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

Ruby, 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 Ruby surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Ruby in America

Ruby is the 3904th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Ruby surname appeared 9,091 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 3 people would have the surname Ruby.

We can also compare 2010 data for Ruby 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 Ruby

The surname RUBY is of English origin and can be traced back to the late 12th century. It is derived from the Old French word "rubi" or "rubiz," which means "ruby" and ultimately comes from the Latin word "rubeus," meaning "red." This name likely originated as a nickname for someone with a reddish complexion or red hair.

Historical records show that the earliest known bearers of the RUBY surname were from the counties of Yorkshire and Lincolnshire in northern England. The name is found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from 1194, where a Robert Rubi is mentioned. The Hundred Rolls of Lincolnshire from 1273 also contain entries for individuals with the surname RUBY.

In the 13th century, the RUBY name appeared in various spellings, including Rubie, Rubey, and Rubee. These variations likely reflected regional dialects and the inconsistent spelling practices of the time. The surname was also sometimes associated with certain place names, such as Rubi in Leicestershire or Ruby in Yorkshire, although the connection between the surname and these locations is not entirely clear.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the RUBY surname was Sir John Ruby, a knight from Yorkshire who lived during the reign of King Edward III in the 14th century. Another notable bearer of the name was William Ruby, a merchant from London who was active in the early 15th century.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the RUBY surname continued to be found in various parts of England, particularly in Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, and London. Some notable individuals from this period include:

1. George Ruby (c. 1560-1625), an English clergyman and author from Yorkshire.
2. Thomas Ruby (c. 1580-1641), a merchant and member of the Worshipful Company of Haberdashers in London.
3. Elizabeth Ruby (c. 1620-1670), a Puritan writer and poet from Lincolnshire.

In the 18th and 19th centuries, the RUBY surname spread to other parts of the British Isles and beyond. Some notable bearers from this period include:

1. John Ruby (1760-1838), a Scottish soldier and military engineer who served in the British Army.
2. William Ruby (1798-1871), an English architect and surveyor who worked on various projects in London.
3. Mary Ruby (1825-1891), an Irish-born writer and educator who founded several schools in the United States.

While the RUBY surname is relatively uncommon, it has a rich history spanning several centuries and has been borne by individuals from various walks of life, including knights, merchants, clergymen, writers, architects, and soldiers.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Ruby

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

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

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

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