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

Illian, 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 Illian surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Illian in America

Illian is the 71478th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Illian surname appeared 273 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 Illian.

We can also compare 2010 data for Illian 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 Illian

The surname Illian is believed to have originated in Germany during the Middle Ages. It is thought to be derived from the Germanic root word "ill," meaning "noble" or "illustrious." This name was likely given to individuals who were recognized for their distinguished or noble character.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Illian can be found in the Codex Diplomaticus, a collection of medieval documents from the region of Saxony, dated around the 12th century. The name appears as "Illianus," which was a variant spelling at the time.

In the 13th century, there are records of an Illian family residing in the town of Hildesheim, located in Lower Saxony, Germany. This area is known for its rich cultural heritage and was an important center for trade and commerce during the Middle Ages.

Another notable reference to the name Illian can be found in the Chronica Regia Coloniensis, a medieval chronicle written in the city of Cologne, Germany, in the 14th century. This text mentions a nobleman named Johannes Illian, who was involved in local politics and served as a city councilor.

Among the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Illian was Heinrich Illian, born in 1492 in the town of Erfurt, Thuringia, Germany. He was a respected scholar and theologian who contributed to the Protestant Reformation.

In the 16th century, a prominent figure named Christoph Illian (1522-1594) lived in the city of Nürnberg, Bavaria. He was a renowned goldsmith and engraver, renowned for his intricate metalwork and contributions to the arts.

During the 17th century, a family with the surname Illian was recorded in the town of Goslar, Lower Saxony. One member, Johann Illian (1625-1692), was a respected merchant and trader, known for his successful business ventures throughout the region.

Another notable individual was Maria Illian (1748-1818), born in the city of Cologne. She was a renowned artist and painter, known for her beautiful landscapes and portraiture work, which captured the essence of the Rhineland region.

In the 19th century, a man named Friedrich Illian (1812-1889) made a significant impact in the field of engineering. He was born in the town of Kassel, Hesse, and was responsible for designing and constructing several important bridges and infrastructure projects across Germany.

Throughout its history, the surname Illian has been associated with individuals from various walks of life, including scholars, artists, merchants, and engineers. While its origins can be traced back to medieval Germany, the name has since spread to other parts of the world, carrying with it a rich legacy of nobility and distinction.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Illian

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

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

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

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