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

Tillis, 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 Tillis surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Tillis in America

Tillis is the 10030th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Tillis surname appeared 3,211 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 Tillis.

We can also compare 2010 data for Tillis 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 Tillis

The surname Tillis is of English origin, and it dates back to the Middle Ages. It is a locational name, derived from the place name Tilley or Tillie, which was a township located in Shropshire, England. The name itself is a corruption of the Old English word "tigel," meaning "tile," suggesting that the original bearers of this surname may have been involved in the production or use of tiles.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Tillis can be traced back to the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Tillei." This reference indicates that the name was already well-established in England by the time of the Norman Conquest in the 11th century.

During the 13th century, the name appears in various historical records, such as the Hundred Rolls of Shropshire, where it is spelled as "Tilley." This spelling variation highlights the fluid nature of surnames during that period, as they often evolved based on local dialects and pronunciation.

One notable figure bearing the surname Tillis was John Tillis, a prominent merchant and landowner who lived in the city of Norwich during the late 15th century. Records indicate that he was involved in the wool trade and held significant influence in the local community.

In the 16th century, the name Tillis gained further recognition when Sir William Tillis, a respected member of the gentry, was knighted by King Henry VIII in 1544. Sir William was known for his military service and his involvement in various diplomatic missions for the Crown.

Another individual of note was Robert Tillis, born in 1612 in Shrewsbury, Shropshire. He was a renowned scholar and theologian who served as the rector of St. Mary's Church in the city of Chester for over three decades.

During the 17th century, the surname Tillis also found its way to the American colonies, with records showing families bearing this name settling in Virginia and New England. One such individual was Thomas Tillis, who arrived in Virginia in 1635 and later became a prominent landowner and farmer in the region.

As the centuries progressed, the surname Tillis continued to spread across England and eventually to other parts of the world, carried by families and individuals seeking new opportunities or fleeing religious persecution. While the name's origins can be traced back to a specific location in Shropshire, its bearers have left their mark on various aspects of history, from trade and commerce to academia and military service.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Tillis

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

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

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

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