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

Niles, 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 Niles surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Niles in America

Niles is the 3511th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Niles surname appeared 10,173 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 3 people would have the surname Niles.

We can also compare 2010 data for Niles 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 Niles

The surname Niles is of English origin and dates back to the 12th century. It is derived from the Old English word "nīl," meaning "brook" or "stream," and was likely given as a descriptive surname to someone who lived near a small stream or brook.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Niles can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from 1191, where a person named William de Nyles is mentioned. This suggests that the name may have originated in the county of Gloucestershire or the surrounding areas.

During the medieval period, the name was also spelled in various ways, such as Nyles, Nyles, and Niles. These variations were common due to the lack of standardized spelling at the time.

In the 13th century, the name appears in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire, where a person named Roger de Nyles is recorded. This provides evidence that the name was present in other parts of England during this period.

One of the earliest known bearers of the surname Niles was Sir John Niles, a prominent landowner who lived in Bedfordshire in the late 14th century. He was involved in local politics and held several important positions in the county.

Another notable figure with the surname Niles was Samuel Niles, a Puritan minister born in 1674 in Hingham, Massachusetts. He played a significant role in the establishment of the Congregational Church in New England and was known for his influential sermons and writings.

In the literary world, Nathaniel Niles, born in 1741 in West Fairlee, Vermont, was a renowned poet and author. He is best known for his works celebrating the natural beauty of New England and his contributions to the development of American literature.

One of the most prominent individuals with the surname Niles was John Milton Niles, born in 1787 in Windsor, Connecticut. He was a lawyer, politician, and judge who served as a member of the United States Senate from 1835 to 1839, representing the state of Connecticut.

The surname Niles has also been associated with place names, such as Niles, Michigan, which was founded in 1829 and named after Ezra Niles, one of the early settlers in the area.

Overall, the surname Niles has a rich history dating back to medieval England, with its origins rooted in descriptive surnames related to geographical features. Throughout the centuries, it has been carried by notable individuals in various fields, including religion, literature, politics, and law.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Niles

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

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

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

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