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

Rude, 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 Rude surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Rude in America

Rude is the 7174th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Rude surname appeared 4,661 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 2 people would have the surname Rude.

We can also compare 2010 data for Rude 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 Rude

The surname Rude has its origins in Germany, where it first emerged in the 12th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old German word 'rot', which means 'red' or 'ruddy', likely referring to a person's complexion or hair color. The name was initially spelled as 'Roth' or 'Rothe' in its earliest forms.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the surname Rude can be found in the Codex Diplomaticus Saxoniae Regiae, a collection of medieval documents from Saxony, where a certain 'Henricus Rude' is mentioned in a charter dated 1292. This suggests that the name had already been established and in use by the late 13th century.

In the 14th century, there are records of individuals with the surname Rude living in various regions of Germany, such as Thuringia, Saxony, and the Rhineland. One notable example is Johannes Rude, a merchant from Cologne who is mentioned in the city's records in 1376.

As the name spread across Europe, variations in spelling began to emerge, including 'Ruede', 'Rudi', and 'Rudy'. These variations were often influenced by local dialects and linguistic traditions.

In the 16th century, the name Rude appeared in several historical documents, including the Württembergische Regesten, which mentions a 'Hans Rude' from Stuttgart in 1521. Another notable figure from this period was Johann Rude, a Protestant reformer and theologian born in Wittenberg in 1538.

In the 17th century, the name Rude gained prominence in the Netherlands, where it was sometimes spelled as 'Ruede' or 'Ruijde'. One notable figure was Michiel Ruede, a Dutch painter born in Amsterdam in 1642, renowned for his portrait and genre paintings.

The 18th century saw the Rude surname spread to other parts of Europe, including France, where it was sometimes adapted to 'Roudet' or 'Roudet'. One notable Frenchman with this surname was François Rude, a celebrated sculptor born in Dijon in 1784, best known for his work on the Arc de Triomphe in Paris.

In the 19th century, the Rude surname began to appear more frequently in North America, as German and Dutch immigrants brought the name with them to the United States and Canada. One notable American with this surname was William Rude, a Civil War veteran born in Pennsylvania in 1845.

Throughout its history, the surname Rude has been associated with various professions and occupations, including merchants, artisans, clergymen, and artists. Its enduring legacy can be traced through the numerous individuals who have carried this name over the centuries, each contributing to the rich tapestry of their respective cultures and communities.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Rude

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

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

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

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