2010
#137,327
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 122
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.04
Very Rare Last name
Lilledahl
Norwegian habitational surname originating from a small valley or homestead.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 117 Americans carry the last name Lilledahl. That puts it at #154,755 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.03 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,929,524 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Lilledahl surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
117
1 in 2,929,524
Census rank
#154,755
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
102
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 102 bearers of the surname Lilledahl in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.03 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 154755th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Lilledahl, the largest self-reported group is White at 85.3%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (7.8%) and Hispanic (3.9%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Lilledahl
The surname Lilledahl is of Norwegian origin, with its roots tracing back to the Middle Ages. The name is derived from a combination of the Old Norse words "lille," meaning "little," and "dal," meaning "valley." This suggests that the name likely originated from a specific geographic location, possibly a small valley or settlement in Norway.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Lilledahl can be found in the Norwegian census records from the late 16th century, where it appears as "Lilledahl." The name was primarily concentrated in the western regions of Norway, particularly in the counties of Hordaland and Sogn og Fjordane.
During the 17th and 18th centuries, the name Lilledahl began to spread across Norway, with various spellings emerging, such as "Liljedahl" and "Liljedal." These variations likely arose due to local dialects and regional differences in pronunciation and spelling conventions.
One notable bearer of the Lilledahl surname was Hans Lilledahl (1612-1678), a prominent Norwegian merchant and ship owner who played a significant role in the maritime trade between Norway and the Netherlands during the 17th century.
Another historical figure was Ingrid Lilledahl (1780-1847), a Norwegian educator and pioneer in promoting women's education. She established one of the first schools for girls in Norway, paving the way for greater educational opportunities for women in the country.
In the 19th century, the name Lilledahl gained further recognition with the birth of Ole Lilledahl (1832-1907), a renowned Norwegian politician and member of the Norwegian Parliament. He was a vocal advocate for agricultural reforms and played a pivotal role in shaping Norway's agricultural policies during his tenure.
The Lilledahl surname can also be found in historical records from Sweden and Denmark, possibly due to migration patterns and cultural exchange between the Scandinavian countries. However, its origins can be firmly traced back to Norway, where it has maintained a strong presence throughout history.
Another notable figure was Nils Lilledahl (1901-1987), a Norwegian artist known for his landscape paintings and depictions of rural life in Norway. His works are widely exhibited in various art galleries and museums across the country, showcasing the rich cultural heritage and natural beauty of Norway.
While the Lilledahl surname may not be as widely recognized as some other Norwegian surnames, it holds a significant place in the country's history, reflecting the diverse cultural and geographic influences that have shaped the Norwegian identity over the centuries.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Lilledahl
Among Census respondents with the surname Lilledahl, the largest self-reported group is White at 85.3%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (7.8%) and Hispanic (3.9%).
The bar chart below shows how Lilledahl bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Lilledahl surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White85.3% · 87
- Two or more races7.8% · 8
- Hispanic or Latino3.9% · 4
- Black or African American2.9% · 3
Timeline
Historical Census data for Lilledahl
Lilledahl appears in 2 published Census surname files: 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2020
#154,755
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 102
-20 bearers (-16.4%)
Per 100,000 0.03
Rank movement Down 17,428 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | #137,327 | 122 | 0.04 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2020 | #154,755 | 102 | 0.03 | -20 bearers (-16.4%) | Down 17,428 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Lilledahl surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #137,327 | #154,755 | -12.7% |
| Count | 122 | 102 | -16.4% |
| Per 100K | 0.04 | 0.03 | -14.7% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Lilledahl bearers went from 122 to 102 (-16.4% change). The surname moved down 17,428 positions in the national ranking, going from #137,327 to #154,755.
FAQ
Lilledahl surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Lilledahl?
Name Census estimates that about 117 living Americans carry the surname Lilledahl. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 2,929,524 residents.
How common is Lilledahl?
Lilledahl ranks #154,755 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.03 per 100,000 residents, which is about 0 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 102 people with the surname Lilledahl. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (117), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.03 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.03 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 0 of them to have the surname Lilledahl.
Has Lilledahl become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Lilledahl went from 122 recorded bearers to 102. That is a decrease of 20 (-16.4%). In the national ranking it fell from #137,327 to #154,755.
What does the Census say about the background of Lilledahl?
Among Census respondents with the surname Lilledahl, the largest self-reported group is White at 85.3%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (7.8%) and Hispanic (3.9%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
White is the largest self-reported group for the surname Lilledahl in the 2020 Census, accounting for 85.3% (87 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Lilledahl appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (85.3%), Two or More Races (7.8%), Hispanic (3.9%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Lilledahl (2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Lilledahl mean?
Norwegian habitational surname originating from a small valley or homestead. The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Lilledahl (0.03 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many people have the last name Lilledahl?
You can see how common the surname Lilledahl is on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org — same data roots, lighter UI.