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

Bilic, 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 Bilic surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Bilic in America

Bilic is the 85357th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Bilic surname appeared 219 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Bilic.

We can also compare 2010 data for Bilic 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 Bilic

The surname Bilic is of Croatian origin, deriving from the Slavic word "bil," meaning "white" or "pale." It is believed to have originated as a descriptive nickname referring to an individual's physical appearance, likely their pale complexion or perhaps light-colored hair.

The earliest known records of the Bilic surname can be traced back to the 14th century in the region of Dalmatia, which is now part of modern-day Croatia. It was particularly prevalent in the coastal areas around Split and Dubrovnik, where many families bearing this name resided.

One of the earliest documented instances of the Bilic surname can be found in a 1387 census record from the town of Trogir, which mentions a certain Petar Bilic among the residents. This record provides evidence of the name's existence and usage during the late medieval period.

In the 16th century, the Bilic surname gained prominence with the rise of Nikola Bilic, a renowned Renaissance humanist and poet from the city of Split. Born in 1508, Nikola Bilic was a prominent figure in the literary circles of his time and is remembered for his contributions to Croatian literature.

Another notable individual bearing the Bilic surname was Ivan Bilic, a 17th-century military commander who played a crucial role in the Venetian-Ottoman Wars. Born in 1650 in the town of Omiš, Ivan Bilic led several successful campaigns against the Ottoman forces, earning him a reputation as a skilled strategist and leader.

During the 19th century, the Bilic surname gained further recognition with the birth of Josip Bilic, a prominent Croatian painter and architect. Born in 1819 in Split, Josip Bilic left a lasting legacy through his numerous works of art and architectural designs, many of which can still be seen throughout Croatia today.

Another notable figure was Ante Bilic, a 20th-century Croatian writer and journalist. Born in 1912 in the village of Čitluk, Ante Bilic was a prolific author known for his novels, short stories, and journalistic pieces that shed light on the lives and struggles of ordinary Croatians during turbulent times.

Throughout its history, the Bilic surname has remained deeply rooted in Croatian culture and has been associated with individuals from various walks of life, including artists, writers, military leaders, and scholars. While its origins may be traced back to a humble descriptive nickname, the name has become a source of pride for many Croatian families over the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Bilic

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

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 Bilic 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 Bilic 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 Bilic was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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