Ruehl
A German surname derived from the archaic word "rül" meaning "reel" or "bobbin".
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 1,063 Americans carry the last name Ruehl. That puts it at #26,747 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.31 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 322,441 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Ruehl surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, 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
1.1K
1 in 322,441
Census rank
#26,747
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.3
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
910
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 910 bearers of the surname Ruehl in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.31 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 26747th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Ruehl, the largest self-reported group is White at 95.6%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (1.9%) and Hispanic (1.5%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of 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.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Ruehl
Among Census respondents with the surname Ruehl, the largest self-reported group is White at 95.6%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (1.9%) and Hispanic (1.5%).
The bar chart below shows how Ruehl bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 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.
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 Ruehl surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White95.6%
- Two or more races1.9%
- Hispanic or Latino1.5%
- Black or African American0.7%
- Unknown or suppressed0.3%
Year on year
2000 vs 2010 Census
How has the Ruehl surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2000 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #25,356 | #26,747 | -5.5% |
| Count | 917 | 910 | -0.8% |
| Per 100K | 0.34 | 0.31 | -8.8% |
Between the 2000 and 2010 Census, the number of Ruehl bearers went from 917 to 910 (-0.8% change). The surname moved down 1,391 positions in the national ranking, going from #25,356 to #26,747.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Ruehl
FAQ
Ruehl surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Ruehl?
The surname Ruehl holds position #26,747 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 1,063 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.31 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Ruehl surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Ruehl, the largest self-reported group is White at 95.6%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (1.9%) and Hispanic (1.5%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.