Explore the Family Name Pilot
The meaning of Pilot
1. English: from Middle English Pilat, Pilet, Pilot (from Latin Pīlatus), used either as personal name or as nickname for a boastful person or for one who played the part of Pilate in the medieval mystery plays, where he was portrayed as a proud, ranting tyrant. 2. French: diminutive of Pile ‘mortar, trough’ or a topographic name (referring e.g. to a culminating point) or nickname (for a tall, thin person) based on Old French pilot ‘post, stake’. It is also found in England, as a surname of Huguenot origin. 3. Italian (Friuli): from old Friulian pilot ‘spike, bodkin’. Compare Pillot.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Pilot in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census, the popularity of the surname Pilot has seen a slight decrease from 2000 to 2010. In 2000, the surname was ranked 16,852 in popularity, and by 2010 it had moved to rank 18,423, marking a change of -9.32%. The count of individuals with this surname also decreased over this decade, dropping from 1,559 in 2000 to 1,503 in 2010, a change of -3.59%. The proportion of people with the surname Pilot per 100k population also fell by 12.07%, from 0.58 in 2000 to 0.51 in 2010.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #16,852 | #18,423 | -9.32% |
| Count | 1,559 | 1,503 | -3.59% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.58 | 0.51 | -12.07% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Pilot
In terms of ethnic identity, data from the Decennial U.S. Census indicates some shifts occurred between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, those identifying as White constituted the largest group at 69.98%, which slightly decreased to 67.66% in 2010. The Black demographic saw a minor increase, rising from 23.73% in 2000 to 23.95% in 2010. The Hispanic group saw the most significant increase, rising from 2.76% in 2000 to 4.59% in 2010, a change of 66.30%. Those identifying as Asian/Pacific Islander showed a small decrease, from 0.71% in 2000 to 0.67% in 2010, while the American Indian and Alaskan Native group also decreased from 1.54% to 1.13%. The group identifying with two or more races increased from 1.28% to 2.00%.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 69.98% | 67.66% | -3.32% |
| Black | 23.73% | 23.95% | 0.93% |
| Hispanic | 2.76% | 4.59% | 66.3% |
| Two or More Races | 1.28% | 2% | 56.25% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 1.54% | 1.13% | -26.62% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0.71% | 0.67% | -5.63% |