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

Ruehl, 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 Ruehl surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Ruehl in America

Ruehl is the 26747th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Ruehl surname appeared 910 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Ruehl.

We can also compare 2010 data for Ruehl 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 Ruehl

The surname Ruehl has its origins in Germany, dating back to the Middle Ages. It is likely derived from the German word "Ruhe," meaning "rest" or "peace." This suggests that the name may have been given to someone who lived in a peaceful or quiet area, or perhaps someone with a calm demeanor.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Ruehl can be found in the town of Ruhla, located in the German state of Thuringia. This town, whose name shares a similar root to the surname, dates back to the 9th century and was a center for metalworking and mining during the Middle Ages.

In the 13th century, a document from the city of Erfurt mentions a man named Johannes Ruehl, who worked as a blacksmith. This provides evidence of the name's existence and its association with a trade during that time period.

The Ruehl surname also appears in various historical records from the 16th and 17th centuries. For instance, a man named Hans Ruehl is listed as a landowner in the village of Mühlhausen in 1587. Another notable figure was Peter Ruehl, a merchant from Hamburg who was born in 1612 and played a significant role in the city's trade with the Netherlands.

In the 18th century, the name Ruehl gained prominence with the birth of Johann Christoph Ruehl (1737-1817), a German mathematician and astronomer. He made significant contributions to the field of celestial mechanics and served as the director of the Berlin Observatory.

Another individual of note was Friedrich Ruehl (1781-1820), a German poet and writer who was part of the Romantic movement. His works, such as the collection of poems titled "Gedichte," were widely celebrated during his lifetime.

As the name spread across Germany and into neighboring regions, variations in spelling emerged, including Rühl, Ruhl, and Ruel. These variations were often influenced by local dialects and pronunciation differences.

While the surname Ruehl has its roots in Germany, it has since been carried by families across the globe, with descendants found in countries like the United States, Canada, and Australia. However, the name's rich history and connections to German culture and traditions remain an integral part of its legacy.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Ruehl

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

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

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

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