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

Zills, 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 Zills surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zills in America

Zills is the 62045th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zills surname appeared 323 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 Zills.

We can also compare 2010 data for Zills 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 Zills

The surname Zills has its origins in Germany, dating back to the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Middle High German word 'zille', meaning a flat-bottomed boat, suggesting that the initial bearers of the name may have been boatmen or lived near water. This occupational surname highlights the importance of trade and transport in medieval German society.

Geographically, the name Zills appears most prominently in regions such as Bavaria and the Rhineland, where waterways were crucial for commerce and transportation. Variant spellings over time have included Zill, Zil, and Züll, reflecting regional dialects and linguistic evolution. These variations can be found in historical records such as tax registers and parish books.

The earliest recorded instance of the surname Zills dates back to the 14th century in Bavaria. Johannes Zil, a boatman, was mentioned in a 1365 document related to trade regulation along the Danube River. This early occurrence underscores the name's association with river-based professions and commerce.

In the 16th century, a notable individual with this surname was Jacob Zill, born in 1522 in the Rhineland region. He was a prominent figure due to his involvement in the local guild of boat builders, contributing to the growth of the trade. Jacob Zill's contributions were documented in several guild records of the time, affirming his influence in the community.

Moving forward to the 18th century, the name appears in the records of the German Palatinate region, known for its waves of emigration to America. One emigrant, Heinrich Zills, born in 1748, is recorded as having arrived in Pennsylvania in 1765, seeking new opportunities in the New World. His descendants continued to bear the surname, establishing it in American society.

In the 19th century, another significant figure was Karl Zills, a Bavarian soldier and later a farmer, who lived from 1825 to 1899. Karl's diaries provide valuable insights into the life of a 19th-century European soldier and subsequently a civilian, illustrating the social and economic shifts of the era.

In an artistic context, Johann Zill, born in 1803 in Saxony, gained recognition as a skilled woodcarver. His detailed works, often depicting scenes from German folklore, remain notable examples of 19th-century craftsmanship and can still be found in museums specializing in folk art.

Through these historical snapshots, the surname Zills weaves a narrative of cultural and occupational evolution, from German waterways to American settlements, showcasing the resilient legacy of its bearers across centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zills

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

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

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

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