Rubbo
An Italian surname derived from the Latin "rubeus" meaning red or ruddy complexion.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 651 Americans carry the last name Rubbo. That puts it at #39,659 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.19 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 526,504 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Rubbo surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
651
1 in 526,504
Census rank
#39,659
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.2
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
554
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 554 bearers of the surname Rubbo in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.19 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 39659th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Rubbo, the largest self-reported group is White at 95.1%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.5%) and Two or More Races (2.0%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Rubbo
The surname RUBBO is of Italian origin, with roots tracing back to the late medieval period. It is believed to have originated in the region of Apulia, located in southern Italy, where it likely derived from the Latin word "rubeus," meaning red or ruddy. This connection suggests that the name may have initially referred to a person with reddish hair or a ruddy complexion.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the RUBBO surname can be found in the "Codice Diplomatico Barese," a collection of medieval documents from the city of Bari, dating back to the 12th century. This manuscript mentions a certain "Rubbo de Rubbo," indicating that the name was present in the area during that time.
The name also appears in the "Catalogo dei Feudi e dei Feudatari delle Provincie Napoletane," a catalog of feudal lands and landowners in the Kingdom of Naples, compiled in the 16th century. This document lists several individuals with the RUBBO surname, suggesting that the family had established itself as landowners in the region by that period.
One notable bearer of the RUBBO name was Francesco Rubbo (1578-1648), a renowned jurist and legal scholar from Bari. He authored several influential works on civil and canon law, including "Tractatus de Beneficiis Ecclesiasticis" and "Decisiones Sacri Regii Consilii Neapolitani."
Another prominent figure was Nicola Rubbo (1749-1823), a Neapolitan painter and engraver known for his religious works and portraits. Some of his most renowned paintings can be found in churches and galleries across southern Italy.
In the 19th century, Giuseppe Rubbo (1820-1891) was a notable Italian politician and journalist. He served as a member of the Italian Parliament and was actively involved in the Risorgimento, the movement for Italian unification and independence.
The RUBBO surname can also be traced to various place names in southern Italy, such as Rubbio, a town in the province of Cosenza, and Rubbo, a hamlet in the province of Bari. These locations likely derived their names from the same Latin root, further solidifying the connection between the surname and the region.
It is worth noting that variations in spelling, such as Rubbo, Rubo, and Rubbo, were common in historical records, reflecting the fluid nature of surname spellings during those times.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Rubbo
Among Census respondents with the surname Rubbo, the largest self-reported group is White at 95.1%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.5%) and Two or More Races (2.0%).
The bar chart below shows how Rubbo bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Rubbo surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White95.1%
- Hispanic or Latino2.5%
- Two or more races2.0%
- Unknown or suppressed0.4%
Year on year
2000 vs 2010 Census
How has the Rubbo surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2000 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #38,320 | #39,659 | -3.5% |
| Count | 543 | 554 | 2.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.20 | 0.19 | -5.0% |
Between the 2000 and 2010 Census, the number of Rubbo bearers went from 543 to 554 (+2.0% change). The surname moved down 1,339 positions in the national ranking, going from #38,320 to #39,659.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Rubbo
FAQ
Rubbo surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Rubbo?
The surname Rubbo holds position #39,659 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 651 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.19 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Rubbo surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Rubbo, the largest self-reported group is White at 95.1%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.5%) and Two or More Races (2.0%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.