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

Kilbourn, 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 Kilbourn surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Kilbourn in America

Kilbourn is the 19567th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Kilbourn surname appeared 1,379 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 Kilbourn.

We can also compare 2010 data for Kilbourn 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 Kilbourn

The surname Kilbourn originated in England, likely derived from the Old English words "cill" meaning a stream or brook, and "burna" meaning a stream or river. This combination suggests the name originally referred to someone who lived near a small stream or brook.

The earliest recorded spelling of the name was found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appeared as "Killburne". This ancient record of landowners and properties in England after the Norman Conquest provides evidence of the name's long-standing history in the country.

Over time, various spellings emerged, including Kilbourne, Kilburn, Kilburne, and Kilbourn. These variations reflect regional dialects and the evolution of language during the Middle Ages and Renaissance periods.

In the 13th century, records show a John de Kilburne held estates in Derbyshire, England. This early reference indicates the name's association with landowners and gentry during that era.

Notable individuals with the surname Kilbourn include:

1. Thomas Kilbourn (c. 1615-1689), an early settler and founder of the town of Wethersfield, Connecticut, in the American colonies.
2. John Kilbourn (1624-1703), a prominent figure in the early settlement of Connecticut and one of the founders of the town of Woodbury.
3. Dwight C. Kilbourn (1835-1889), an American lawyer and politician who served as a U.S. Representative from Ohio.
4. Coles Kilbourn (1854-1933), an American industrialist and co-founder of the Milwaukee Electric Railway & Light Company.
5. Rowland Kilbourn (1859-1941), an American politician and businessman who served as Mayor of Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

The name Kilbourn has also been associated with several place names in England, such as Kilburn in London and Kilburn in Derbyshire, further reinforcing its historical roots and geographical connections within the country.

Overall, the surname Kilbourn has a rich history dating back to medieval England, with its origins rooted in Old English words describing someone who lived near a small stream or brook. Its presence in historical records and its association with notable individuals and places reflect its enduring legacy over the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Kilbourn

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

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

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

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!