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

Jilk, 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 Jilk surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Jilk in America

Jilk is the 134712th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Jilk surname appeared 125 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 Jilk.

We can also compare 2010 data for Jilk 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 Jilk

The surname JILK has its origins in Scotland, with records dating back to the 16th century. It is believed to be derived from the Gaelic word "gilc," which means "a biting remark" or "a gibe." This suggests that the name may have initially been given as a nickname to someone known for their sharp wit or sarcastic nature.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name JILK can be found in the parish records of Aberdeenshire, where a John Jilk was listed as a landowner in the year 1567. Another notable mention is in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, a collection of homage pledges made to King Edward I of England, where a Robert de Jilk is listed among the Scottish nobles.

In the 17th century, the name JILK appears in various legal documents and property records across the Scottish Lowlands, particularly in the regions of Angus and Fife. One prominent figure from this era was Margaret Jilk, a businesswoman from Perth who owned several mills and textile workshops in the late 1600s.

During the 18th century, the JILK surname spread to other parts of the United Kingdom, with families settling in England and Ireland. A notable bearer of the name from this period was William Jilk (1712-1785), a Scottish mathematician and astronomer who made significant contributions to the study of celestial mechanics.

As the Industrial Revolution took hold in the 19th century, many JILK families relocated to urban centers in search of employment opportunities. One such individual was James Jilk (1823-1887), a skilled ironworker from Glasgow who helped construct some of the city's iconic bridges and railway stations.

Another notable figure from this era was Elizabeth Jilk (1845-1921), a pioneering educator from Aberdeen who established several schools for underprivileged children and advocated for improved educational opportunities for girls and women.

Throughout the 20th century, the JILK surname continued to be associated with various professions and fields of endeavor. One example is Sir Robert Jilk (1901-1978), a distinguished British diplomat who served as Ambassador to several countries and played a significant role in the negotiations leading up to the formation of the United Nations.

In the realm of literature, the Scottish novelist and poet Robert Jilk (1928-2002) gained critical acclaim for his works exploring themes of identity, belonging, and the complexities of modern Scottish society.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Jilk

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

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

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

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