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

Ro, 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 Ro surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Ro in America

Ro is the 12607th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Ro surname appeared 2,455 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 Ro.

We can also compare 2010 data for Ro 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 Ro

The surname "RO" is believed to have its origins in Eastern Europe, particularly in Romania and surrounding regions. It is thought to have derived from the Romanian word "rău," which means "bad" or "evil." This name may have initially been used as a nickname or descriptive term for someone with an unpleasant or difficult personality or behavior.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname "RO" can be found in the medieval town records of Sibiu, a city in present-day Romania, dating back to the 14th century. These records mention a certain "Ion Ro," who was a local tradesman and landowner.

In the 15th century, there are mentions of a family with the surname "Ro" in the historical archives of the principality of Wallachia, which was a Romanian state at the time. This family appears to have been part of the noble class and owned significant land holdings in the region.

The name "RO" also has connections to various place names in Romania and neighboring countries. For instance, the village of Ro┼či in Transylvania, Romania, may have derived its name from the surname "RO" or vice versa, suggesting a possible connection between the name and a specific location.

One notable figure with the surname "RO" was Mihai Ro, a Romanian writer and journalist who lived in the late 19th and early 20th centuries (1860-1938). He was known for his works that explored social and political issues of his time.

Another individual of historical significance was Vasile Ro, a Romanian military officer and politician who played a role in the events leading up to the unification of Romania in 1918. He lived from 1872 to 1945.

In the realm of arts and culture, there was Ion Ro, a Romanian painter and sculptor who was active in the early 20th century (1890-1965). His works were influenced by the avant-garde movements of the time and often depicted scenes from rural Romanian life.

Beyond Romania, the surname "RO" can also be found in other Eastern European countries, such as Bulgaria and Serbia, where it may have similar linguistic roots or connections to local place names.

It's important to note that while the surname "RO" has a rich history in Eastern Europe, it has also been adopted and carried by individuals and families in various other parts of the world due to migration and cultural exchange over the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Ro

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

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

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

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