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

Fils, 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 Fils surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Fils in America

Fils is the 30442nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Fils surname appeared 767 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 Fils.

We can also compare 2010 data for Fils 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 Fils

The surname FILS is believed to have originated in France, with its earliest recorded use dating back to the late 13th century. The name is derived from the Old French word "fils," meaning "son." It is likely that the name was initially used to distinguish the son of a particular family or individual.

One of the earliest references to the FILS surname can be found in the records of the medieval town of Montpellier, located in southern France. In a document dated 1287, a man named Guilhem FILS is mentioned as a landowner in the region.

During the Middle Ages, surnames were often adopted by families to distinguish themselves from others in their communities. The use of the FILS surname may have been a way for families to identify their lineage and maintain a connection to their ancestors.

In the 14th century, the FILS surname began to appear in other parts of France, including the northern regions. A notable example is Jehan FILS, a merchant and landowner from the city of Amiens, who was born in 1352 and died in 1418.

As the surname spread across France, it underwent various spellings and variations, such as FILZ, FILHS, and FILHES. These variations were likely due to regional dialects and scribal errors in record-keeping.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the FILS surname outside of France can be found in the records of the Low Countries (present-day Belgium and the Netherlands) in the 15th century. A merchant named Pieter FILS, born in 1447 in Antwerp, is mentioned in various trade documents from the region.

Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals with the FILS surname. One example is Pierre FILS, a French theologian and philosopher who lived from 1588 to 1657. He was a prominent figure in the Catholic Church and served as a professor at the University of Paris.

Another notable FILS was Antoine FILS, a French painter who lived from 1736 to 1805. He was known for his portraiture and historical paintings, and his works can be found in various museums and collections throughout Europe.

In the 19th century, the FILS surname gained recognition in the field of literature. Alphonse FILS, born in 1818 in Paris, was a renowned poet and novelist. His works often explored themes of love, nature, and the human condition.

While the FILS surname has its roots in France, it has since spread to other parts of the world due to migration and immigration. Over the centuries, individuals with this surname have made significant contributions in various fields, leaving their mark on history and cultural heritage.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Fils

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

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

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

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