The village name is Anglo Saxon in origin, and means 'Hild's hill'. In the Domesday Book of 1086 the village was recorded as Ilesdone, though earlier it had been referred to as Hildesdun.
During the English Civil War the manor at Hillesden was made a garrison for the Royalists. On the success of the Parliamentarians it was plundered greatly and its owner thrown into jail, where he subsequently died. The medieval church, built in 1493 was saved the from ravages of war however, and remains to this day.
The parish church in Hillesden is dedicated to All Saints. The tithes of this church were anciently collected by Christ Church College, Oxford.