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

Zill, 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 Zill surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zill in America

Zill is the 48160th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zill surname appeared 439 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 Zill.

We can also compare 2010 data for Zill 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 Zill

The surname Zill has its origins in the German-speaking regions of Europe, particularly in Germany and Switzerland. The earliest instances of this surname can be traced back to the medieval period, around the 12th century. The name is believed to have been concentrated in central and southern Germany, especially in areas such as Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg, as well as the German-speaking parts of Switzerland.

The name Zill is thought to derive from older Germanic words. One potential origin is the Middle High German word "Zille," which refers to a type of flat-bottomed boat used on rivers and streams. This points towards an occupational origin, suggesting that early bearers of the surname Zill may have been boatmen or engaged in transporting goods across rivers. Another possibility is the Old High German "zilli," which means "goal" or "aim," indicating a nickname for a person with a clear purpose or objective.

Historical references to the name Zill can be found in various old records and manuscripts from the medieval and early modern periods. One of the earliest known records is a mention of a Heinrich Zill in a document from 1245 in Bavaria. This indicates that the surname was already in use by the 13th century. Throughout the following centuries, the name appears in various records, including tax registers, property transactions, and church records.

One of the earliest recorded examples of the surname Zill is from a 14th-century document dated 1367, where a Johann Zill is mentioned as a landowner in Freiburg, a city in the Breisgau region of Germany. Another early instance is a Hans Zill, who appears in a municipal record from Nuremberg in the year 1423, listed as a merchant.

Place names bearing the name Zill or similar spellings can be found in several locations in Germany and Switzerland. For example, the Zillertal Valley in Tyrol, Austria, although not directly related, may share a linguistic root and provides geographical context to the spread and usage of the name. Additionally, the town of Zella-Mehlis in Thuringia, Germany, though more associated with the name Zella, reflects similar phonetic elements.

Throughout history, notable individuals with the surname Zill include Johann Zill (born 1620 – died 1682), a renowned clockmaker from Augsburg, whose intricate timepieces were highly sought after during his time. Another significant figure is Maria Zill (born 1798 – died 1857), a pioneering Swiss educator who founded a series of schools for girls in Zurich, promoting progressive educational methods.

In the 19th century, Friedrich Zill (born 1816 – died 1889) made his mark as a prominent composer and conductor in Vienna, contributing to the rich musical culture of the Austrian Empire. Another notable Zill is Ludwig Zill (born 1881 – died 1963), a German politician who played a significant role in the Bavarian parliament during the Weimar Republic.

The surname Zill, with its deep roots in the German-speaking world, carries a rich history and reflects the diverse occupations and roles of its bearers over the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zill

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

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

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

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