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

Miles, 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 Miles surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Miles in America

Miles is the 368th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Miles surname appeared 84,942 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 29 people would have the surname Miles.

We can also compare 2010 data for Miles 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 Miles

The surname MILES originated in England and can be traced back to the 13th century. It is an occupational name, derived from the Old English word 'mild' or 'milde', meaning 'gentle' or 'merciful'. This name was likely given to someone with a mild or gentle disposition or personality.

The earliest known record of the surname MILES is found in the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire from 1273, which mentions a William Miles. The name also appears in the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex from 1296, where a John Miles is listed.

In the 14th century, the surname MILES can be found in various records, including the Lay Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1327, which mentions a Walter Miles. The name is also recorded in the Subsidy Rolls of Staffordshire from 1332, where a Richard Miles is listed.

One of the earliest known bearers of the surname MILES was Sir Henry Miles, a member of the English Parliament who lived during the 14th century. He was elected as a Member of Parliament for Somerset in 1348.

Another notable figure with the surname MILES was John Miles, a wealthy merchant and shipowner from Bristol, England, who lived in the late 15th century. He was known for his involvement in the English wool trade and for financing voyages of exploration.

In the 16th century, the surname MILES can be found in various historical records, including the Muster Rolls of Middlesex from 1539, which mentions a Thomas Miles. The name is also recorded in the Feet of Fines of Essex from 1558, where a John Miles is listed.

One of the most famous bearers of the surname MILES was Philip Miles, an English soldier and explorer who lived in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. He was known for his participation in the English colonization of Virginia and for his exploration of the Chesapeake Bay region.

Another notable figure with the surname MILES was Josiah Miles, a prominent Quaker minister and abolitionist who lived in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. He was born in 1772 in Pennsylvania and was active in the anti-slavery movement, advocating for the rights of enslaved people.

In the 19th century, the surname MILES can be found in various historical records, including the Census of England and Wales from 1841, which lists numerous individuals with this surname.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Miles

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

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

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

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