The Lilly surname

In the 2010 U.S. Census, 22,662 people carried this name — #1,580 among all U.S. surnames, about 1 in every 13,000 people counted. That is up 4% from 21,742 in 2000.

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What the name means

The meaning of the Lilly surname

A surname transferred from the place name, variant of Lilley, from the English place name Lilley.

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary (en.wiktionary.org) — entry «Lilly» (English), by Wiktionary contributors · licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 (creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0) · excerpt, lightly adapted.

As an English and Welsh surname

Bardsley classes it as a baptismal name, from a given name: ‘the son of Lily’ — the first of the origins he gives.

An early record he cites: Geoffrey Lilion, Bedfordshire, 1273 — Hundred Rolls.

His entry covers Lilly, Lilley, Lillee and Lilie.

From Charles W. Bardsley, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, with Special American Instances (London: Henry Frowde, 1901), p. 483 · public domain.

In Ireland’s birth registers, 1890

Ireland registered 14 births for the Lilly name in 1890.

Most were registered in Ulster. By the Registrar-General’s own method — births multiplied by 44.38 — that is about 600 people bearing the name in Ireland at the time. The count includes the spelling Lilley. The Registrar-General’s note on the name: “Antrim and Down.”

Too few records to say where it concentrates region by region — these are plain counts, not shares.

Where they were born, 1890

Ulster 13
Connacht 1

Registrar-General for Ireland, «Special Report on Surnames in Ireland» (R. E. Matheson, 1894), births index of 1890 — public domain.

In the first U.S. census, 1790

86 families named Lilly, or a close spelling, were counted in 1790.

Each family is counted by its head. About 490 people lived in those households, 5.7 to a family on average. The table counts it together with 3 other spellings. The table lists white heads of families only, in the twelve states whose 1790 records survive; Virginia’s figures come from state lists of 1782–1785.

Families, by state

Massachusetts 17
Pennsylvania 17
North Carolina 14
Connecticut 9
Vermont 8
Virginia 7
Maryland 6
New York 5
Maine 1
New Hampshire 1
Rhode Island 1

U.S. Census Bureau, «A Century of Population Growth from the First Census of the United States to the Twelfth, 1790–1900» (Washington, 1909), table 111, p. 250 — public domain · names carried by at least 100 white persons in 1790.

In print

Lilly in American newspapers,
1893–1916.

Newspaper page from The Jasper News carrying the name Lilly
The Jasper News 1916-10-05
Newspaper page from The Mirror And Farmer carrying the name Lilly
The Mirror And Farmer 1910-04-28
Newspaper page from New-york Tribune carrying the name Lilly
New-york Tribune 1893-02-12

Chronicling America, Library of Congress — digitised newspapers in the public domain · 3,571 pages in all carry the name.

In print

Lilly in Australian newspapers,
1810s–2000s.

22,253 articles name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Lilly. The most, 4,063, date from the 1890s. Weighed against how much of each state’s press from the same decades has been digitised, it stands out most in Western Australia, at 3.7 times its expected share.

Articles, by state

Western Australia 5,928
New South Wales 5,250
Victoria 5,042
Queensland 2,370
South Australia 2,346
Tasmania 1,137
ACT (Canberra) 112
Northern Territory 27

Trove, National Library of Australia (trove.nla.gov.au) · articles in its digitised newspapers that name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Lilly.

Who carried it

People named Lilly,
with a public archive behind them.

  • William Lilly
    William Lilly 1602–1681 · writer
  • William Lilly
    William Lilly 1821–1893 · politician
  • Eli Lilly
    Eli Lilly 1838–1898 · businessperson
  • William Samuel Lilly
    William Samuel Lilly 1840–1919 · barrister
  • Edmund Lilly d. 1610 · writer
  • John Lilly d. 1825 · rector

Wikidata (CC0) · portraits via Wikimedia Commons, shown cropped, in the public domain or CC0 · 10 lives in all are documented under this name.

In the public record

People named Lilly,
in the records of 8 countries.

Soldiers, farmers, migrants and neighbours who carried the name and left a trace in public archives. Everyone shown here died long ago or was born more than a century ago.

United States1,722 records

1,722 records of the Lilly name in the United States
  • U.S. Army enlistment records, World War II 724
  • New York City birth, marriage and death certificates 306
  • Other U.S. records 692
  1. A United States Selective Service registration card, 1942
    Example: U.S. registration card, 1942
    Military record George J. Lilly

    Born 1914 in Illinois. Enlisted 1942 at New York City; mechanic from Kings County, New York. U.S. Army veteran; died 1968, buried at Long Island National Cemetery, New York.

    U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain); U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0)
  2. Names engraved on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Washington, D.C.
    Example: U.S. war memorial
    War record Arthur Henry Lilly

    Born 1902; from Havre De Grace, Maryland. U.S. Marine Corps; died in an accident 1953 in Japan. Buried at New Bern National Cemetery, North Carolina.

    U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain); U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0)
  3. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Margaretha Lilly

    Arrived at Baltimore in 1887 aboard the Hermann from Bremen, aged 20; cook-baker. From Drygds, Bavaria, Germany; bound for Kansas.

    U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted)

Showing 3 of 1,722 records for Lilly in the United States.

Counts: U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain) · NYC Department of Records & Information Services, Historical Vital Records (NYC Open Data) · U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0) · U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted) · U.S. National Archives, Flexoline Index Data File (public domain) · U.S. National Archives, Famine Irish Passenger Records (public domain) · New York State Department of Health, Genealogical Research Death Index · U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain) · Sacramento County, Historic Burials (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: U.S. Selective Service registration card, 1942 (public domain); Vietnam Veterans Memorial, photo by U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Michael J. Carden, 2009 (public domain); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain).

Australia419 records

419 records of the Lilly name in Australia
  • Victoria passenger lists, 1839–1923 242
  • Tasmanian Names Index 77
  • Other Australian records 100
  1. A petition to the probate court of St. Louis, 1848
    Example: probate petition, 1848
    Probate record James Lilly

    Died 1882 in Launceston, Tasmania, aged 73. Will registered in Tasmania in 1882.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record James Lilly

    Applied for permission to marry in Van Diemen's Land in 1839. Married 1839 in Launceston, Tasmania, aged 33.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Priscilla Lilly

    Arrived in Victoria in 1852 aboard the Cossipore, aged 30; English.

    Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 419 records for Lilly in Australia.

Counts: Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0) · Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0) · Queensland State Archives (CC BY 4.0) · State Library of Western Australia (CC BY 4.0) · Museums of History NSW – State Archives Collection (CC BY) · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Petition to the probate court, St. Louis, 1848, Missouri Historical Society (public domain); Marriage register, Tilburg, 1911, Regionaal Archief Tilburg (public domain); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain).

Netherlands58 records

58 records of the Lilly name in the Netherlands
  • Dutch church registers before 1811 28
  • Dutch population registers 23
  • Dutch civil registers (births, marriages, deaths) 7
  1. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Death record Pieter Hendrik Leonard Lilly

    Died 1874 in Maastricht, aged 74.

    Open Archives, Regionaal Historisch Centrum Limburg (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Johanna Margaretha Lilly

    Married in 1794 in Eindhoven; born in Someren.

    Open Archives, Brabants Historisch Informatie Centrum (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Robert Lilly

    Married in 1743 in Rotterdam; born in Southwauld.

    Open Archives, Stadsarchief Rotterdam (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 58 records for Lilly in the Netherlands.

Counts: Open Archives (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Civil register, Berlin, 1880, Landesarchiv Berlin (CC0); Marriage register, Tilburg, 1911, Regionaal Archief Tilburg (public domain).

Canada50 records

50 records of the Lilly name in Canada
  • Nova Scotia Archives name indexes 27
  • Canadian Virtual War Memorial 7
  • Other Canadian records 16
  1. Fairview Lawn Cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia
    Example: Canadian cemetery
    Burial record Marion Lilly

    Killed in the Halifax Explosion of 1917, aged 25; buried at Mount Olivet Cemetery, Halifax.

    Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia.
  2. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Jesse Lilly

    Came to Ontario in 1881 aboard the Buenos Ayrean, landing at Quebec, bound for London, Ontario; English.

    Archives of Ontario. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario.
  3. Fairview Lawn Cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia
    Example: Canadian cemetery
    Burial record Ida Emily Lilly

    Buried in 1993 at Fairview Lawn Cemetery, Halifax, Nova Scotia, aged 88.

    Halifax Regional Municipality. Contains information licenced under the Open Government Licence—Halifax.

Showing 3 of 50 records for Lilly in Canada.

Counts: Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia. · Veterans Affairs Canada. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Canada. · Halifax Regional Municipality. Contains information licenced under the Open Government Licence—Halifax. · Archives of Ontario. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario. · City of Vancouver. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Vancouver. · City of Calgary. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – City of Calgary. · City of Winnipeg. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Winnipeg. · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Fairview Lawn Cemetery, Halifax, photo by Edgar El (CC BY 3.0); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain).

New Zealand41 records

41 records of the Lilly name in New Zealand
  • Christchurch City cemetery records 30
  • Waimakariri District cemetery records, Canterbury 11
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record William Lilly

    Died 1938, aged 95; buried at Bromley Cemetery, Christchurch, Canterbury.

    Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Toni Michelle Lilly

    Born 1970, died 1992; buried at Kaiapoi Public Cemetery, Canterbury.

    Waimakariri District Council (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Leslie James Lilly

    Died 1977, aged 60; buried at Ruru Lawn, Christchurch, Canterbury.

    Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 41 records for Lilly in New Zealand.

Counts: Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0) · Waimakariri District Council (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0).

United Kingdom9 records

9 records of the Lilly name in the United Kingdom
  • St James's burial ground, Euston (London), 1789–1853 6
  • War Office casualty lists, 1917–1919, among the dead 3
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record John Lilly

    Buried in 1849 at St James's burial ground, Euston, London, aged 60.

    MOLA and HS2, St James's burial ground data. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
  2. A First World War roll of honour of the staff of C. & E. Morton Ltd
    Example: roll of honour, 1914–1919
    War record H. J. Lilly

    Lancashire Fusiliers. Listed among the dead in the War Office casualty list of 1918.

    National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain)
  3. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record John Lilly

    Buried in 1826 at St James's burial ground, Euston, London, aged 65.

    MOLA and HS2, St James's burial ground data. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

Showing 3 of 9 records for Lilly in the United Kingdom.

Counts: MOLA and HS2, St James's burial ground data. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0); C. & E. Morton Ltd roll of honour, 1914–1919, photo by Adrian S Pye via Geograph (CC BY-SA 2.0).

France9 records

9 records of the Lilly name in France France's national death register, 1970–2001
  1. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Michele Denise Marie Lilly

    Born 1931 in Paris; died 1989 in Paris.

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)
  2. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Henri Rene Joseph Lilly

    Born 1898 in Moulins (Allier); died 1973 in Le Mans (Sarthe).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)
  3. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Denise Jeanne Lilly

    Born 1909 in Villeneuve-Saint-Georges (Yvelines); died 1978 in Paris.

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)

Showing 3 of 9 records for Lilly in France.

Counts: Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Death register of Nice, 1930, Archives départementales des Alpes-Maritimes (public domain).

Germany7 records

7 records of the Lilly name in Germany Germany's First World War casualty lists, 1914–1919
  1. A page of the German First World War casualty lists, 18 April 1918
    Example: German casualty list, 1918
    Casualty list Hermann Lilly

    From Braunschweig. Reported dead in the Prussian casualty list of 11 November 1915 (Reserve Infantry Regiment No. 30).

    Verein für Computergenealogie e.V. (2026). Deutsche Verlustlisten des Ersten Weltkriegs – Datensammlung (Version 1.0), DOI 10.5281/zenodo.18330751 (CC0)
  2. A page of the German First World War casualty lists, 18 April 1918
    Example: German casualty list, 1918
    Casualty list Johann Thomas Lilly

    From Nürnberg, Mittelfranken. Reported wounded in the Bavarian casualty list of 31 October 1914 (Infantry Regiment No. 14).

    Verein für Computergenealogie e.V. (2026). Deutsche Verlustlisten des Ersten Weltkriegs – Datensammlung (Version 1.0), DOI 10.5281/zenodo.18330751 (CC0)
  3. A page of the German First World War casualty lists, 18 April 1918
    Example: German casualty list, 1918
    Casualty list Georg Lilly

    From Pleikartshof, Mittelfr. Reported missing in the Bavarian casualty list of 5 June 1917; then reported taken prisoner in the list of 27 July 1917.

    Verein für Computergenealogie e.V. (2026). Deutsche Verlustlisten des Ersten Weltkriegs – Datensammlung (Version 1.0), DOI 10.5281/zenodo.18330751 (CC0)

Showing 3 of 7 records for Lilly in Germany.

Counts: Verein für Computergenealogie e.V. (2026). Deutsche Verlustlisten des Ersten Weltkriegs – Datensammlung (Version 1.0), DOI 10.5281/zenodo.18330751 (CC0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Deutsche Verlustlisten, Prussian list 1116, 18 April 1918 (scan via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0).

Other spellings of this name

The same name, spelled another way.

Spellings that H. B. Guppy (England and Wales, 1890) or the Registrar-General for Ireland (births index of 1890) counted as one name together with Lilly.

Nearby in the index

Surnames next to Lilly.

When the index is not enough

This page says where Lilly is.
A volume says what happened to it.

Every page in the index is free and stays free. The Heritage Volume is the long form: the full paper trail, the arms, the crossing — bound, and yours.

See the Lilly volume
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