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

Kilmer, 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 Kilmer surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Kilmer in America

Kilmer is the 5938th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Kilmer surname appeared 5,799 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 2 people would have the surname Kilmer.

We can also compare 2010 data for Kilmer 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 Kilmer

The surname Kilmer is of German origin, derived from the Old German word "kilmeri," which means "chalky ground." This suggests that the name may have originated among those who lived or worked on chalky or limestone soil.

The earliest recorded instances of the name date back to the 12th century in the Rhineland region of Germany. In 1189, a record mentions a Konrad Kilmer from the town of Mainz. Another early reference is found in the Codex Diplomaticus Anhaltinus from 1222, which cites a Heinrich Kilmer from the town of Dessau.

Throughout the Middle Ages, the name appeared in various spellings, such as Kilmere, Kilmair, and Kilmayer, reflecting regional dialects and scribal variations. The Kilmer name is also found in some early church records and tax rolls from villages in the Rhineland and neighboring regions.

One notable figure bearing the Kilmer name was Johannes Kilmer, a 15th-century German monk and scholar who lived from approximately 1430 to 1496. He was known for his work on medieval manuscripts and his contributions to the study of theology and philosophy.

In the 16th century, the name Kilmer began to spread beyond Germany as families migrated to other parts of Europe. For example, records show a Hendrick Kilmer living in the Netherlands in the 1560s, and a Jens Kilmer residing in Denmark in the late 1500s.

Another prominent individual with the Kilmer surname was Johann Kilmer, a German artist and engraver who lived from 1655 to 1703. He was renowned for his intricate copper engravings and worked extensively in the Baroque style.

As the name continued to spread, it also found its way to the United States and other parts of the world through immigration. One notable American with the Kilmer name was Joyce Kilmer, a renowned poet and literary critic who lived from 1886 to 1918. He is best known for his famous poem "Trees" and for his service in World War I, where he was killed in action.

Other notable individuals with the Kilmer surname include Val Kilmer, an American actor born in 1959, known for his roles in films such as Top Gun and Tombstone, and Frederic Kilmer, an American diplomat and author who lived from 1858 to 1918.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Kilmer

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

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

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

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