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

Tiller, 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 Tiller surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Tiller in America

Tiller is the 4463rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Tiller surname appeared 7,954 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 3 people would have the surname Tiller.

We can also compare 2010 data for Tiller 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 Tiller

The surname Tiller is of English origin and is an occupational name derived from the Old English word 'tilian', meaning 'to till' or 'to cultivate'. It was initially used to refer to someone who worked as a farmer or a cultivator of the land.

This surname can be traced back to the 13th century, with the earliest recorded instance being found in the Pipe Rolls of Northamptonshire in 1273, where a certain Roger le Tilere was mentioned. The prefix 'le' was commonly used at that time to indicate a person's occupation or place of origin.

Over the years, the surname evolved, and various spellings were used, such as Tyllere, Tylere, and Tyllar. These variations can be found in various historical records, including the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273, where a John le Tyllere was documented.

One of the earliest notable figures with the surname Tiller was William Tiller, a landowner and merchant who lived in the 14th century in Norfolk, England. Another prominent individual was John Tiller, who served as the Mayor of Stratford-upon-Avon in 1552, during the reign of Edward VI.

The Tiller surname is also associated with several place names, such as Tiller's Green in Essex and Tiller's Farm in Kent, both of which were likely named after individuals bearing this surname who lived or worked in those areas.

In the 17th century, a notable figure was Benjamin Tiller, a Puritan minister who lived from 1628 to 1704 and was known for his controversial religious views and writings. He was born in Boston, Lincolnshire, and served as a minister in several parishes throughout his life.

Another individual worth mentioning is Thomas Tiller, a renowned architect and surveyor who lived from 1775 to 1843. He was responsible for designing several notable buildings in London, including the former Bank of England building in the early 19th century.

The 19th century also saw the rise of John Tiller, a prominent theater manager and impresario who lived from 1854 to 1925. He was known for his work in developing and promoting musical theater in London's West End, and his name became synonymous with the famous Tiller Girls dance troupe.

While the surname Tiller may not be as common today as it was in centuries past, it remains a part of the rich tapestry of English surnames, with its roots deeply intertwined with the agricultural and occupational history of the country.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Tiller

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

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

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

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