Schilla last name popularity, history, and meaning

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

Meaning of Schilla

A German surname derived from the word Schild, meaning shield or coat of arms.

Schilla, 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 Schilla surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Schilla in America

Schilla is the 150452nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Schilla surname appeared 109 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 Schilla.

We can also compare 2010 data for Schilla 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.

20102000Change (%)
Rank1504521417885.93%
Count1091080.92%
Proportion per 100k0.040.040.00%

The history of the last name Schilla

The surname Schilla originated in Germany, with its earliest recorded usage dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to be derived from the German word "Schild," which means "shield," suggesting a possible connection to a family crest or heraldic symbol.

In the Middle Ages, the name was commonly found in various regions of present-day Germany, particularly in the southern states of Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg. Records from this period show variations in spelling, such as Schylla, Schylle, and Schyller, reflecting the linguistic and regional variations of the time.

One of the earliest documented references to the Schilla name can be found in the Codex Diplomaticus Saxoniae Regiae, a collection of historical documents from Saxony, dating back to the 14th century. This document mentions a certain "Johannes Schylla" from the town of Meissen, indicating the presence of the name in that region during that period.

Throughout the centuries, several notable individuals have borne the Schilla surname. In the 16th century, Johann Schilla (1524-1589) was a German theologian and rector at the University of Wittenberg, known for his contributions to the Protestant Reformation.

Another prominent figure was Hans Schilla (1638-1718), a German landscape painter and engraver from Nuremberg, renowned for his depictions of pastoral scenes and rural landscapes.

In the 19th century, Karl Schilla (1814-1887) was a German economist and author who wrote extensively on topics related to finance and taxation.

In the world of literature, Wilhelm Schilla (1884-1951) was a German novelist and playwright, known for his works exploring social themes and the human condition.

More recently, Heinz Schilla (1914-1985) was a German politician and member of the Social Democratic Party, who served as a member of the Bundestag (German parliament) from 1965 to 1980.

While the Schilla surname may have evolved and spread across various regions, its origins can be traced back to the German roots, reflecting a rich history and connection to the cultural and linguistic heritage of the region.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Schilla

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

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 Schilla was:

Race/EthnicityPercentageTotal Occurrences
Non-Hispanic White Only91.74%100
Non-Hispanic Black Only(S)%(S)
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only0.00%0
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native0.00%0
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races(S)%(S)
Hispanic Origin5.50%6

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 Schilla has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

20102000Change (%)
White91.74%91.67%0.08%
Black(S)%(S)%(S)%
Asian and Pacific Islander0.00%(S)%(S)%
American Indian and Alaskan Native0.00%0.00%0.00%
Two or More Races(S)%0.00%(S)%
Hispanic5.50%6.48%-16.36%

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

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

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