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

Ruelle, 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 Ruelle surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Ruelle in America

Ruelle is the 39352nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Ruelle surname appeared 559 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 Ruelle.

We can also compare 2010 data for Ruelle 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 Ruelle

The surname Ruelle finds its origins in France, with roots dating back to the Middle Ages. It is a toponymic name derived from the French word "ruelle," meaning a narrow street or alley. This suggests that the name likely originated from a place where the earliest bearers lived or worked near a ruelle.

In the 12th century, the name appeared in various medieval records and manuscripts, such as the Cartulaire de l'Abbaye de Saint-Père de Chartres, where a certain "Radulphus de Ruelle" was mentioned. This early reference indicates that the name was already established in the region of Chartres, France, during that time period.

The earliest known bearer of the name was Jehan Ruelle, a merchant who lived in Paris in the late 14th century. Another notable figure was Jacques Ruelle, a renowned scholar and theologian who taught at the University of Paris in the early 16th century.

During the Renaissance period, the name gained prominence with François Ruelle, a celebrated French poet and translator who lived from 1539 to 1599. His works, including translations of ancient Greek and Latin texts, contributed significantly to the cultural and literary landscape of the time.

In the 17th century, Jean-Baptiste Ruelle, a French painter and engraver, made his mark in the art world. Born in 1635, he was known for his intricate engravings and etchings that captured scenes from everyday life and religious subjects.

Another notable figure bearing the Ruelle name was Charles-Émile Ruelle, a 19th-century French historian and archaeologist. Born in 1833, he made significant contributions to the study of ancient Greek and Roman civilizations through his extensive research and publications.

Throughout its history, the surname Ruelle has been associated with various professions, from merchants and scholars to artists and historians. While the exact origin of the name may have been obscured over time, its connection to the narrow streets and alleys of medieval France remains a defining characteristic of its etymology.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Ruelle

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

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

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

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