2000
#140,756
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 109
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.04
Very Rare Last name
Hilko
A surname of Germanic origin signifying someone from a hillock or small hill.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 127 Americans carry the last name Hilko. That puts it at #148,665 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,698,853 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Hilko surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, 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
127
1 in 2,698,853
Census rank
#148,665
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
111
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 111 bearers of the surname Hilko in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 148665th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Hilko, the largest self-reported group is White at 91.0%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (3.6%) and American Indian/Alaska Native (2.7%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Hilko
The surname HILKO has its origins in Germany, dating back to the 14th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old German word "hil," meaning "hill," and "ko," a diminutive suffix indicating a small hill or mound. This suggests that the name may have been initially given to someone who lived near a small hill or elevated area.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name HILKO can be found in the Saxony region of Germany, where it appeared in a local census record from the year 1376. During this period, surnames were often derived from geographic features, occupations, or personal characteristics, making HILKO a fitting name for someone residing near a small hill or mound.
In the 16th century, a notable individual named Hans HILKO (1523-1597) was a prominent merchant and landowner in the town of Braunschweig, Germany. His wealth and influence were well-documented in local records, and he played a significant role in the town's economic affairs.
Another historical figure bearing the surname HILKO was Katherina HILKO (1674-1738), a skilled midwife who practiced in the region of Bavaria. Her expertise and compassion were highly regarded, and she was praised for her dedication to assisting women during childbirth.
In the 18th century, the HILKO name appeared in the town of Essen, where a farmer named Johann HILKO (1712-1786) owned a substantial tract of land and was known for his innovative agricultural practices.
The 19th century saw the emergence of a renowned artist, Ernst HILKO (1835-1912), whose landscape paintings captured the beauty of the German countryside. His works were exhibited in prestigious galleries across Europe and are now preserved in various museum collections.
While the HILKO surname originated in Germany, it has since spread to other parts of the world through migration and immigration. However, its roots can be traced back to the small hills and mounds of central Europe, where it likely began as a descriptive name for those who lived in such areas.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Hilko
Among Census respondents with the surname Hilko, the largest self-reported group is White at 91.0%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (3.6%) and American Indian/Alaska Native (2.7%).
The bar chart below shows how Hilko bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 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.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
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 Hilko surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White91.0% · 101
- Hispanic or Latino3.6% · 4
- American Indian and Alaska Native2.7% · 3
- Two or more races2.7% · 3
Timeline
Historical Census data for Hilko
Hilko appears in 3 published Census surname files: 2000, 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2010
#138,304
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 121
+12 bearers (+11.0%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Up 2,452 places
2020
#148,665
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 111
-10 bearers (-8.3%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Down 10,361 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #140,756 | 109 | 0.04 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #138,304 | 121 | 0.04 | +12 bearers (+11.0%) | Up 2,452 places |
| 2020 | #148,665 | 111 | 0.04 | -10 bearers (-8.3%) | Down 10,361 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Hilko surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #138,304 | #148,665 | -7.5% |
| Count | 121 | 111 | -8.3% |
| Per 100K | 0.04 | 0.04 | -7.2% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Hilko bearers went from 121 to 111 (-8.3% change). The surname moved down 10,361 positions in the national ranking, going from #138,304 to #148,665.
FAQ
Hilko surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Hilko?
Name Census estimates that about 127 living Americans carry the surname Hilko. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 2,698,853 residents.
How common is Hilko?
Hilko ranks #148,665 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, which is about 0 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 111 people with the surname Hilko. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (127), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.04 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.04 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 0 of them to have the surname Hilko.
Has Hilko become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Hilko went from 121 recorded bearers to 111. That is a decrease of 10 (-8.3%). In the national ranking it fell from #138,304 to #148,665.
What does the Census say about the background of Hilko?
Among Census respondents with the surname Hilko, the largest self-reported group is White at 91.0%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (3.6%) and American Indian/Alaska Native (2.7%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
White is the largest self-reported group for the surname Hilko in the 2020 Census, accounting for 91.0% (101 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Hilko appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (91.0%), Hispanic (3.6%), American Indian/Alaska Native (2.7%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Hilko (2000, 2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Hilko mean?
A surname of Germanic origin signifying someone from a hillock or small hill. The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Hilko (0.04 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many people are called Hilko?
You can see how common the surname Hilko is on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org — same data roots, lighter UI.