Hamill
Anglicized form of the Irish surname Ó hAdhmaill, meaning "descendant of Adhmall," derived from a personal name meaning "honor."
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 6,718 Americans carry the last name Hamill. That puts it at #5,954 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 1.96 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 51,020 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Hamill surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
6.7K
1 in 51,020
Census rank
#5,954
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
2.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
5.8K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 5,781 bearers of the surname Hamill in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 1.96 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 5954th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Hamill, the largest self-reported group is White at 92.4%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.3%) and Two or More Races (1.9%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Hamill
The surname Hamill has its origins in the British Isles, specifically in Ireland and Scotland. It is derived from the Gaelic word "camas," meaning "crooked or winding," which was often used to describe a river or stream. The name likely referred to someone who lived near such a waterway.
In Ireland, the name first appeared in County Armagh, where it was recorded as early as the 12th century. One of the earliest references to the name is found in the Annals of Ulster, a medieval chronicle that mentions a "Gillamurry Hamill" in 1178.
The name also has a strong presence in Scotland, particularly in the counties of Ayrshire and Renfrewshire. In Scotland, it was often spelled as "Hammill" or "Hammil." One notable bearer of the name was John Hamill, a Scottish soldier who served in the British Army during the American Revolutionary War (1775-1783).
In the 16th century, the name appeared in the Ragman Rolls, a collection of instruments recording the submission of Scottish nobles and landowners to Edward I of England. The name "Hamill" is listed among those who swore fealty to the English king.
The name Hamill has also been associated with several places in Ireland and Scotland, such as Hamiltonbawn in County Armagh and Hamiltonhill in Glasgow. These place names likely derived from the surname, indicating areas where families with the name settled or held land.
Some notable individuals with the surname Hamill throughout history include:
1. Patrick Hamill (1512-1589), an Irish Catholic priest and martyr who was executed during the reign of Elizabeth I.
2. John Hamill (1755-1820), a Scottish poet and essayist known for his works on Scottish history and culture.
3. Dorothy Hamill (born 1956), an American figure skater who won a gold medal at the 1976 Winter Olympics.
4. Pete Hamill (1935-2020), an American journalist, novelist, and editor known for his works on New York City life.
5. Mark Hamill (born 1951), an American actor best known for his role as Luke Skywalker in the Star Wars film franchise.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Hamill
Among Census respondents with the surname Hamill, the largest self-reported group is White at 92.4%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.3%) and Two or More Races (1.9%).
The bar chart below shows how Hamill bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Hamill surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White92.4%
- Hispanic or Latino2.3%
- Two or more races1.9%
- Black or African American1.4%
- Asian and Pacific Islander1.3%
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.6%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Hamill surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2010 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #5,954 | #5,954 | 0.0% |
| Count | 5,781 | 5,781 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 1.96 | 1.96 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Hamill bearers went from 5,781 to 5,781 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #5,954 to #5,954.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Hamill
FAQ
Hamill surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Hamill?
The surname Hamill holds position #5,954 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 6,718 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 1.96 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Hamill surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Hamill, the largest self-reported group is White at 92.4%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.3%) and Two or More Races (1.9%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.