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

Tillage, 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 Tillage surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Tillage in America

Tillage is the 123796th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Tillage surname appeared 139 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 Tillage.

We can also compare 2010 data for Tillage 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 Tillage

The surname Tillage is of English origin, derived from the Old English word "tilþ," which means "cultivation" or "tilling of the soil." This name first emerged in the Middle Ages, around the 11th or 12th century, and was likely an occupational name given to individuals who worked as farmers or agricultural laborers.

The earliest known record of the name Tillage can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of land and property ownership in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. This suggests that the name was already in use by the late 11th century.

During the medieval period, the surname Tillage was primarily concentrated in the rural areas of England, particularly in the counties of Gloucestershire, Wiltshire, and Somerset. It is believed that the name may have originated from the village of Tilshead in Wiltshire, which was once known as "Tillesheved" or "Tillesheved de Tillage."

One of the earliest known bearers of the name was John Tillage, who was born in Gloucestershire around 1320. Records indicate that he was a tenant farmer who leased land from the local lord.

In the 16th century, a notable figure named William Tillage (1540-1611) was a prominent merchant and landowner in the city of Bristol. He was known for his involvement in the local wool trade and for his philanthropic efforts in supporting the poor and establishing a school for underprivileged children.

Another well-known individual with the surname Tillage was Robert Tillage (1602-1678), a Puritan minister and author who served as the vicar of Barford St. Martin in Wiltshire. He wrote several religious treatises and was known for his fiery sermons against the perceived moral laxity of his time.

In the 18th century, Samuel Tillage (1720-1789) was a respected physician and author who wrote extensively on medical topics. He was also a fellow of the Royal Society and served as the personal physician to several aristocratic families.

During the Victorian era, Emily Tillage (1845-1921) was a notable philanthropist and social reformer. She dedicated her life to improving the living conditions of the poor and advocating for women's rights. She was also a vocal supporter of the temperance movement and worked to establish shelters for homeless women and children.

Throughout its history, the surname Tillage has maintained a strong connection to the agricultural and rural roots from which it originated. While the name has spread across various regions of England and beyond, it continues to evoke a sense of tradition and a deep-rooted connection to the land.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Tillage

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

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

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

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