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

Ruff, 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 Ruff surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Ruff in America

Ruff is the 2369th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Ruff surname appeared 15,383 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 5 people would have the surname Ruff.

We can also compare 2010 data for Ruff 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 Ruff

The surname Ruff originates from England, emerging in the late 12th century. It derives from the Old English word 'rufan' which means 'rough' or 'coarse'. This was likely originally a nickname given to someone with a rough or untamed appearance.

The name can be traced back to the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as 'Rufus' in various locations across England. This early spelling variation highlights the name's longevity and deep roots in the country's history.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Ruff is in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire in 1177, where a Richard Ruf is mentioned. In the 13th century, a John Ruff is listed in the Curia Regis Rolls of Norfolk in 1201.

The name Ruff is also found in connection with several place names, such as Rufford in Nottinghamshire and Rufford in Lancashire, both of which date back to the 12th century and likely derived their names from individuals bearing the Ruff surname.

Notable individuals with the surname Ruff include Sir Thomas Ruff (1505-1560), an English merchant and politician who served as Lord Mayor of London in 1558. Another figure is Sir Walter Ruff (1599-1673), an English lawyer and Member of Parliament during the reign of King Charles I.

In the 18th century, John Ruff (1727-1799) was a prominent English engraver and cartographer, known for his intricate maps and illustrations. Meanwhile, Samuel Ruff (1765-1826) was a British naval officer who served during the Napoleonic Wars and famously participated in the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805.

Moving into the 19th century, Emily Ruff (1829-1901) was a notable English author and poet, best known for her collection of sonnets titled "Echoes from the Heart."

The surname Ruff has a rich history dating back to the Middle Ages in England, with its roots firmly planted in the Old English language. Its connection to various place names and the appearance of individuals bearing the name in historical records and manuscripts further solidify its significance as a longstanding English surname.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Ruff

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

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

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

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