What is the word origin for the word hillbilly?

Answer 1

Hill-billy or Billy Boy originated in Ireland. It was used to describe the Northern Ireland Protestant supporters of King William III (AKA King Billy).

There are two theories of how the word made it to this country. The most accepted theory is that the Britishs soldiers refererred to the Irish Protestant Colonists in Appalachia as hill-billys.

A much lesser accepted theory is that there was also a large German population in Appalachia, Wilhelm being a popular name and went by Will or Bill. Hence people reffered to them as Bill of the Hill or Hillbilly.

Answer 2

The term "hillbilly" is believed to have originated in the United States in the late 19th century to describe people living in remote, rural mountainous areas, particularly in the Appalachian region. It likely combines "hill," referring to the geographical landscape, and "billy," a colloquial term for a fellow or companion. Over time, the term has taken on negative connotations and is sometimes considered derogatory.