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

Ruffy, 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 Ruffy surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Ruffy in America

Ruffy is the 157234th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Ruffy surname appeared 103 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 Ruffy.

The history of the last name Ruffy

The surname RUFFY is believed to have originated in England during the late medieval period. It is thought to be derived from the Old English word "ruh" which means rough or hairy, and may have initially referred to someone with a rugged or unkempt appearance.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Worcestershire from 1275, where a certain Robert Ruffy is mentioned. This suggests that the name was already in use by the 13th century, likely stemming from a nickname or descriptive term that eventually became hereditary.

Another early reference comes from the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex from 1327, which lists a John Ruffy as a taxpayer. This provides further evidence that the name was well-established in various parts of England by the 14th century.

Some notable historical figures bearing the RUFFY surname include William Ruffy, a prominent merchant and alderman in the city of London during the late 15th century. Records show that he served as the Sheriff of London in 1489 and was involved in several property transactions within the city.

Moving forward to the 16th century, there is mention of a Thomas Ruffy in the Court Rolls of Kenilworth, Warwickshire, dated 1538. This document details a dispute over land ownership and provides insight into the lives of individuals with this surname during the Tudor period.

In the 17th century, a notable figure was John Ruffy, a puritan minister who lived from 1620 to 1692. He served as the rector of several parishes in Lincolnshire and was known for his strict adherence to puritan teachings and his opposition to the practices of the Church of England at the time.

Another individual of note was Elizabeth Ruffy, who was born in 1675 in the village of Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire. She is recorded in the parish registers as the daughter of a local farmer, and her birth provides evidence of the surname's continued presence in the area that was once home to William Shakespeare.

As the centuries progressed, the RUFFY surname continued to be found in various parts of England, with concentrations in counties such as Worcestershire, Sussex, and Warwickshire, where many of the early records were located. While not a particularly common name, its longevity and historical presence across multiple regions of England are noteworthy.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Ruffy

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

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 Ruffy 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.

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

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

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