Pilon Coat-of-Arms Normandy, France 17th century

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Facts and Figures The Pilon name originates from France.  All world Pilons (and their many name variations) are believed to have this origin in common.  As the total Pilon numbers in France today are relatively low it is believed that the name originated from one, or possibly two, individuals or families. Today there are four principal countries that contain people with this name;    FRANCE -  where the Pilon name originated (probably in the 10-12th centuries and from one or two individuals or families) and where 31% of the world's Pilon population currently resides.    CANADA - where three French Pilons separately immigrated to in the 17th century (only two of which produced children) and where 55% of the world's Pilon population currently resides.  UNITED STATES - where at least three Canadian Pilons separatedly immigrated to in the 19th century and where 12% of the world's Pilon population currently resides.   AUSTRALIA - where it is believed one or more Canadian (?) Pilons immigrated to in the late 19th century and where 1% of the world's Pilon population currently resides. Italy, the British Isles, Holland and Brazil - Small numbers of Pilons, perhaps totalling 1%, live in these countries as well.   Population The total Pilon population in the world is estimated as follows; Canada 10,600 about one person in 2,700 France 5,950 about one person in 9,800 United States 2,280 about one person in 117,000 Australia   230 about one person in 91,300 Italy, Holland and Brazil 300 about one person in 550,000 TOTAL 19,360 about one person in (for above countries only)  27,700 According to 1990 US Census Bureau data, Pilon is the 11,980th most common surname out of 88,799 total names in America. On a scale where "1" is the most common surname, and "100" the least common, Pilon is ranked as a "73" in the United States.   Spelling Variations Main Variations in spelling consist of; Pilon  - the most common current spelling. Pillon - the next most common spelling and the probable original spelling. The following are minor, erroneous variations found on documents, or are in current use as surnames.  Their origins are largely unknown but are believed to be of the same Pilon family; Pillion Pillow Pilow Pellow Pelow Pelon Pellaug Pielou Pilao   Spelling Frequencies Based on pre-1800 Quebec documents the following Pilon spelling frequencies occur;        Variant             Frequency Pilon             2784        79% Pillon             721         21% Pilond                  2           <1% Pilom                    1        <1% "Dit" name occurrence of Pilons based on pre-1800 Quebec documents; ("Dit" names are secondary family names used to differentiate between families with the same last name) Lafortune         12 Bougon                 7 Landron                2 LaCroix              2 Barbary              1 Begon                1 Fontaine               1 Grandmaison      1 Nene                  1 Sauve                1 Toulouse           1 Pilon/Pillon is the 144th most common surname in Quebec as recorded in pre-1800 baptism records. Based on the 1988 International Genealogical Index (IGI) for all entries of France (17th-20th centuries) the following spelling frequencies occur; Pilon               49% Pillon              42% Pillion               9% Arranging this same IGI by 50 year increments the following spelling frequencies occur; YEARS PILON % PILLON % 1850-99 74 26 1800-49 62 38 1750-99 48 52 1700-49 32 68 1650-99 15 85 1600-49 2 98 It can be seen from the table above that the original spelling of the name was Pillon and that over time, the second "l" has been dropped. This is supported by: Based on the 1996 telephone directories of Canada; Pilon                97% Pillon                 3% But it conflicts with the 1995 telephone directory of Paris.  This may be because Europeans tend to retain original name spellings compared to Canadians who often don't; Pilon               44% Pillon              56%   Pronunciation For English speakers the proper French pronunciation is: Pea-low. There are also a large variety of anglicized pronunciation versions among English speakers. Pilon Place Names In Ste-Baume in southern France there is a cliff-side chapel (994m) overlooking the Rhone valley.  It is called St-Pilon. A village in Meuse, France named Pillon. Forty geographical places in Canada (most in Quebec) that incorporate the name Pilon. Two geographical places in the USA that incorporate the name Pilon.  One is a river the Rio Pilón in New Mexico. Pilón (pee-LON), a small port town, Granma province, SE Cuba, on Caribbean Sea; 19°54'N, 77°20'W. Site of the Luis Carracedo sugar mill.