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

Tilly, 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 Tilly surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Tilly in America

Tilly is the 20239th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Tilly surname appeared 1,315 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 Tilly.

We can also compare 2010 data for Tilly 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 Tilly

The surname Tilly has its origins in the medieval French region of Normandy, where it first emerged in the 11th century. It is thought to have derived from the Old French word "tille," which referred to a linden or lime tree. This suggests that the name may have initially been used as a nickname or topographic identifier for someone who lived near a particularly notable linden tree or grove of such trees.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Tilly appears in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is listed as "Tillie." This ancient census commissioned by William the Conqueror provides valuable insight into the distribution and prevalence of surnames in medieval England following the Norman conquest.

In the 12th century, records show a Willelmus de Tilli, whose name likely referred to the French town of Tillieres, located in the department of Eure. This indicates that some bearers of the Tilly surname may have originated from this specific place or its surrounding areas.

During the 13th century, the name appears in various forms, including Tilly, Tilley, and Tylly, reflecting the natural evolution of spelling conventions over time. Notable historical figures from this era include Sir John Tilly (c. 1250-1315), a prominent English knight and landowner, and William de Tilly (c. 1270-1340), a respected clergyman who served as the Bishop of St. Andrews in Scotland.

In the 16th century, the Tilly name gained further prominence with the renowned military commander, Johann Tserclaes, Count of Tilly (1559-1632). Born in the Spanish Netherlands (present-day Belgium), he rose to become a celebrated general in the Thirty Years' War, leading the Imperial Catholic forces to numerous victories.

Another notable figure was Sieur de Tilly (c. 1560-1626), a French explorer and colonist who played a crucial role in the early settlement of Quebec, Canada. His efforts in establishing trading posts and fortifications along the St. Lawrence River were instrumental in the region's development.

As the centuries progressed, the Tilly surname continued to spread across Europe and beyond, with bearers making significant contributions in various fields, from politics and warfare to literature and the arts. While the specific origins and meanings of surnames can evolve over time, the name Tilly remains a testament to its rich historical roots in medieval France and the enduring legacy of those who carried it.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Tilly

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

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

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

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