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

Ruffenach, 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 Ruffenach surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Ruffenach in America

Ruffenach is the 129825th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Ruffenach surname appeared 131 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 Ruffenach.

We can also compare 2010 data for Ruffenach 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 Ruffenach

The surname Ruffenach originated in the Alsace region of France, which borders Switzerland and Germany. It is believed to have derived from the village of Ruffenach in the Haut-Rhin department of Alsace, dating back to the late medieval period.

The name Ruffenach is thought to have its roots in the Germanic language, specifically from the words "Ruof" and "ach," which collectively might have meant "a stream or brook named Ruof." This suggests that the name may have been derived from a geographical feature or a location near a watercourse.

One of the earliest documented references to the Ruffenach surname can be found in the records of the Alsatian town of Mulhouse, where a certain Johannes Ruffenach was mentioned in the year 1357. This historical record provides evidence of the name's existence and usage during the 14th century.

In the 16th century, a notable individual named Hans Ruffenach (1480-1549) was a prominent Swiss painter and sculptor active in Basel. His works can still be found in various churches and museums in Switzerland, showcasing the artistic talents associated with this surname.

Another historical figure with the Ruffenach surname was Johann Ruffenach (1630-1695), a German philosopher and theologian who taught at the University of Tübingen. He authored several influential works on ethics and moral philosophy during the 17th century.

The Ruffenach name also appears in the records of the town of Colmar in Alsace, where a family by the name of Ruffenach was mentioned in the 18th century. This suggests that the surname had spread and established itself in various parts of the region over the centuries.

In the 19th century, a notable individual named Charles Ruffenach (1810-1875) was a French politician and lawyer who served as a deputy in the National Assembly of France during the Second Republic.

While the Ruffenach surname is predominantly associated with the Alsace region and its historical ties to France and Germany, it is important to note that individuals with this name may have migrated and settled in other parts of the world over time.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Ruffenach

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

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

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

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