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

Pil, 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 Pil surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Pil in America

Pil is the 139228th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Pil surname appeared 120 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 Pil.

We can also compare 2010 data for Pil 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 Pil

The surname PIL originated in the small village of Pil, located in the Catalonia region of northeastern Spain during the 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Latin word "pilus," meaning a hair or strand, which may have referred to the inhabitants' physical appearance or perhaps their occupation as weavers or textile workers.

The earliest known record of the name PIL appears in a manuscript from the year 1275, documenting a land dispute between a local farmer named Ramon Pil and a neighboring nobleman. This suggests that the surname was already established and in use by that time.

Throughout the Middle Ages, variations of the spelling emerged, including Pyl, Pille, and Pille, reflecting the regional dialects and local pronunciations. Some of these alternative spellings can be found in various historical documents from the 14th and 15th centuries, such as tax records and property deeds.

One notable individual bearing the PIL surname was Pere Pil, a renowned architect who oversaw the construction of several churches and public buildings in Barcelona during the late 15th century. His most famous work is the Capella de Santa Àgata, a stunning Gothic-style chapel completed in 1498.

In the 16th century, the PIL family expanded their influence beyond Catalonia, with members settling in other parts of Spain and even venturing to the New World. One such individual was Jaume Pil, born in 1521, who sailed to the Americas and became a prominent landowner in the Spanish colonies.

Another historically significant figure was Francesc Pil, a Catalan philosopher and theologian born in 1612. He served as a professor at the University of Barcelona and authored several influential works on ethics and moral philosophy.

As the surname spread across Europe, it also took root in other regions, though its origins can be traced back to the Catalan village of Pil. In the 18th century, Johann Pil, a German composer and musician, gained recognition for his compositions and contributions to the development of classical music.

Throughout its long history, the surname PIL has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including artists, scholars, military leaders, and even a few notable outlaws and rebels. While its origins may be humble, the name has left an indelible mark on the cultural and historical tapestry of Spain and beyond.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Pil

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

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

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

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