Where did the phrase Hillbilly come from?

Answer 1

It is my understanding that the was a family named Billy and they lived in Kentucky. As the family grew and spread out, some of the family lived on a nearby hill or mountain whereas others lived in the valley. When anyone queried as to where the Billlys were, the question was answered thusly: "Do you mean the hillBillys or the valleyBillys?"

In time the hillBillys developed an unsavory reputation and therefore the bad connotation.

Answer 2

Hillbilly is a term referring to people who dwell in rural, mountainous areas of the United States, primarily Appalachia and the Ozarks. Due to its strongly stereotypical connotations, the term is frequently considered derogatory, and so is usually offensive to those Americans of Ozark and Appalachian heritage. However, the term is also used in celebration of their culture by mountain people themselves. Such co-opting and neutralizing use is almost exclusively reserved for the mountain people themselves. Such people consider the term hillbilly to be a descriptive term lumping all such inhabitants together in a single ethnic group similar to the term Cajun as a description of a uniquely American ethnic group. (Wikipedia)

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Answer 3

My guess is Bill was a really popular name at the time, and they all lived out in the sticks of the hills, hence the term HillBilly!

Answer 4

Hillbilly music originated in the Appalachian region of the US. Country Music used to be referred to as Hillbilly music up until the 1950's.

Answer 5

The word was in use by 1892, by combining hill with the male given name Billy/Billie.

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