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

Hillel, 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 Hillel surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Hillel in America

Hillel is the 123796th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Hillel surname appeared 139 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 Hillel.

We can also compare 2010 data for Hillel 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 Hillel

The surname Hillel is believed to have originated in the Middle East, specifically in the regions of modern-day Israel and the Palestinian territories. Its roots can be traced back to ancient Hebrew, where the term "hillel" meant "to praise" or "to extol." This surname likely emerged during the early days of Judaism, when it was common for individuals to adopt names that reflected their religious beliefs or personal qualities.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Hillel can be found in the Mishnah, a central text of Rabbinic Judaism compiled around the 3rd century CE. The Mishnah mentions a renowned Jewish sage known as Hillel the Elder, who lived in the 1st century BCE and is credited with establishing several important principles of Jewish law and ethics. This historical figure's influence and teachings have had a lasting impact on Jewish culture and tradition.

During the Middle Ages, the surname Hillel was prevalent among Jewish communities in the Iberian Peninsula, particularly in Spain and Portugal. Records from that period indicate that individuals bearing this name were often involved in various fields, including scholarship, commerce, and religious leadership.

In the 12th century, a prominent Jewish philosopher and theologian named Moses ben Maimon, also known as Maimonides, hailed from a family with the surname Hillel. Born in Cordova, Spain, in 1135, Maimonides is renowned for his contributions to Jewish thought and his influential works, such as the Mishneh Torah, a comprehensive codification of Jewish law.

Another notable figure bearing the surname Hillel was Rabbi Judah Hillel, a 17th-century Polish-Jewish scholar and author. Born in Brest-Litovsk (now in Belarus) in 1640, he is best known for his extensive commentary on the Mishnah, titled "Shno Luchos HaBris" (The Two Tablets of the Covenant).

In the 19th century, the name Hillel gained prominence in the field of education with the establishment of the Hillel International organization. Founded in 1923 by Rabbi Benjamin Frankel, this organization aimed to provide Jewish students on college campuses with resources and support for their religious and cultural needs.

Over the centuries, the surname Hillel has been associated with various prominent individuals across different fields, such as scholars, rabbis, authors, and community leaders. While its origins can be traced back to ancient Hebrew, the name has transcended geographical boundaries and continues to be carried by Jewish communities worldwide.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Hillel

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

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

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

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