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

Rhode, 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 Rhode surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Rhode in America

Rhode is the 9237th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Rhode surname appeared 3,523 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Rhode.

We can also compare 2010 data for Rhode 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 Rhode

The surname Rhode has its origins in England and dates back to the 11th century. It is thought to be derived from the Old English word 'rod', meaning a clearing or rode in a forest. The earliest records of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as 'Rode'.

In the Middle Ages, the name was often associated with those who lived near a clearing or rode in a forest. It is believed that some early bearers of the name may have been woodsmen or foresters. The name was also occasionally used as a topographic surname, referring to someone who lived near a road or path.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Rhode was John Rode, a landowner in Gloucestershire, England, who was mentioned in documents from the early 13th century. Another notable bearer of the name was Roger Rode, a monk and chronicler who lived in the late 14th century and wrote about the history of his monastery in Gloucestershire.

The name Rhode also has variations in spelling, such as Rhoades, Roades, and Rodes. These variations can be found in historical records from various parts of England, particularly in the counties of Somerset, Wiltshire, and Gloucestershire.

In the 16th century, a prominent figure with the surname Rhode was Sir John Rhoades, a wealthy merchant and Lord Mayor of London in 1561. He was known for his philanthropic efforts and endowed several charitable institutions in the city.

Another notable bearer of the name was Walter Rodes, a 17th-century English lawyer and judge who served as Lord Chief Justice of the King's Bench from 1663 to 1665.

In the 18th century, Sir John Rhoades (1701-1770) was a British naval officer and Member of Parliament. He served as a Captain in the Royal Navy and was later elected to the House of Commons, representing the borough of Queenborough.

Samuel Rhoades (1783-1838) was a British Nonconformist minister and author who wrote several theological works and served as a pastor in various churches in England.

The surname Rhode has also been associated with several place names in England, such as Rhodes Farm in Oxfordshire and Rhodes Green in Hertfordshire, further indicating its topographic origins.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Rhode

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

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 Rhode 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 Rhode 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 Rhode was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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