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

Shillow, 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 Shillow surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Shillow in America

Shillow is the 120901st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Shillow surname appeared 143 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 Shillow.

We can also compare 2010 data for Shillow 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 Shillow

The surname Shillow has its origins in England, with records dating back to the 16th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "scylfe," meaning "shelf" or "ledge." This suggests that the name may have initially referred to someone who lived near a prominent shelf or ledge of land.

One of the earliest documented references to the name Shillow can be found in the parish records of St. Mary's Church in Somerset, England, where a William Shillow was recorded in 1587. It is possible that the name originated in this region, as similar place names like Shelwell and Sheldwich were present in the area during that time period.

In the 17th century, the surname appeared in various tax records and legal documents across southern England. Notably, a John Shillow was listed as a landowner in the Hearth Tax returns for Dorset in 1662. This suggests that the Shillow family had established themselves as prominent members of the local community by that point.

As the centuries progressed, the name spread to other parts of England and even across the Atlantic to the American colonies. One notable figure was Robert Shillow, born in 1734 in Gloucestershire, who served as a militia captain during the American Revolutionary War.

Another individual of historical significance was Elizabeth Shillow (1802-1876), a prominent educator and advocate for women's rights in London. She founded one of the first schools for girls in the city and worked tirelessly to promote access to education for women.

During the Victorian era, the Shillow family contributed to the industrial revolution in England. William Shillow (1819-1892) was a successful textile manufacturer in Manchester, while his brother Thomas Shillow (1823-1901) was a pioneering engineer who patented several innovations in steam engine design.

Moving into the 20th century, Sir Arthur Shillow (1878-1964) had a distinguished career as a diplomat and served as the British Ambassador to Brazil from 1922 to 1927.

Throughout its history, the Shillow surname has maintained a strong presence in various sectors, from military service and education to industry and diplomacy, leaving an indelible mark on the annals of English and American history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Shillow

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

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

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

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