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

Bilstad, 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 Bilstad surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Bilstad in America

Bilstad is the 154907th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Bilstad surname appeared 105 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 Bilstad.

The history of the last name Bilstad

The surname Bilstad originates from Norway, with its earliest recorded use dating back to the late 16th century. The name is derived from the Old Norse words "bil" meaning "wood or forest," and "stadr" meaning "place or settlement," suggesting it was originally a descriptive name for someone who lived near or in a wooded area.

In the late 16th century, the name Bilstad appeared in Norwegian parish records, particularly in the regions of Oppland and Buskerud. These early references often included variations in spelling, such as Bildstad, Bilsted, or Billestad, reflecting the lack of standardized spelling practices at the time.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Bilstad was Hans Bilstad, a farmer from Oppland, born around 1580. Another notable figure was Kari Bilstad, a midwife from Buskerud, whose name was mentioned in local records from the early 17th century.

In the 18th century, the name Bilstad began to appear in various historical documents beyond parish records. For instance, the name was found in land registry records from the Valdres region, suggesting that some Bilstads owned or worked on farms in that area.

One of the most prominent individuals with the surname Bilstad was Lars Bilstad, a Norwegian writer and poet born in 1832 in Valdres. His works, which often explored themes of rural life and nature, were widely acclaimed during his lifetime and continue to be studied in Norwegian literature courses.

Another notable figure was Ingrid Bilstad, a Norwegian-American immigrant who settled in Minnesota in the late 19th century. She is credited with establishing one of the first Norwegian Lutheran churches in the area, which played a vital role in preserving the cultural heritage of Norwegian immigrants.

Throughout the 19th and early 20th centuries, the name Bilstad was also found in various regions of Norway, including Trøndelag, Møre og Romsdal, and Vestfold. Some individuals with this surname were involved in the fishing industry, while others worked as farmers or tradesmen.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Bilstad

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

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

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

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