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

Hilf, 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 Hilf surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Hilf in America

Hilf is the 100791st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Hilf surname appeared 179 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 Hilf.

We can also compare 2010 data for Hilf 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 Hilf

The surname Hilf is of German origin, with its roots dating back to the 14th century. It is believed to have originated from the Old German word "hilf," which means "help" or "aid." This suggests that the name may have been initially given to someone who provided assistance or rendered help to others.

One of the earliest known records of the name Hilf can be found in the town of Rothenburg ob der Tauber, located in the German state of Bavaria. In a manuscript dated 1387, a man named Hans Hilf was mentioned as a respected member of the local community.

In the 15th century, the name Hilf appeared in several other regions of Germany, including the cities of Nuremberg and Augsburg. During this time, the surname was sometimes spelled as "Hilfe" or "Hilff," reflecting the variations in spelling common in that era.

One notable bearer of the Hilf surname was Johann Hilf, a prominent theologian and scholar who lived in the late 16th century. Born in 1557 in the town of Wildberg, Württemberg, Johann Hilf studied at the University of Tübingen and later became a respected professor of theology. His published works on religious doctrine and philosophy gained him recognition throughout German-speaking regions.

In the 17th century, the Hilf surname spread beyond Germany to other parts of Europe. A record from 1642 mentions a merchant named Jacob Hilf, who traded goods between the Netherlands and the German states. This suggests that the Hilf family had established themselves in various commercial centers across the continent.

Another significant figure with the Hilf surname was Friedrich Hilf, a German military officer who served during the Napoleonic Wars. Born in 1784 in the city of Hanover, Friedrich Hilf rose through the ranks of the Hanoverian army and participated in several battles against the French forces. He was awarded the Iron Cross for his bravery and leadership on the battlefield.

It is important to note that while the Hilf surname has a rich history, it is relatively uncommon compared to other German surnames. Nevertheless, it has left its mark on various aspects of German culture and society throughout the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Hilf

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

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

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

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