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

Stiller, 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 Stiller surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Stiller in America

Stiller is the 10615th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Stiller surname appeared 3,016 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 Stiller.

We can also compare 2010 data for Stiller 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 Stiller

The surname Stiller originated in Germany during the medieval period, specifically in the regions of Bavaria and Saxony. It is derived from the German word "Stille," which means "quiet" or "peaceful." This suggests that the name was initially given as a descriptive nickname to someone known for their calm and tranquil demeanor.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Stiller can be found in the Bavarian town records of Rothenburg ob der Tauber, dating back to the 14th century. These records mention a Hanns Stiller, a local merchant and landowner. Another early reference is found in the chronicles of the city of Leipzig, where a certain Konrad Stiller is mentioned as a respected citizen in the year 1412.

The Stiller name also appears in several historical documents related to the Protestant Reformation. During this period, a Lutheran theologian and reformer named Michael Stiller (1487-1567) played a significant role in spreading the teachings of Martin Luther in the region of Saxony. His writings and sermons were influential in shaping the religious landscape of the time.

In the 17th century, the name Stiller was associated with the town of Stillersgrun, located in the Vogtlandkreis region of Saxony. This place name is believed to have derived from the Stiller family, who were prominent landowners in the area. One notable member of this family was Hans Stiller (1592-1658), a successful merchant and civic leader who helped establish the town's prosperity.

Another prominent figure bearing the Stiller surname was Johann Jakob Stiller (1701-1781), a German composer and organist who served as the Kapellmeister (music director) at the court of the Prince of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld. His works, including numerous church cantatas and instrumental pieces, were highly regarded during his lifetime.

In the 19th century, the Stiller name gained recognition in the field of literature with the writer and poet Adalbert Stiller (1809-1863). Born in Dresden, Saxony, Stiller was known for his romantic poetry and is considered one of the foremost representatives of the "Young Germany" literary movement.

Throughout its history, the surname Stiller has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including craftsmen, scholars, artists, and professionals. While the name has maintained its stronghold in Germany, it has also spread to other parts of the world through emigration, particularly to North America and other European countries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Stiller

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

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

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

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