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Show ContentsPill History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
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Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

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There three schools of thought about the origin of the name Pill. First, some believe the name "was derived from a geographical locality, 'at the peel' or fortified house." 1 2 Secondly, some believe the name was an "English 'west-country word for a creek,'." 3 4 5 Finally, one source claims the name to be derived from the Old English word "pil," denoting a "dweller by the stake or post." 6

In heraldry, a "pile" is an ordinary or division of the field, typically drawn as a pointed spike or arrow from the top of the shield towards the bottom (as shown in the Coat of Arms for the name which shows three gold piles)

Early Origins of the Pill family

The surname Pill was first found in Somerset, where Henry de la Pil was recorded in 1221. Later, we found Robert Pile in the Assize Rolls for Somerset in 1243 and Robert Attepile in Somerset in 1274. 6

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 proved the widespread use of the name by that time: Richard de la Pile, Somerset; Benedict de la Pille, Devon; and Nicholas de Pille, Essex. 1

But Somerset proved to be the stronghold of the family as Kirby's Quest noted: Walter atte Pyle; Richard atte Pile; and William atte Pyle all held lands there 1 Edward III (during the first year of King Edward III's reign.) 7

The Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 had only one entry, that of Thomas del Pille. 1

"Pile or Pyle is a name that has long been associated with Exeter and its neighbourhood. George Pyle was sheriff of Exeter in 1620. Pile was a common name in Exmouth in the 17th century. The name still mostly gathers round Exeter and its district. " 8

In Scotland, "John Pill held a tenement in Irvine in 1418. Philip Pyle, merchant of the realm of Scotland, had safe conducts to travel in England in 1444 and 1446. Philip Pyle was a notary public in Jedworth in 1454, William Pyle or Pyll appears as burgess of Irvine in 1465 and 1472, and Thomas Pyle was admitted burgess of Aberdeen in 1506. John Pill was curator for Robert Vaus in Aberdeen in 1533, six persons of the name are recorded in 1577, Isobel Pylie appears in Edinburgh in 1621, and George Pyll is recorded in Oxnam nook in 1685." 3

Early History of the Pill family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Pill research. Another 218 words (16 lines of text) covering the years 1418, 1444, 1446, 1597, 1603, 1650, 1674, 1756, 1780 and 1804 are included under the topic Early Pill History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Pill Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Pyle, Pile, Pyll, Pyles, Pylie, Pilie, Pill and others.

Early Notables of the Pill family

Another 45 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Pill Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

United States Pill migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Pill Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Nathaniel Pill, who settled in Virginia in 1660
Pill Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Felipe pill, who arrived in Puerto Rico in 1857 9
  • Mr. Pearce Pill, (b. 1865), aged 27, Cornish miner, from Redruth, Cornwall, UK travelling aboard the ship "Germania" arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 28th May 1892 en route to Michigan, USA 10
  • Mr. David Pill, (b. 1859), aged 34, Cornish coachman travelling aboard the ship "New York" arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 15th April 1893 en route to New York, USA 10
  • Mr. William Pill, (b. 1839), aged 60, Cornish miner travelling aboard the ship "Etruria" arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 4th June 1899 en route to Washington, DC, USA 10
Pill Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Mrs. Beatrice Annie Pill, (b. 1874), aged 30, Cornish settler travelling aboard the ship "St Paul" arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 24th September 1904 en route to Oregon, Illinois, USA 10

Australia Pill migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Pill Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. John Pill, (b. 1814), aged 26, Cornish carpenter from Liskeard, Cornwall, UK travelling aboard the ship "Alfred" arriving in New South Wales, Australia on 7th January 1840 11
  • Mrs. Jane Pill, (b. 1818), aged 22, Cornish dressmaker from Liskeard, Cornwall, UK travelling aboard the ship "Alfred" arriving in New South Wales, Australia on 7th January 1840 11
  • Mr. John Pill, (b. 1813), aged 26, Cornish carpenter and joiner, from Liskeard, Cornwall, UK travelling aboard the ship "Alfred" arriving in New South Wales, Australia on 7th January 1840 12
  • Mrs. Jane Pill, (b. 1817), aged 22, Cornish dressmaker, from Liskeard, Cornwall, UK travelling aboard the ship "Alfred" arriving in New South Wales, Australia on 7th January 1840 12
  • Mr. Jacob Pill, (b. 1829), aged 25, Cornish sawyer departing from Plymouth on 2nd August 1854 aboard the ship "Panama" arriving in Portland, Victoria, Australia on 23rd October 1854 13
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Pill (post 1700) +

  • Hyman Pill, American Democratic Party politician, Alternate Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Massachusetts, 1928 14
  1. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  2. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  3. Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
  4. Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
  5. Charnock, Richard, Stephen, Ludus Patronymicus of The Etymology of Curious Surnames. London: Trubner & Co., 60 Paternoster Row, 1868. Print.
  6. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  7. Dickinson, F.H., Kirby's Quest for Somerset of 16th of Edward the 3rd London: Harrison and Sons, Printers in Ordinary to Her Majesty, St, Martin's Lane, 1889. Print.
  8. Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.
  9. Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
  10. Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 3rd May 2018). Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_ellis_island_1892_on.pdf
  11. Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 2018, May 30). Ships' Passenger Lists of Arrivals in New South Wales on (1828 - 1842, 1848 - 1849) [PDF]. Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_nsw_1838_on.pdf
  12. Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 3rd May 2018). Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_bounty_nsw.pdf
  13. Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 3rd May 2018). Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_australia_victoria.pdf
  14. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, January 15) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
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