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

Rufus, 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 Rufus surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Rufus in America

Rufus is the 19966th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Rufus surname appeared 1,343 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 Rufus.

We can also compare 2010 data for Rufus 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 Rufus

The surname Rufus is of Latin origin, deriving from the word "rufus" meaning "red" or "red-haired." It is believed to have originated as a nickname or descriptive name given to individuals with reddish-colored hair or a ruddy complexion.

The name first emerged in ancient Rome, where it was used as a cognomen or third name indicating a personal or physical characteristic. One of the earliest recorded uses of the name was in reference to Quintus Curtius Rufus, a Roman historian who lived in the 1st century AD and wrote a biography of Alexander the Great.

During the Middle Ages, Rufus became a common surname in various European regions, particularly in England and France. It was often anglicized as "Ruffus" or "Ruffo" in some areas. The Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of landowners and property in England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086, contains several entries of individuals bearing the surname Rufus or its variants.

One notable historical figure who bore the surname Rufus was William II, also known as William Rufus, the third son of William the Conqueror. He reigned as King of England from 1087 until his death in a hunting accident in 1100. His epithet "Rufus" referred to his ruddy complexion and red-faced appearance.

Another significant figure with the surname Rufus was Richard Rufus, a renowned philosopher and theologian who lived in the 13th century. He was a prominent scholar at the University of Paris and made significant contributions to the field of scholastic philosophy.

In the 14th century, the surname Rufus appeared in various locations across Europe, including the Netherlands, where it was recorded as "Ruffus" or "Ruffaert." One notable bearer of the name during this period was Jan Ruffaert, a Flemish painter active in the late 14th century, known for his religious works and altarpieces.

The surname Rufus also had a presence in Italy, where it was sometimes anglicized as "Ruffo." One prominent Italian family bearing this name was the Ruffo di Calabria, an aristocratic family from the southern region of Calabria. They held significant power and influence in the Kingdom of Naples during the Medieval and Renaissance periods.

As the centuries passed, the surname Rufus spread to various parts of the world, carried by individuals and families who migrated or established new settlements. While the name has retained its connection to its Latin roots, it has also taken on local variations and spellings in different regions and cultures.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Rufus

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

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

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

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