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

Ruge, 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 Ruge surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Ruge in America

Ruge is the 26339th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Ruge surname appeared 927 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 Ruge.

We can also compare 2010 data for Ruge 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 Ruge

The surname Ruge has its origins in Germany, emerging in the late medieval period. It is derived from the Low German word "ruge," which means "rough" or "coarse." This suggests that the name may have initially been a descriptive nickname referring to a person's physical appearance or perhaps their personality or temperament.

Historical records indicate that the Ruge surname first appeared in the region of Lower Saxony, particularly in the areas around Hanover and Bremen. One of the earliest documented instances of the name can be found in the town records of Verden, dating back to the 15th century.

The name Ruge also shares similarities with the Old Saxon word "rūg," which means "rough" or "shaggy." This further reinforces the connection between the surname and its descriptive origins.

In the 16th century, the Ruge surname gained prominence with the birth of David Ruge (1569-1637), a renowned Lutheran theologian and professor at the University of Wittenberg. He was known for his writings on religious reformation and his contributions to the development of Protestant theology.

Another notable figure bearing the Ruge surname was Arnold Ruge (1802-1880), a German philosopher and political activist. He played a significant role in the revolutionary movements of the mid-19th century and was a proponent of democratic ideals and social reform.

The Ruge name also has ties to certain place names in Germany, such as the village of Rugewisch in Lower Saxony. This place name, which translates to "rough meadow" or "rough pasture," likely influenced the development of the surname in that region.

In the 18th century, Johann Ruge (1716-1795), a German jurist and legal scholar, made significant contributions to the field of civil law. His works on legal theory and practice were widely influential during his time.

Another notable figure was Arnold Ruge (1802-1880), a German philosopher and political activist who played a significant role in the revolutionary movements of the mid-19th century. He was a proponent of democratic ideals and social reform.

While the Ruge surname has its roots in Germany, it has since spread to other parts of the world through emigration and migration patterns. However, its origins can be traced back to the descriptive Low German word "ruge" and its association with the rough or coarse characteristics of individuals or landscapes in medieval Germany.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Ruge

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

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

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

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