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

Ru, 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 Ru surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Ru in America

Ru is the 48901st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Ru surname appeared 431 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 Ru.

We can also compare 2010 data for Ru 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 Ru

The surname "RU" is believed to have originated in Germany, with its roots dating back to the late Middle Ages. It is thought to be derived from the Old German word "ruhe," which translates to "rest" or "peace." This suggests that the name may have initially been associated with individuals who lived in a peaceful or restful area.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name "RU" can be found in the 14th-century Heidelberg Manuscript, a collection of medieval German poetry. This document references a certain "Johannes Ru," who may have been a scribe or poet during that time period.

In the 15th century, the name appears in various municipal records and land deeds across the German states, indicating that families bearing the surname "RU" had established themselves in various regions. One notable example is the town of Ruhla in Thuringia, which may have been named after an early settler with the surname "RU."

During the 16th century, the Protestant Reformation had a significant impact on the spread of the name "RU" across Europe. Martin Ru (1492-1544), a German theologian and Protestant reformer, was a prominent figure who played a role in the dissemination of Lutheran teachings. His influence likely contributed to the adoption of the surname by his followers and descendants.

Another notable individual with the surname "RU" was Johann Philipp Ru (1679-1749), a German composer and organist who made significant contributions to the development of Baroque music. His works were widely performed and appreciated during his lifetime.

In the 18th century, the name "RU" gained prominence in the field of science with the birth of Johann Jakob Ru (1714-1776), a Swiss physician and botanist. He is credited with establishing the binomial nomenclature system for classifying plant species, which is still used today.

Throughout the 19th century, the surname "RU" continued to spread across Europe, with families bearing the name settling in various countries. One noteworthy individual from this period was August Ru (1819-1876), a German painter and illustrator known for his realistic depictions of landscapes and natural scenes.

As the centuries passed, the surname "RU" evolved and adapted to different cultural and linguistic contexts, leading to variations in spelling and pronunciation. However, its roots can be traced back to its German origins and the concept of peace and tranquility associated with its earliest known bearers.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Ru

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

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

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

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