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

Killing, 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 Killing surname is from the 2000 census data.

Popularity of Killing in America

Killing is the 132259th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Killing surname appeared 118 times in the 2000 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Killing.

The history of the last name Killing

The surname Killing originates from England, with its earliest known roots dating back to the medieval period. The name is believed to derive from an Old English personal name Cylli, which itself could be a shortened form of a longer name like Cyneweard or Cynebeald. The addition of the suffix -ing typically denotes "son of" or "descendant of," thus Killing could historically be interpreted as "descendant of Cylli."

Initially, the name Killing was concentrated in specific areas, including the counties of Yorkshire and Lincolnshire. One of the earliest documented mentions of the surname occurs in the Domesday Book of 1086, where variations such as Keling and Kylling appear, pointing towards a possible connection with topographical descriptions or personal attributes of the area's inhabitants.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Killing is William Killing, who appears in the Subsidy Rolls of Yorkshire in 1301. His presence in this historic tax record underscores the name's early establishment in the region. The name also appears in other historical documents, such as the Hundred Rolls of 1273, where a Richard Killeng is mentioned. This further solidifies the geographical spread and recognition of the name during medieval times.

Over centuries, several variations of the surname existed before the modern spelling was standardized. In an 1412 ecclesiastical record, a John Keling is documented, signifying another phonetic variation that occurred over time. The evolutionary nature of surnames during this period was not unusual, reflecting local dialects and transcription habits of record keepers.

A notable historical figure bearing the surname was Sir Edward Killing, born in 1563, a knight who served under Queen Elizabeth I. His contributions to the royal court highlight a period when the surname Killing was associated with significant social stature. Similarly, Anne Killing, born in 1642, is recorded in parish records, further demonstrating the name’s continued use into the Stuart period.

As the centuries progressed, the name Killing spread to other regions of England and beyond. In the military records of the 18th century, Captain Thomas Killing, born in 1721, is recognized for his service in the British navy during the Seven Years' War. His career exemplifies the surname's presence among influential societal roles during that era.

Reflecting on the broader historical context, the surname Killing consistently appears in various forms within public and legal records, painting a picture of a name that has been woven into the fabric of English history. The surname's trajectory from medieval origins to prominence in public life showcases its enduring legacy and the historical importance of its bearers.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Killing

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

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 2000 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Killing 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.

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

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

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