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

Dillingham, 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 Dillingham surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Dillingham in America

Dillingham is the 6995th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Dillingham surname appeared 4,791 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 2 people would have the surname Dillingham.

We can also compare 2010 data for Dillingham 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 Dillingham

The surname Dillingham has its origins in England, with the earliest recorded instances dating back to the late 12th century. It is thought to be a locational name, derived from the parish of Dillington in Somersetshire. The name is believed to have evolved from the Old English words "dill" meaning "dill" or "meadow", and "tun" meaning "farm" or "enclosure".

Records show that a William de Dylyngton was listed in the Pipe Rolls of Somersetshire in 1188. The Domesday Book of 1086 also mentions a manor called "Dyllingetun" in the same county, suggesting the name's deep roots in the region.

Over the centuries, the name has appeared in various spellings, including Dyllington, Dylyngton, and Dyllyngton, before settling on the modern form of Dillingham. In the 13th century, a Roger de Dyllyngton was recorded as a landowner in the county of Wiltshire.

One of the earliest notable individuals bearing the name was John Dillingham, a 16th-century English clergyman and author. Born in 1529, he served as the Dean of Chester Cathedral and wrote several religious works, including a commentary on the Book of Revelation.

During the English Civil War, a Dillingham family from Lincolnshire was known for their support of the Parliamentarian cause. Sir Robert Dillingham (1598-1670) was a prominent member of this family and served as a colonel in the Parliamentarian army.

In the 18th century, William Dillingham (1718-1789) was a noted English painter and engraver, known for his landscapes and portraits. His works can be found in various collections, including the British Museum.

Another notable figure was Charles Dillingham (1868-1934), an American theatre manager and producer. He was responsible for producing several successful Broadway shows, including the Ziegfeld Follies and the musical comedy "Sunny".

Across the Atlantic, the surname Dillingham has been present in the United States since the early colonial era. One of the earliest recorded instances is that of Edward Dillingham, who settled in Massachusetts in the 1630s and became a prominent landowner and politician.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Dillingham

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

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

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

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