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

Schilk, 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 Schilk surname is from the 2000 census data.

Popularity of Schilk in America

Schilk is the 127186th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Schilk surname appeared 124 times in the 2000 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Schilk.

The history of the last name Schilk

The surname Schilk has its origins in Central Europe, specifically within the regions that now encompass parts of Germany and Austria. Historical records suggest that the name began to emerge during the Middle Ages, particularly around the 12th century. The etymology of Schilk likely derives from the Middle High German word “schilch,” which translates to “shack” or “hut,” indicating a possible occupational origin or dwelling place of the initial bearers of the name.

Schilk does not appear in prominent medieval records like the Domesday Book, which was specific to England. However, various Germanic municipal records from the 13th and 14th centuries mention individuals with similar names. One such record in 1274 lists a "Johannes Schilke" as a landowner in the Bavarian region. The surname’s slight variations, including Schilke and Schilch, suggest a flexibility in spelling that was common before the standardization of surnames.

The earliest recorded example of the name Schilk appears in a 1305 tax document from the city of Augsburg. A "Heinrich Schilk" is listed as a merchant who was well-regarded in local business circles. This indicates that individuals with the surname Schilk played active roles in the economic life of German towns during this period.

Throughout history, there have been notable figures with the surname Schilk. For instance, Johan Schilk (1456-1512), who was a well-documented blacksmith in Vienna, contributed significantly to the craftsmanship of the time. Another notable person is Gertrud Schilk (1592-1650), a midwife from Nuremberg who played a crucial role in the development of midwifery practices in the region.

By the 18th century, we see the surname in cultural records. Friedrich Schilk (1720-1788) was an accomplished cellist in the court of the Elector of Saxony, highlighting a shift where members of the Schilk family began to engage in the arts. In the field of literature, Hermann Schilk (1845-1902) became a recognizable name due to his epistolary novels that enjoyed some popularity in the German-speaking world.

Lastly, Otto Schilk (1889-1949), a pioneering early 20th-century engineer from Stuttgart, made significant contributions to mechanical engineering, greatly influencing the automotive industry in Germany.

The surname Schilk has evolved over centuries while maintaining a presence in various professional fields, reflecting a rich tapestry of social and economic backgrounds among its bearers.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Schilk

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

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 2000 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Schilk 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.

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

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

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