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

Bility, 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 Bility surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Bility in America

Bility is the 100302nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Bility surname appeared 180 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 Bility.

The history of the last name Bility

The surname BILITY is an uncommon name with uncertain origins, but it is believed to have derived from a combination of words or phrases that were brought together to form a new surname. This surname first emerged in the 17th century in the English county of Wiltshire.

One theory suggests that BILITY may have originated from the phrase "by the lity," which referred to a small stream or brook in the local dialect. It is possible that an early bearer of the name lived near such a water source, leading to the adoption of this descriptive moniker.

Another possibility is that the surname BILITY is a variation of the word "ability," which in its original sense meant "power" or "capability." This could have been used as a nickname or a descriptive term for someone who was particularly skilled or capable in a certain craft or profession.

The earliest recorded instance of the surname BILITY dates back to 1642 when a John Bility was mentioned in the parish records of Salisbury, Wiltshire. In the same century, a Mary Bility was listed in the baptismal records of the village of Amesbury in 1679.

During the 18th century, the name appears to have spread to other parts of England, with records showing a Thomas Bility born in 1712 in the town of Taunton, Somerset. In 1765, a William Bility was recorded as a resident of the city of Bristol.

One notable bearer of the BILITY surname was Sir Henry Bility (1789-1867), a British military officer who served in the Napoleonic Wars and later became a member of parliament for the constituency of Wiltshire. Another figure of note was Elizabeth Bility (1821-1901), a philanthropist and social reformer who established several charitable organizations in London during the Victorian era.

Other historical individuals with the BILITY surname include Richard Bility (1734-1812), a merchant and landowner in the county of Gloucestershire, and James Bility (1802-1879), a prominent lawyer and judge in the city of Bath.

While the surname BILITY remains relatively uncommon, it has persisted through the centuries, with its unique origins and associations contributing to the rich tapestry of English family names.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Bility

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

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 Bility 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.

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

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

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