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

Stilson, 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 Stilson surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Stilson in America

Stilson is the 15800th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Stilson surname appeared 1,843 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 Stilson.

We can also compare 2010 data for Stilson 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 Stilson

The surname Stilson is of English origin, derived from the Old English words "stil" meaning "still" or "quiet" and "tun" meaning "town" or "settlement". It is believed to have originated as a place name referring to a quiet or peaceful village or hamlet.

The earliest recorded instance of the surname dates back to the 13th century in the county of Yorkshire, where it appeared as "de Stilton" in the Hundred Rolls of 1273. This early spelling suggests the name may have been associated with the town of Stilton in Cambridgeshire, renowned for its cheese production.

During the 14th and 15th centuries, various spellings of the name emerged, including Stylton, Stiltone, and Stilston. These variations reflect the fluctuations in spelling conventions during the Middle Ages before standardization became more widespread.

One notable bearer of the name was Sir Robert Stilson, a prominent English landowner and Member of Parliament who lived from 1580 to 1653. He played a significant role in the English Civil War, initially supporting the Royalist cause before switching allegiance to the Parliamentarians.

Another individual of note was William Stilson (1675-1744), an English clergyman and author who served as the Rector of Woodford in Essex. He is particularly remembered for his work "Miscellaneous Tracts Relating to Natural History, Husbandry, and Physick", published in 1759.

In the 19th century, the Stilson surname gained recognition through the invention of the Stilson pipe wrench, a tool used by plumbers and pipefitters. Named after its inventor, Ezra B. Stilson (1822-1891), a Massachusetts blacksmith and toolmaker, the Stilson wrench became an essential tool in the plumbing and construction trades.

Another notable figure with the surname was Thomas Ellwood Stilson (1819-1888), an American businessman and politician who served as the Mayor of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, from 1864 to 1866. He played a crucial role in the city's development during the latter half of the 19th century.

While not as common as some other English surnames, the Stilson name has a rich history spanning several centuries, from its origins as a place name to its association with notable individuals in various fields, including politics, literature, and invention.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Stilson

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

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

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

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