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

Schill, 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 Schill surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Schill in America

Schill is the 10897th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Schill surname appeared 2,923 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Schill.

We can also compare 2010 data for Schill 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 Schill

The surname Schill originated in Germany, with its earliest known origins dating back to the 12th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old German word "schillen," which means "to peel" or "to strip away." This suggests that the name may have initially referred to an occupation, such as a person who peeled bark or skinned animals.

Schill is considered a relatively rare surname, and it is primarily found in central and northern Germany, particularly in the regions of Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, and Brandenburg. The earliest recorded instances of the name can be traced back to medieval documents from these areas.

One notable historical reference to the name Schill can be found in the Prussian military records from the Napoleonic era. Ferdinand von Schill (1776-1809) was a Prussian officer who led a famous uprising against the French occupation in 1809. His actions earned him the nickname "The German Patriot," and he is remembered as a symbol of resistance against Napoleon's rule.

Another individual of significance bearing the Schill name was Johann Schill (1595-1667), a German theologian and philosopher who lived during the 17th century. He was a prominent figure in the Lutheran Church and served as the rector of the University of Leipzig.

In the realm of literature, the name Schill is associated with the German novelist and playwright, August Schill (1838-1912). He is best known for his historical novels and plays that explored the lives of famous figures from German history.

The surname Schill has also been recorded in various spellings throughout history, such as Schil, Schille, and Schiller. It is worth noting that the famous German poet and philosopher Friedrich Schiller (1759-1805) is not directly related to the Schill surname, despite the similar spelling.

Another notable individual with the Schill surname was Karl Schill (1873-1949), a German politician and lawyer who served as the Minister of Justice in the Weimar Republic during the early 20th century.

While the surname Schill may not be among the most common in Germany, its historical significance and connections to notable figures in various fields have contributed to its enduring presence throughout the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Schill

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

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

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

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