Tilyou last name popularity, history, and meaning

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

Meaning of Tilyou

A name derived from the Old French word "tuilier," meaning a maker of tiles or bricks.

Tilyou, 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 Tilyou surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Tilyou in America

Tilyou is the 156044th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Tilyou surname appeared 104 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 Tilyou.

The history of the last name Tilyou

The surname TILYOU has its origins in the Netherlands, dating back to the 16th century. It is believed to have derived from the Dutch word "tiel," which means "tile," and the suffix "-houw," meaning "wooded area." The name likely referred to someone who lived in a wooded area known for its tile production or a tiled house.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the TILYOU surname can be found in the Dutch Reformed Church records of Leiden, Netherlands, where a Pieter Tilyou was listed in 1602. In the late 17th century, several members of the TILYOU family immigrated to the Dutch colony of New Netherland, which later became part of New York.

A notable early bearer of the TILYOU name was Gerrit Tilyou, born in 1681 in Flatbush, New Netherland (now part of Brooklyn, New York). He was a farmer and landowner in the area, and his descendants continued to reside in Brooklyn for generations.

Another prominent figure was Cornelius Tilyou (1768-1842), a Revolutionary War veteran and early settler of Coney Island, New York. He established a farm and hotel on the island, which later became a popular seaside resort known as Tilyou's Coney Island.

In the 19th century, George C. Tilyou (1810-1886) was a successful businessman and real estate developer in Coney Island. He expanded on his family's holdings and played a significant role in transforming the area into a renowned amusement destination.

Perhaps the most famous bearer of the TILYOU name was George C. Tilyou's son, George W. Tilyou (1862-1946). He was a prominent amusement park entrepreneur and creator of the iconic Steeplechase Park in Coney Island, which featured thrilling rides and attractions.

Other notable individuals with the TILYOU surname include Andrew J. Tilyou (1835-1896), a businessman and politician who served as the Mayor of Brooklyn from 1887 to 1888, and Edith Tilyou (1885-1968), an American painter and illustrator known for her landscapes and portraits.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Tilyou

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

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 Tilyou was:

Race/EthnicityPercentageTotal Occurrences
Non-Hispanic White Only96.15%100
Non-Hispanic Black Only0.00%0
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only(S)%(S)
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native0.00%0
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races(S)%(S)
Hispanic Origin0.00%0

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.

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

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

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