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

Pilz, 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 Pilz surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Pilz in America

Pilz is the 33121st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Pilz surname appeared 691 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 Pilz.

We can also compare 2010 data for Pilz 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 Pilz

The surname Pilz originates from Germany, with its earliest recorded use dating back to the 13th century. It is derived from the German word 'Pilz', which translates to 'mushroom' or 'fungus'. The name was likely given as a descriptive nickname to someone who gathered or sold mushrooms, or who lived near a place where mushrooms were abundant.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Pilz can be found in the Stadtarchiv Nürnberg (Nuremberg City Archives) from 1285, where a certain Hainrich Pilz is mentioned as a resident of the city. Another early record is from the Wappenrolle von Zürich (Coat of Arms Roll of Zurich) from 1337, which lists a Chonrad Pilz among the citizens of Zurich.

In the late 15th century, a notable figure bearing the name Pilz was Johann Pilz, a German theologian and professor at the University of Leipzig, who lived from around 1450 to 1510. During the same period, a merchant named Peter Pilz is recorded in the city of Augsburg in 1472.

The Pilz name can also be found in historical documents from other German-speaking regions, such as the Wappenrolle von Schwaben (Coat of Arms Roll of Swabia) from 1493, which mentions a Hans Pilz from the town of Ulm. Another early record is from the Matrikel der Universität Wien (Matriculation Register of the University of Vienna) from 1524, listing a student named Michael Pilz.

In the 16th century, a notable figure with the surname Pilz was Balthasar Pilz, a German painter and engraver who lived from around 1520 to 1590. His works can be found in various collections and museums across Europe.

As the name Pilz spread across German-speaking regions, it also appeared in various place names and town records. For example, the town of Pilzigund in Austria is believed to be derived from the surname, indicating the presence of Pilz families in the area.

While the Pilz surname is primarily associated with Germany and German-speaking regions, it has since spread to other parts of the world through migration and diaspora communities. However, it is important to note that historical records and references to the name are more accurate and reliable than modern census data, which can be subject to changes and inconsistencies over time.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Pilz

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

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

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

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