Find out how popular the last name Biles is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Biles.

Biles, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Biles surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Biles in America

Biles is the 9870th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Biles surname appeared 3,278 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Biles.

We can also compare 2010 data for Biles to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Biles

The surname BILES has its origins in England, dating back to the medieval period. It is believed to have originated from a place name, specifically a location called "Biles" or "Byles" in the county of Gloucestershire. This place name itself is derived from the Old English words "bil" or "byll," meaning a hill or ridge, and "leah," meaning a clearing or meadow.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname BILES can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1327, which mentions a certain "John de Byles." The Subsidy Rolls were tax records kept by the English government during the 14th century.

Another notable historical reference to the surname BILES comes from the Feet of Fines for Gloucestershire in 1541, which documents a land transaction involving a person named "Thomas Byles." The Feet of Fines were legal records of land transfers and property disputes.

In the 16th century, the BILES surname appears to have been primarily concentrated in the counties of Gloucestershire and Worcestershire, with some variations in spelling such as "Byles" and "Billes." This is evident in parish records and legal documents from that period.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname BILES was William Biles, a member of the Society of Friends (Quakers) who was born in Gloucestershire around 1640. He was known for his active involvement in the Quaker community and his efforts in promoting religious tolerance.

Another notable figure was John Biles, a prominent architect and builder who lived in the late 17th and early 18th centuries. He was responsible for designing and constructing several notable buildings in the city of Bristol, including the impressive St. Michael's Hill Shot Tower in 1719.

In the 19th century, a family of BILES was recorded as residing in the village of Painswick in Gloucestershire. Among them was Henry Biles (1805-1881), a respected local farmer and landowner who played an active role in the community.

The surname BILES also has ties to the United States, with several individuals bearing this name immigrating from England in the 17th and 18th centuries. One such individual was Thomas Biles, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1682 and settled in what is now Bucks County.

Another notable figure with the BILES surname was James Biles (1825-1901), a British-born engineer and inventor who made significant contributions to the development of early steam engines and boilers. He held several patents and was widely recognized for his innovative designs.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Biles

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Biles.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Biles was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Biles has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Biles was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Biles, please contact us.

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