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

Ruel, 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 Ruel surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Ruel in America

Ruel is the 19480th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Ruel surname appeared 1,387 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 Ruel.

We can also compare 2010 data for Ruel 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 Ruel

The surname RUEL is believed to have originated in France, with its roots dating back to the Middle Ages. It is thought to be derived from the Old French word "rouel," which means "little wheel" or "small wheel." This could be a reference to an occupation or trade involving wheels or a physical characteristic resembling a wheel.

One of the earliest known records of the RUEL surname can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of landholdings commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The name appears in various spellings, including Ruel, Rouël, and Rouel, suggesting its evolution over time.

The name RUEL is closely associated with several notable historical figures. One of the earliest known bearers of this surname was Jean Ruel (c. 1479-1537), a renowned French scholar, physician, and botanist who made significant contributions to the study of plants and their medicinal properties.

Another prominent individual with the RUEL surname was Claude Ruel (1510-1554), a French Protestant theologian and scholar who played a pivotal role in the Protestant Reformation. He was known for his translations of ancient Greek texts and his work in biblical exegesis.

In the 17th century, François Ruel (1625-1711) was a notable French architect and engineer who designed several notable buildings in Paris, including the Church of Saint-Louis-en-l'Île and the Château de Vaux-le-Vicomte.

During the 18th century, Charles Ruel (1711-1786) was a French engraver and illustrator who gained recognition for his intricate engravings of architectural designs and landscapes.

In the 19th century, Edmond Ruel (1833-1907) was a respected French art historian and curator who played a significant role in the preservation and promotion of French art and culture.

The RUEL surname has also been associated with various place names throughout France, such as Ruel-sur-Brenne, a commune in the department of Loir-et-Cher, and Ruel-Malmaison, a former commune in the department of Yvelines, now part of the city of Rueil-Malmaison.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Ruel

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

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

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

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