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

Rhodes, 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 Rhodes surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Rhodes in America

Rhodes is the 343rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Rhodes surname appeared 90,670 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 31 people would have the surname Rhodes.

We can also compare 2010 data for Rhodes 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 Rhodes

The surname Rhodes originated in Britain, with roots tracing back to the Anglo-Saxon era. It is derived from the Old English word "rod," meaning a clearing or a small piece of land. This suggests that the name likely referred to someone who lived in a clearing or a small settlement.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Rode." This entry indicates that the name was already in use during the Norman Conquest of England in the 11th century.

Throughout the Middle Ages, the name evolved into various spellings, such as "Rodes," "Roades," and "Rhoades," before settling on the modern spelling of "Rhodes" around the 16th century.

The name is also associated with several place names in England, such as Rhodes in Lancashire and Rhodes in Yorkshire. These place names likely influenced the development of the surname as well.

One notable historical figure with the surname Rhodes was Sir John Rhodes (1537-1592), an English merchant and landowner who served as Lord Mayor of London in 1592.

Another prominent individual was Sir Francis Rhodes (1598-1677), an English judge and politician who served as Lord Chief Justice of England from 1671 to 1677.

In the 19th century, Cecil Rhodes (1853-1902) was a British businessman, mining magnate, and politician who played a significant role in the colonization of southern Africa. He founded the territory of Rhodesia, now known as Zimbabwe and Zambia, and bequeathed his wealth to establish the prestigious Rhodes Scholarship.

Renowned American novelist and playwright James A. Rhodes (1909-1992) also bore this surname. He is best known for his Pulitzer Prize-winning novel "The Bright Traveling" in 1932.

In the realm of sports, Dusty Rhodes (1945-2015) was a famous American professional wrestler and trainer, widely regarded as one of the most charismatic and influential figures in the industry during the 1970s and 1980s.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Rhodes

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

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

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

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