Surname Piil - Meaning and Origin

Piil: What does the surname Piil mean?

The last name Piil is of Danish origin and was originally used to indicate that the bearer was a priest or similar religious figure. The origin of the name likely lies in the Old Danish word pil, which was derived from the Latin word pilaris, meaning "pilgrim." It's believed that the name developed as a result of an ancient Danish practice of requiring all priests to keep a record of their journeys for religious purposes.

Throughout the centuries, the name Piil has become more closely associated with the lesser aristocracy of Denmark, likely when a high-ranking Piil was appointed head of a church. Other sources suggest that the name Piil may also have descended from those of noble blood, such as Flemish immigrants who settled in Denmark during the Middle Ages.

The name Piil is quite rare, in part due to a series of unfortunate events that occurred in the 1800s. During this time, many members of the Piil family either died or left Denmark in search of a better life. By the time of the First World War, the number of Piils had drastically decreased. Today, the name is still quite uncommon and is generally found in areas of Denmark where descendants of the original Piils reside.

Piil: Where does the name Piil come from?

The surname Piil is most common in Denmark, where it has recorded instances as early as the 14th century. It is believed to be derived either from the Swedish word for 'parochial' or from Swedish place names such as Pil or Pihl from which the family name may have originated. Variants of this name are also commonly found in other Scandinavian countries such as Norway and Sweden. The surname appears to have spread over the years, and it is now commonly found in Germany, the United States, Canada, and other countries in Europe.

In the United States, the last name Piil is most often found in the states of Wisconsin, Minnesota, New York, Pennsylvania, and Massachusetts. The highest concentrations of the surname appear to be in Wisconsin, with almost 3,400 people bearing the name as of 2020. Interestingly, Wisconsin is home to large Danish and Norwegian-American populations, which could explain why so many Americans bear the surname Piil.

In Canada, it appears that the surname is most commonly found in the provinces of Ontario, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan. While the exact number of Canadians bearing the name is difficult to ascertain, over 650 people with the surname are currently listed in Canada’s public census records.

Overall, the surname Piil is most commonly found in the Scandinavian countries of Denmark and Sweden, where it has been recorded for centuries. It has also gradually spread to the United States and Canada, where it is also commonly found.

Variations of the surname Piil

The surname Piil is an uncommon surname which originated in Germany, as well as other places in Northern Europe. It is usually spelled either PIiL, PiiL, PIL or PYLL. Variations of the surname include Philips, Pilch, Pilz, Piels and Pails.

In Germany, variants of the name Piil include Thiel, Thiele, Thiels and Thieles. In the Netherlands, it is also commonly spelled as t'Piel, Piel, Piels or Pijl. In Sweden, the name is spelled as Pihl or Pihlström.

The Danish variant of Piil is Pihl and in Norway it is spelled as Pihl or Piille. In Finland, it is spelled as Pylkkä or Pylkkänen.

In France, variants of the name Piil include Pilus, Pille, Pilon, Pel, Pellet or Pellier, and in Italy they are spelled as Pilo, Pilotti, Pilla or Pilat.

As for the spelling in England, it is usually spelled as Pyle, Poole or Pooley. However, when the surname migrated to the United States and Canada, several alternative spellings appeared, such as Peel, Peeler, Pill or Peyton.

The most widespread international spelling of the surname is Pihl, and all of the variants mentioned here ultimately derive from this spelling.

Famous people with the name Piil

• Andrew Piil, musician and vocalist from the band Run Kid Run
• Søren Piil, Danish former footballer
• Erik Piil, Danish former speed skater
• Mads Piil, Danish lawyer and politician
• Johnny Piil, Danish former long-distance runner
• Jens Piil, former Danish politician
• Clemens M. A. Piil, Danish bishop of the Lutheran Church of Denmark
• Susanne Piil, Danish teacher and politician
• Kim Piil, Danish former professional footballer
• Mette Piil, Danish former politician and Mayor of Slagelse

Other surnames

Piitulainen