In examining historical documents and records, it becomes evident that the surname Hightower has been present in the English-speaking world for centuries. The development of surnames took place over time, influenced by various factors such as location, occupation, and personal attributes.
Surname origins are rarely settled: one spelling can have several sources, and families often took a name for reasons nobody wrote down. Check it against the sources below before you rely on it.
#1,787
Hightower was the 1,787th most common surname in the 2010 US Census, with 20,065 people, about 6.5 in every 100,000.
Who carries it
Surnames like Hightower
Names it is linked with, then names with the same origin and a similar standing.
Check the sources
- Forebears: where Hightower is found around the world
- The Internet Surname Database: a second opinion on the origin
- US Census Bureau: the 2010 surname figures used here
For a name you are serious about, compare the dictionaries: Reaney and Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames; Hanks, Dictionary of American Family Names.