Ruthford
A combination of the English names Ruth and Ford.
Name Census estimates that about 1 living Americans carry the first name Ruthford. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Ruthford today is around 116 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Ruthford births was 1918 (6 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Ruthford. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
Key insights
- • The typical person named Ruthford is about 116 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Ruthfords were born before 1920.
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Ruthford. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
1
~ 1 in 342,754,338 Americans
Peak year
1918
6 babies that year
Average age
116
years old
1929 SSA rank
#3,890
Tracked since 1918
Popularity
Ruthford: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Ruthford from the 1910s through to the 1920s, spanning 2 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1920s, with 29 total registrations. The name continues to be given at rates close to its all-time high, suggesting it has not yet fallen out of fashion.
Babies born per year
Decades
Ruthford by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Ruthford during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Origin
Meaning and history of Ruthford
The name Ruthford is a unique and intriguing one, with a rich history that spans across various cultures and time periods. Its origins can be traced back to the ancient Germanic languages, where it is believed to be derived from the combination of two words: "ruth" meaning glory or fame, and "ford" referring to a river crossing or a ford. This suggests that the name may have initially been bestowed upon individuals who lived near a renowned river crossing or achieved great feats worthy of praise.
The earliest recorded mention of the name Ruthford can be found in the Old English epic poem "Beowulf," dating back to the 8th or 9th century. In this literary masterpiece, a character named Ruthford is described as a valiant warrior who played a pivotal role in the battle against the monstrous Grendel. This ancient reference highlights the name's association with bravery and heroic deeds.
During the Middle Ages, the name Ruthford gained prominence within certain noble families and was often bestowed upon the firstborn sons. One notable bearer of this name was Ruthford of Wessex, a nobleman who lived in the 11th century and played a significant role in the Norman Conquest of England. His name is recorded in several historical chronicles from that era, further solidifying its place in history.
As the name Ruthford spread across Europe, it underwent various spelling variations, including Ruthforde, Ruthforth, and Rütford. In the 16th century, a renowned German scholar and philosopher named Ruthford von Altenburg made significant contributions to the field of metaphysics, further elevating the name's intellectual connotations.
In the realm of literature, Ruthford has been immortalized through the works of acclaimed authors. One such example is the character of Ruthford Mallory, the protagonist in the novel "The Scarlet Pimpernel" by Baroness Orczy, published in 1905. This dashing and heroic figure embodied the virtues associated with the name, capturing the hearts of readers worldwide.
Another noteworthy individual bearing the name Ruthford was the British explorer and adventurer Ruthford Shackleton, who lived from 1874 to 1922. He gained fame for his daring expeditions to the Antarctic region, displaying remarkable courage and resilience in the face of extreme conditions.
While the name Ruthford may not be as commonplace today as it once was, its rich history and connotations of glory, bravery, and intellectual prowess have left an indelible mark on various cultures and societies throughout the ages.
People
Ruthford + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Ruthford as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with R
Other first names starting with R with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Ruthford: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Ruthford?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 1 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Ruthford going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 342,754,338 US residents.
Is Ruthford a common name?
We classify Ruthford as "Very Rare". It ranks above 3.8% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 35 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Ruthford most popular?
The single biggest year for Ruthford was 1918, when 6 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Ruthford is about 116 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Ruthford in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Ruthford a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Ruthford in the SSA data are male. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Is Ruthford still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Ruthford in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Ruthford can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How many people have the name Ruthford?
HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site, answers that with the living-bearer count in one glance.