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

Ruffin, 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 Ruffin surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Ruffin in America

Ruffin is the 2231st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Ruffin surname appeared 16,324 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 6 people would have the surname Ruffin.

We can also compare 2010 data for Ruffin 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 Ruffin

The surname Ruffin has its roots in France, originating during the medieval period. It is derived from the Old French word "rouffe," meaning "red-headed" or "ruddy-complexioned." This suggests that the name was initially a descriptive nickname given to individuals with reddish hair or a reddish complexion.

The earliest records of the Ruffin surname can be traced back to the 12th century in the region of Normandy, France. In the Domesday Book of 1086, a document commissioned by William the Conqueror to record landholdings in England, several variations of the name, such as "Rofin" and "Rouffin," appear, indicating the presence of the surname in Normandy before the Norman Conquest of England.

One of the earliest known individuals with the Ruffin surname was Guillaume Ruffin, a Norman knight who fought alongside William the Conqueror during the Battle of Hastings in 1066. He was later granted lands in Hertfordshire, England, for his service.

In the 13th century, the surname Ruffin was associated with the village of Rouffigny in the Normandy region of France. This place name, derived from the Latin word "rufinus" (meaning "reddish"), likely influenced the spelling and pronunciation of the surname.

During the Middle Ages, members of the Ruffin family held prominent positions in various parts of Europe. Notably, Sir John Ruffin (1290-1356) was a respected English knight who served under King Edward III during the Hundred Years' War against France.

In the 16th century, the Ruffin surname gained prominence in the United Kingdom, with several notable individuals bearing the name. One such person was Sir William Ruffin (1520-1587), an English politician and landowner who served as a member of Parliament during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.

Another significant figure was Thomas Ruffin (1637-1711), an English clergyman and scholar who served as the Dean of Bangor Cathedral in Wales. He was known for his contributions to religious literature and his translations of classical texts.

In the 18th century, the Ruffin surname spread to the American colonies, where several individuals made their mark. One notable example was Edmund Ruffin (1794-1865), a Virginia-born agriculturalist and secessionist regarded as the "Father of Modern Soil Conservation" for his contributions to farming techniques and crop rotation practices.

Despite its French origins, the Ruffin surname has been widely adopted and has a presence in various parts of the world, particularly in countries with historical ties to France and the United Kingdom.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Ruffin

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

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

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

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