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

Shilling, 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 Shilling surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Shilling in America

Shilling is the 7066th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Shilling surname appeared 4,738 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 2 people would have the surname Shilling.

We can also compare 2010 data for Shilling 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 Shilling

The surname SHILLING has its origins in the German language and can be traced back to the Middle Ages. It is believed to have derived from the old German word "Schilling," which referred to a type of currency used in various parts of Europe during that time.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname SHILLING can be found in medieval documents and records from German-speaking regions, particularly in areas that are now part of modern-day Germany and Austria. It is likely that the name was initially adopted by individuals who worked as moneylenders, bankers, or merchants dealing with the Schilling currency.

In the 13th century, a notable individual named Konrad Schilling was mentioned in the Codex Traditionum Monasterii Mellicensis, an important historical document from the Melk Abbey in Austria. This early reference suggests that the surname was already in use by that time.

During the 14th century, the SHILLING surname appeared in several municipal records and tax rolls from cities like Nuremberg and Augsburg, indicating that families bearing this name had established themselves as prominent citizens and tradesmen.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the SHILLING surname was Johannes Shilling, a merchant and banker who lived in Cologne, Germany, in the late 15th century (approximately 1450-1510). His business dealings and influence within the city's financial circles helped to solidify the association between the surname and the world of commerce and finance.

In the 16th century, a notable figure with the SHILLING surname was Johann Shilling (1515-1580), a German theologian and reformer who played a significant role in the Protestant Reformation. He was a close associate of Martin Luther and contributed to the translation of the Bible into German.

Another prominent individual bearing the SHILLING surname was Johann Friedrich Shilling (1635-1705), a German composer and organist who served as the court Kapellmeister in Nuremberg. His compositions, particularly his organ works, were highly regarded during his lifetime and contributed to the development of Baroque music.

In the 18th century, the SHILLING surname gained further recognition with the birth of Johann Gottlieb Fichte (1762-1814), a German philosopher and one of the founding figures of German idealism. Although born as Johann Gottlieb Fichte, he later adopted the surname SHILLING, which was his mother's maiden name.

Throughout its history, the SHILLING surname has been associated with a variety of professions and backgrounds, reflecting the diverse paths taken by those who bore this name. While its origins can be traced back to the world of finance and commerce, the surname has also been carried by individuals in fields such as theology, philosophy, and the arts, further enriching its legacy.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Shilling

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

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

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

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