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

Ilk, 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 Ilk surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Ilk in America

Ilk is the 133863rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Ilk surname appeared 126 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 Ilk.

We can also compare 2010 data for Ilk 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 Ilk

The surname ILK is believed to have originated in Scotland, where it first appeared in the early 13th century. It is derived from the Old English word "ilk," meaning "same," and was used as a suffix to indicate that the bearer of the name was from the place designated by the first part of the name.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name ILK can be found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, which were a series of parchment rolls recording the names of Scottish nobles who swore fealty to King Edward I of England. The name appears in these rolls as "William de la Ilk," suggesting that the name was already in use by this time.

In the 14th century, the name ILK is mentioned in the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland, which were records of government accounts and transactions. The entry "Johannes de Ilk" appears in these rolls, indicating that the name was still in use during this period.

The name ILK has also been associated with various place names throughout Scotland, such as Ilkeston in Derbyshire and Ilkley in West Yorkshire. These place names may have contributed to the development and spread of the surname in different regions.

One notable individual with the surname ILK was Sir John Ilk, a Scottish nobleman who lived in the late 14th century. He was a supporter of King Robert III and played a role in the Scottish Wars of Independence against England.

Another significant figure with the surname ILK was William Ilk, a Scottish merchant and trader who lived in the 16th century. He was involved in the lucrative trade between Scotland and the Low Countries and is mentioned in various records from that time.

In the 17th century, a prominent individual with the surname ILK was Robert Ilk, a Scottish clergyman and academic. He served as the Principal of the University of Edinburgh and was known for his contributions to the field of theology.

A more recent historical figure with the surname ILK was James Ilk, a Scottish soldier and military officer who fought in the Napoleonic Wars. He served in several major battles, including the Battle of Waterloo in 1815, and was awarded for his bravery and leadership.

Finally, one of the most renowned individuals with the surname ILK was Sir Alexander Ilk, a Scottish explorer and adventurer who lived in the late 19th century. He is best known for his expeditions to Africa and his writings on his travels, which provided valuable insights into the cultures and landscapes he encountered.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Ilk

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

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

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

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