Find out how popular the last name Rhoades is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Rhoades.

Rhoades, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Rhoades surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Rhoades in America

Rhoades is the 1949th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Rhoades surname appeared 18,508 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 6 people would have the surname Rhoades.

We can also compare 2010 data for Rhoades to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Rhoades

The surname Rhoades has its origins in the United Kingdom, deriving from the Old English word "rod," meaning a clearing or a small piece of land. It is believed to have emerged as a surname in the 12th century.

The earliest recorded instances of the name can be traced back to the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appeared as "Rode" and "Rodis." These entries suggest that the name was initially used to identify individuals who lived near or owned a small parcel of land or a clearing.

In the centuries that followed, the surname underwent various spelling variations, such as Rhodes, Rodes, and Rhoades. These variations were often influenced by regional dialects and the preferences of scribes who recorded the name.

One notable early bearer of the surname was John Rhoades, a member of the English Parliament who was born in 1532 and died in 1592. He represented the constituency of Taunton in Somerset during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.

Another prominent figure was Sir Godfrey Rhoades, a British diplomat and colonial administrator who lived from 1837 to 1912. He served as the Governor of British Honduras (now Belize) and later became the Lieutenant-Governor of the Windward Islands.

In the United States, the Rhoades surname can be traced back to the colonial era, with several early settlers bearing the name. One such individual was Henry Rhoades, who arrived in Virginia in 1623 and became a prominent landowner and planter in the region.

The name Rhoades has also been associated with several place names throughout history. For instance, the village of Rhodes in Shropshire, England, was once known as "Rodes" in medieval records. Similarly, the town of Rhodes in Yorkshire was referred to as "Rodhes" in the 13th century.

Other notable individuals with the Rhoades surname include Katharine Rhoades (1838-1920), an American educator and suffragist, and Trumbull Rhoades (1890-1952), an American artist and illustrator known for his work in magazines and children's books.

Throughout its history, the surname Rhoades has been borne by individuals from various walks of life, including politicians, diplomats, educators, and artists, reflecting the diverse backgrounds and contributions of those who carried this name.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Rhoades

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Rhoades.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Rhoades was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Rhoades has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Rhoades was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Rhoades, please contact us.

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