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

Spiller, 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 Spiller surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Spiller in America

Spiller is the 6304th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Spiller surname appeared 5,418 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 Spiller.

We can also compare 2010 data for Spiller 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 Spiller

The surname Spiller has its origins in the German language, with the earliest records dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to have been derived from the Middle High German word "spillen," which means "to play or frolic." This suggests that the name may have initially been given as a descriptive nickname to someone with a playful or carefree nature.

In the early years, the name was primarily concentrated in the regions of Germany, particularly in areas such as Bavaria and Saxony. Over time, it spread to other parts of Europe as people migrated and settled in new territories. Variations in spelling, such as Spiller, Spyller, and Spyler, emerged as the name traveled across different regions and languages.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Spiller can be found in the Bavarian town of Landshut, where a man named Konrad Spiller was mentioned in a legal document from the year 1283. Another notable early record comes from the city of Leipzig in Saxony, where a certain Hans Spiller was listed as a resident in a municipal registry from 1412.

As the name spread across Europe, it gained recognition in various historical records and manuscripts. For instance, in the 16th century, a Dutch merchant named Pieter Spiller was documented as a prominent figure in the spice trade between the Netherlands and the East Indies.

Throughout history, several individuals with the surname Spiller have made their mark in various fields. One notable example is Johann Spiller (1619-1684), a German composer and organist who served at the court of the Elector of Saxony. Another prominent figure was the English painter Henry Spiller (1788-1868), known for his landscapes and historical scenes.

In the realm of literature, the German writer and philosopher Friedrich Spiller (1805-1887) gained recognition for his works on ethics and aesthetics. Additionally, the American politician and lawyer Burnet Spiller (1836-1914) served as a member of the United States House of Representatives from Pennsylvania.

Lastly, the British physicist and mathematician Sir John Spiller (1920-2005) made significant contributions to the field of nuclear physics and played a crucial role in the development of nuclear power in the United Kingdom.

These examples demonstrate the diverse backgrounds and accomplishments of individuals who have carried the surname Spiller throughout history, reflecting the rich tapestry of stories and legacies associated with this name.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Spiller

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

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

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

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