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

Ruffo, 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 Ruffo surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Ruffo in America

Ruffo is the 24222nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Ruffo surname appeared 1,036 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 Ruffo.

We can also compare 2010 data for Ruffo 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 Ruffo

The surname "RUFFO" is of Italian origin and can be traced back to the medieval period. It is believed to have originated from the Latin word "rufus," which means "red" or "reddish-brown," possibly referring to a person's hair color or complexion.

The name was particularly prevalent in the southern regions of Italy, specifically in the areas around Naples and Calabria. Records show that the Ruffo family was a prominent noble family from the town of Rossano in Calabria, where they held significant power and influence during the Middle Ages.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name Ruffo can be found in the "Catalogus Baronum," a medieval document that lists the Norman feudal barons in southern Italy and Sicily. This document, compiled around 1150-1168, includes several members of the Ruffo family, indicating their prominence at the time.

In the 12th century, a notable figure from the Ruffo family was Riccardo Ruffo, who served as the Lord of Lamezia and played a crucial role in the war against the Byzantine Empire. His descendants continued to hold influential positions in the region for several generations.

Another prominent member of the Ruffo family was Folco Ruffo, who lived in the 13th century and served as the Archbishop of Cosenza from 1250 to 1265. He was known for his involvement in theological debates and his efforts to promote religious education.

During the Renaissance period, the Ruffo family maintained their status as influential nobles. One noteworthy figure was Fabrizio Ruffo (1530-1595), who was a renowned Italian poet and diplomat. He served as the ambassador of the Kingdom of Naples to various European courts and was celebrated for his literary works.

In the 17th century, Vincenzo Ruffo (1616-1673) gained prominence as a military commander and viceroy of Sicily. He played a significant role in the Spanish monarchy's efforts to suppress uprisings in Sicily and was known for his strategic military campaigns.

Over the centuries, the Ruffo name has been associated with various Italian aristocratic families and has been spelled in different variations, such as Ruffo di Calabria, Ruffo di Scilla, and Ruffo di Bagnara, indicating the family's ties to specific regions or territories.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Ruffo

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

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

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

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