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

Nill, 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 Nill surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Nill in America

Nill is the 30076th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Nill surname appeared 780 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 Nill.

We can also compare 2010 data for Nill 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 Nill

The surname NILL has its origins in Germany, with records suggesting it first appeared in the late 15th century. The name is thought to be derived from the German word "Niehler," which referred to someone who lived near the River Nill. This river still flows through the city of Cologne in the western region of Germany.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name NILL can be found in a manuscript from the town of Neuhausen, located near Stuttgart, dating back to 1497. This document mentions a "Hans Nill," who was likely a local resident or landowner in the area at that time.

Over the centuries, the spelling of the name has varied slightly, with variations such as "Nyll," "Nylle," and "Niel" appearing in various historical records. Some of these variations may have been influenced by regional dialects or scribal errors in record-keeping.

In the 16th century, a notable figure with the surname NILL was Johann Nill, a Lutheran theologian and reformer born in Saxony in 1523. He played a role in the spread of Protestantism in Germany during the Reformation era.

Another significant individual with this surname was the German artist and engraver Johann Wilhelm Nill, who lived from 1781 to 1857. His intricate copperplate engravings depicting landscapes and architectural scenes were highly regarded during his lifetime.

In the 19th century, a German politician named Otto Nill served as a member of the Reichstag, the parliament of the German Empire, representing the city of Cologne from 1871 to 1874.

Moving into the 20th century, the name NILL is associated with Max Nill, a German architect and urban planner who lived from 1898 to 1957. He was influential in the reconstruction and redesign of several German cities after the devastation of World War II.

Another notable figure with this surname was the German-American mathematician and physicist Erwin Nill, born in 1907. He made significant contributions to the fields of quantum mechanics and nuclear physics during his career.

While these are just a few examples, the surname NILL has a rich history that can be traced back to its German origins and the various individuals who have carried this name over the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Nill

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

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

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

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