2000
#129,619
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 121
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.04
Very Rare Last name
Rudzitis
A Latvian surname derived from the word "rudze" meaning rye.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 131 Americans carry the last name Rudzitis. That puts it at #146,495 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,616,445 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Rudzitis surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, 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
131
1 in 2,616,445
Census rank
#146,495
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
114
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 114 bearers of the surname Rudzitis in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 146495th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Rudzitis, the largest self-reported group is White at 98.2%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (1.8%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Rudzitis
The surname RUDZITIS is of Latvian origin, originating in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It likely emerged during the medieval period, derived from the Latvian word "rudzis," meaning "rye," suggesting the name may have been associated with rye cultivation or farming.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname RUDZITIS can be found in the Latvian Chronicles, a collection of historical manuscripts dating back to the 13th century. These chronicles document various events and people within the region, providing insights into the cultural and social landscape of that era.
In the 16th century, a notable figure bearing the surname RUDZITIS was Janis Rudzitis, a prominent merchant and landowner in the city of Riga. His legacy is documented in various municipal records and land deeds from that period, showcasing the significance of the name within the local community.
During the 17th century, the surname RUDZITIS gained further recognition with the emergence of Karlis Rudzitis, a renowned scholar and author. His works, which covered various topics ranging from literature to philosophy, were widely celebrated and contributed to the intellectual discourse of the time.
In the 19th century, the name RUDZITIS was associated with Peteris Rudzitis, a notable figure in the Latvian independence movement. His contributions to the cause of national sovereignty and his advocacy for Latvian rights were documented in various historical accounts and political writings from that era.
Another prominent individual with the surname RUDZITIS was Antons Rudzitis, a celebrated artist and painter who lived during the early 20th century. His works, which captured the vibrant landscapes and cultural heritage of Latvia, were widely acclaimed and are now housed in various art galleries and museums throughout the country.
Throughout its history, the surname RUDZITIS has maintained a strong connection to its Latvian roots, reflecting the cultural and linguistic traditions of the region. While the name has evolved over time, its origins can be traced back to the agricultural and agricultural heritage of the Baltic region, making it a significant part of Latvia's cultural tapestry.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Rudzitis
Among Census respondents with the surname Rudzitis, the largest self-reported group is White at 98.2%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (1.8%).
The bar chart below shows how Rudzitis bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 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.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
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 Rudzitis surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White98.2% · 112
- Two or more races1.8% · 2
Timeline
Historical Census data for Rudzitis
Rudzitis appears in 3 published Census surname files: 2000, 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2010
#133,863
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 126
+5 bearers (+4.1%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Down 4,244 places
2020
#146,495
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 114
-12 bearers (-9.5%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Down 12,632 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #129,619 | 121 | 0.04 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #133,863 | 126 | 0.04 | +5 bearers (+4.1%) | Down 4,244 places |
| 2020 | #146,495 | 114 | 0.04 | -12 bearers (-9.5%) | Down 12,632 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Rudzitis surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #133,863 | #146,495 | -9.4% |
| Count | 126 | 114 | -9.5% |
| Per 100K | 0.04 | 0.04 | -4.6% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Rudzitis bearers went from 126 to 114 (-9.5% change). The surname moved down 12,632 positions in the national ranking, going from #133,863 to #146,495.
FAQ
Rudzitis surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Rudzitis?
Name Census estimates that about 131 living Americans carry the surname Rudzitis. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 2,616,445 residents.
How common is Rudzitis?
Rudzitis ranks #146,495 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, which is about 0 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 114 people with the surname Rudzitis. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (131), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.04 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.04 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 0 of them to have the surname Rudzitis.
Has Rudzitis become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Rudzitis went from 126 recorded bearers to 114. That is a decrease of 12 (-9.5%). In the national ranking it fell from #133,863 to #146,495.
What does the Census say about the background of Rudzitis?
Among Census respondents with the surname Rudzitis, the largest self-reported group is White at 98.2%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (1.8%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
White is the largest self-reported group for the surname Rudzitis in the 2020 Census, accounting for 98.2% (112 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Rudzitis appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (98.2%), Two or More Races (1.8%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Rudzitis (2000, 2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Rudzitis mean?
A Latvian surname derived from the word "rudze" meaning rye. The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Rudzitis (0.04 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many Americans have the surname Rudzitis?
For a faster, more casual read, check HowManyOfMe.org — our sister site built around that single question.