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

Rou, 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 Rou surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Rou in America

Rou is the 98553rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Rou surname appeared 184 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Rou.

We can also compare 2010 data for Rou 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 Rou

The surname ROU is believed to have originated in France, specifically in the region of Normandy during the Middle Ages. It is thought to be derived from the Old French word "rou," which means red or reddish, potentially referencing someone with reddish hair or complexion.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name ROU can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The name appears as "Rou," likely referring to a Norman landowner or tenant at the time.

In the 12th century, a notable bearer of the name was Guibert de Rou, a French nobleman who participated in the Third Crusade alongside King Richard the Lionheart. He was mentioned in several historical chronicles from that period, highlighting his involvement in the siege of Acre in 1191.

During the 13th century, the name ROU was associated with the village of Rouville in Normandy, which may have influenced the spelling and pronunciation of the surname over time. One prominent figure from this era was Guillaume de Rou, a French knight who fought in the Hundred Years' War against the English.

In the 16th century, a notable bearer of the ROU surname was Jean Rou, a French Protestant reformer and theologian born in 1638. He was known for his contributions to the Huguenot movement and his writings on religious tolerance.

Another historical figure with the surname ROU was Jacques Rou, a French architect and engineer who lived from 1636 to 1703. He was involved in the construction of several notable buildings in Paris, including the Palais du Louvre and the Château de Versailles.

While the surname ROU has French origins, it has since spread to other parts of the world, including the United Kingdom, Canada, and the United States, due to migration and settlement patterns over the centuries. However, the earliest recorded instances and historical references remain rooted in France and the Normandy region.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Rou

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

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

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

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