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

Ruger, 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 Ruger surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Ruger in America

Ruger is the 27646th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Ruger surname appeared 870 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 Ruger.

We can also compare 2010 data for Ruger 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 Ruger

The surname RUGER has its origins in Germany, with records dating back to the 16th century. It is believed to have derived from the Middle High German word "ruger," meaning "rest" or "repose," suggesting that the name may have originally referred to someone who lived in a secluded or peaceful area.

One of the earliest known references to the RUGER name can be found in the church records of the town of Erfurt, located in the central German state of Thuringia. In 1582, a certain Hans RUGER was documented as a resident of the town, indicating that the name was already in use during that time period.

In the 17th century, the RUGER surname appeared in various regions of Germany, including the states of Saxony and Bavaria. Notable individuals with this last name from that era include Johann RUGER (1613-1678), a Protestant theologian and author from Saxony, and Christoph RUGER (1647-1712), a Baroque painter from Bavaria.

As the centuries passed, the RUGER name spread to other parts of Europe and beyond. In the late 18th century, a family bearing this surname immigrated to the United States, settling in Pennsylvania. One of their descendants, William B. RUGER (1781-1864), became a prominent businessman and landowner in the state.

Another notable figure with the RUGER surname was Arthur RUGER (1862-1938), an American military officer who served as a brigadier general during the Spanish-American War and later became the governor of the Philippines.

In more recent times, the RUGER name is perhaps most famously associated with William B. RUGER (1916-2002), the founder of the renowned firearms manufacturing company Sturm, Ruger & Co. Born in New York, RUGER's innovative designs and business acumen helped establish his company as a leading producer of firearms in the United States.

While the RUGER surname may have originated from humble beginnings, it has since been carried by individuals who have made significant contributions in various fields, including theology, art, business, and military service. Its enduring presence across multiple countries and centuries serves as a testament to the rich history and diversity of this remarkable family name.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Ruger

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

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

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

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