Explore the Family Name Pile

The meaning of Pile

1. English (Devon and London): variant of Pyle. 2. French: from Old French pile ‘mortar, trough’ (from Latin pila), denoting a trough used for crushing or pounding various materials, such as lime, and in some cases the surname may have arisen as a metonymic occupational name for someone engaged in such work. 3. French: topographic name from Old French pile ‘pillar, column’ (from Latin pila), or a habitational name from any of the minor places in northern France named with this word.

Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.

How common is the last name Pile in the United States?

Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the popularity of the surname Pile has seen a slight decrease over time. In 2000, it was ranked 17,660th in terms of commonality and dropped to the rank of 19,296 by 2010, a change of -9.26%. The count of individuals with this surname also decreased from 1,465 to 1,403 during the same period, showing a -4.23% change. Similarly, the proportion of individuals named Pile per 100,000 people fell by -11.11%, going from 0.54 to 0.48.

20002010Change
Rank#17,660#19,296-9.26%
Count1,4651,403-4.23%
Proportion per 100k0.540.48-11.11%

Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Pile

As for its ethnic identity, the census reveals some fluctuations between 2000 and 2010. Interestingly, the proportion of Asian/Pacific Islanders and Hispanics with the Pile surname increased by 34.27% and 48.95% respectively. On the other hand, those identifying as White with this surname decreased by -4.47%. The number of Black individuals with the Pile surname saw a growth of 16.32%. However, the data for those who identify under two or more races and American Indian and Alaskan Native had been suppressed for privacy concerns in 2010. All these changes highlight the diverse ethnicity associated with the surname Pile, according to the Decennial U.S. Census data.

20002010Change
White82.59%78.9%-4.47%
Black12.01%13.97%16.32%
Hispanic2.39%3.56%48.95%
Asian/Pacific Islander1.43%1.92%34.27%
Two or More Races1.09%0%0%
American Indian and Alaskan Native0.48%0%0%