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

Rudy, 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 Rudy surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Rudy in America

Rudy is the 4969th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Rudy surname appeared 7,069 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 Rudy.

We can also compare 2010 data for Rudy 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 Rudy

The surname Rudy originated in Germany, with roots tracing back to the 9th century. It is derived from the Germanic personal name Rudolf, which is composed of the elements "hruod" meaning "fame" and "wolf" meaning "wolf." The name initially referred to someone renowned for their wolf-like ferocity in battle.

In medieval times, the name was often spelled as Rudolff, Rudolphe, or Rodolphe. It appeared in various historical records, such as the Codex Diplomaticus Saxoniae Regiae, a collection of Saxon charters from the 9th to 13th centuries.

One of the earliest documented instances of the surname Rudy can be found in the 1086 Domesday Book, which recorded landowners in England after the Norman Conquest. The name was listed as Rodulf, likely referring to a person of German or Norman descent.

Over the centuries, the name Rudy has been associated with several notable figures. One of the most famous was Rudolf II (1552-1612), the Holy Roman Emperor from 1576 to 1612, known for his patronage of the arts and interest in occult sciences.

Another prominent individual was Rudolf Steiner (1861-1925), an Austrian philosopher and social reformer who founded the anthroposophical movement and the Waldorf education system.

In the realm of sports, Rudolf Nureyev (1938-1993) was a renowned Russian ballet dancer and choreographer, celebrated for his exceptional technique and artistry.

The name Rudy also gained recognition through Rudolf Diesel (1858-1913), the German inventor and mechanical engineer who developed the diesel engine, revolutionizing the transportation industry.

Rudolf Hess (1894-1987), a prominent Nazi leader and Adolf Hitler's deputy, was another historical figure with this surname, though his legacy remains controversial.

These examples illustrate the diverse backgrounds and achievements associated with the surname Rudy throughout history, reflecting its German origins and the widespread influence of individuals bearing this name across various fields.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Rudy

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

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

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

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