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

Routh, 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 Routh surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Routh in America

Routh is the 8969th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Routh surname appeared 3,648 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 Routh.

We can also compare 2010 data for Routh 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 Routh

The surname Routh is of English origin, derived from the Old English word 'routh,' meaning 'roughness' or 'coarseness.' It is believed to have originated as a descriptive nickname for someone who had a rough or coarse appearance or demeanor.

The earliest recorded instances of the name can be traced back to the late 12th century. One of the earliest known bearers of the name was Walter Routh, who was mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire in 1197. The Pipe Rolls were a series of financial records maintained by the English Exchequer.

During the medieval period, the name was primarily concentrated in the northern counties of England, particularly Yorkshire and Lancashire. It is likely that the name was derived from a place name or topographical feature in one of these regions.

In the 13th century, the name appeared in various forms, such as Rouhe, Rughe, and Rowghe, reflecting the different pronunciations and spellings of the time. One notable bearer of the name was John Routh, a clergyman who served as Bishop of Durham from 1286 to 1295.

The Routh family established roots in various parts of England, and the name can be found in numerous historical records and documents. One notable example is the Domesday Book of 1086, which recorded the name Routh as a landowner in Lincolnshire.

Over the centuries, several individuals with the surname Routh have left their mark on history. One such person was Edward Routh (1600-1676), an English clergyman and mathematician who served as the sixth President of Corpus Christi College, Oxford.

Another notable figure was Sir Randolph Routh (1756-1837), a British naval officer who served during the American Revolutionary War and the Napoleonic Wars. He was renowned for his bravery and tactical skills, earning him the nickname "The Gallant Routh."

In the field of science, Edward John Routh (1831-1907) was a prominent British mathematician and physicist. He made significant contributions to the fields of mechanics and dynamical systems, and his work on the theory of stability is widely recognized.

The surname Routh has also been associated with various literary figures. One such individual was Martha Routh (1856-1935), an American writer and educator who published numerous works of fiction and non-fiction, including "The Arden Acres" and "The Graded Literature Readers."

Despite its English origins, the surname Routh has spread to other parts of the world through emigration and migration. However, it remains predominantly concentrated in England and other English-speaking countries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Routh

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

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

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

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