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

Lilo, 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 Lilo surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Lilo in America

Lilo is the 119508th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Lilo surname appeared 145 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 Lilo.

The history of the last name Lilo

The surname LILO is of German origin, emerging in the late 16th century from the Low German or Plattdeutsch language. It is believed to have originated as a nickname or descriptive name, derived from the Low German word "lilo", meaning "little" or "small". This suggests that the name may have initially been applied to individuals of shorter stature or smaller physical build.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the LILO surname can be traced back to the city of Hamburg in northern Germany, where a merchant named Hans LILO was documented in records dating from the late 1500s. During this period, the name also appeared in various forms, such as Lylo, Lyloe, and Liloh, reflecting regional variations in spelling and pronunciation.

In the 17th century, the LILO surname spread across northern Germany, particularly in the regions of Schleswig-Holstein and Mecklenburg. It is noteworthy that some early bearers of the name were associated with rural or agricultural communities, possibly due to the name's connotation with diminutive size or stature.

While not extensively documented in major historical records like the Domesday Book, the LILO surname did appear occasionally in local parish registers and tax rolls throughout the 17th and 18th centuries. One notable individual from this period was Johann LILO (1652-1722), a respected Lutheran pastor who served in the town of Lübeck for over four decades.

In the 19th century, as industrialization and urbanization took hold in Germany, the LILO surname began to appear more frequently in larger cities like Berlin and Hamburg. One prominent figure from this era was Friedrich LILO (1828-1902), a successful businessman and philanthropist who made significant contributions to the development of public education in Hamburg.

Another individual of note was Anna LILO (1865-1941), a pioneering female educator and advocate for women's rights, who established one of the first girls' secondary schools in the city of Kiel. Her efforts paved the way for greater educational opportunities for young women in the region.

As the 20th century progressed, the LILO surname continued to be represented in various fields, including the arts and sciences. One example is the German-American composer and conductor Otto LILO (1892-1967), who gained recognition for his innovative orchestral works and his collaborations with renowned musicians of the time.

Another notable figure was Karl LILO (1911-1988), a respected physicist and academic who made significant contributions to the field of quantum mechanics and was a professor at the University of Göttingen for several decades.

These examples illustrate the diverse backgrounds and accomplishments of individuals bearing the LILO surname throughout history, originating from its humble beginnings as a descriptive nickname in northern Germany.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Lilo

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

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

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

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