Fillman last name popularity, history, and meaning

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

Meaning of Fillman

A surname derived from an old English term meaning "a village leader or headman."

Fillman, 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 Fillman surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Fillman in America

Fillman is the 21307th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Fillman surname appeared 1,230 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 Fillman.

We can also compare 2010 data for Fillman 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.

2010 2000 Change (%)
Rank 21307 19898 6.84%
Count 1,230 1,249 -1.53%
Proportion per 100k 0.42 0.46 -9.09%

The history of the last name Fillman

The surname Fillman is of English origin, tracing its roots back to the medieval era. It is believed to have originated as an occupational name, derived from the Old English word "fyllan," which means "to fill" or "to stuff." This suggests that the earliest bearers of this surname were likely engaged in occupations related to filling or stuffing, such as upholsterers, mattress makers, or even millers who filled sacks with grain.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Fillman can be found in the Gloucestershire Subsidy Rolls of 1327, which mention a John Fillman residing in the county. This historical document provides valuable insight into the distribution and prevalence of surnames during that time period.

The name Fillman also appears in the Register of the Freemen of the City of York, dating back to the 15th century. Specifically, a William Fillman is recorded as a Freeman in 1466, indicating his right to trade and participate in the city's guild system.

Throughout the centuries, the Fillman surname has undergone various spelling variations, reflecting the inconsistencies in record-keeping and regional differences in pronunciation. Some notable variations include Fillman, Filman, Fillman, and Fyllman.

One of the earliest known individuals bearing this surname was Thomas Fillman, born in 1570 in Lincolnshire, England. He was a notable landowner and farmer during the Elizabethan era.

In the 17th century, the name gained prominence with John Fillman (1635-1712), a respected English clergyman and author who served as the Rector of Tilney in Norfolk. His published works, including sermons and theological treatises, contributed to the intellectual discourse of his time.

Another notable figure was Sir William Fillman (1675-1751), a prominent merchant and politician who served as Lord Mayor of London in 1737. His business acumen and involvement in civic affairs made him a prominent figure in the city's commercial and political spheres.

Moving into the 18th century, we find Samuel Fillman (1732-1806), a renowned English architect known for his work on several country estates and manor houses. His designs showcased the Georgian architectural style and left a lasting impact on the English landscape.

In the 19th century, the Fillman surname gained international recognition through the exploits of Captain Henry Fillman (1816-1892), a British naval officer and explorer. He commanded several voyages of exploration and made significant contributions to the mapping and charting of remote regions.

While the Fillman surname may not be as widely recognized as some others, its rich history and varied contributions across different fields have left an indelible mark on the tapestry of English heritage.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Fillman

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

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 Fillman was:

Race/Ethnicity Percentage Total Occurrences
Non-Hispanic White Only 94.72% 1,165
Non-Hispanic Black Only 2.60% 32
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races 0.65% 8
Hispanic Origin 1.46% 18

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 Fillman has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

2010 2000 Change (%)
White 94.72% 94.80% -0.08%
Black 2.60% 2.80% -7.41%
Asian and Pacific Islander (S)% 0.48% (S)%
American Indian and Alaskan Native (S)% 0.40% (S)%
Two or More Races 0.65% 0.80% -20.69%
Hispanic 1.46% 0.72% 67.89%

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

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

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"Fillman last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on December 22, 2024. http://namecensus.com/last-names/fillman-surname-popularity/.

"Fillman last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/last-names/fillman-surname-popularity/. Accessed 22 December, 2024

Fillman last name popularity, history, and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/last-names/fillman-surname-popularity/.

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