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

Dills, 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 Dills surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Dills in America

Dills is the 8494th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Dills surname appeared 3,878 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 Dills.

We can also compare 2010 data for Dills 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 Dills

The surname DILLS is of English origin, derived from the Old English word "dill," which means "a valley" or "a hollow." It is believed that the name first emerged as a descriptive reference to a person who lived in a valley or a hollow area. The name may also have evolved from a place name containing the word "dill."

The earliest recorded instances of the DILLS surname date back to the late 12th century in various English counties, including Kent and Sussex. The name is found in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, which were ancient census records compiled in England during the reign of King Edward I.

One notable historical figure bearing the DILLS surname was Sir Robert Dills, a prominent landowner and military commander during the Wars of the Roses in the 15th century. He fought alongside the House of Lancaster and participated in several key battles, including the Battle of Towton in 1461.

In the 16th century, the name DILLS appeared in the parish records of St. Mary's Church in Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk. During this period, variations in the spelling of the surname were common, including Dille, Dyll, and Dil.

Another notable individual with the DILLS surname was John Dills, a prominent merchant and trader who lived in London during the 17th century. He established a successful import-export business and was involved in the East India Company's trade ventures.

In the 18th century, the DILLS surname gained recognition through the works of the English poet and essayist, Joseph Dills (1715-1775). He was a celebrated writer of his time and contributed to several literary publications, including "The Gentleman's Magazine."

During the 19th century, the DILLS surname was associated with the textile industry in Lancashire, England. James Dills (1812-1890) was a notable figure in this industry, owning and operating a successful cotton mill in Manchester.

Another prominent figure bearing the DILLS surname was Sir William Dills (1857-1932), a British politician and diplomat who served as the Governor of New Zealand from 1920 to 1925. He played a significant role in shaping the country's political and social landscape during his tenure.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Dills

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

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

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

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