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

Ruggles, 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 Ruggles surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Ruggles in America

Ruggles is the 6494th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Ruggles surname appeared 5,228 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 2 people would have the surname Ruggles.

We can also compare 2010 data for Ruggles 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 Ruggles

The surname Ruggles is of English origin, derived from the Old English words "hrug" meaning ridge or hill, and "leah" meaning a clearing or meadow. It is likely that the name originated as a topographic name referring to someone who lived near a ridge or hill in a clearing.

The name can be traced back to the 12th century, and one of the earliest recorded instances is found in the Pipe Rolls of Nottinghamshire in 1176, which mention a Richard de Ruggelea. The Domesday Book of 1086 also contains references to places with similar spellings like "Ruggeleia" and "Ruggeley".

In the 13th century, the surname appeared in various forms such as Ruggele, Ruggelee, and Ruggeleye, reflecting the different spellings used at the time. Some of the earliest recorded instances include Robert de Ruggeleye (1236) and William de Rugge (1275), both found in the Hundred Rolls of Shropshire.

The Ruggles surname was well-established in Staffordshire and Shropshire, where it is believed to have originated. Several places in these counties, like Rudge Heath and Rugeley, share a similar root with the surname, indicating a connection to the local geography.

Notable individuals with the surname Ruggles include:

1. Thomas Ruggles (1737-1823), an American lawyer and jurist who served as a delegate to the Continental Congress and the Massachusetts Constitutional Convention.

2. Benjamin Ruggles Woodbridge (1739-1819), an American Presbyterian minister and educator who served as the first president of the Ohio University.

3. George Ruggles (1833-1904), an English-born American architect known for designing several prominent buildings in New York City, including Grace Church and the former Astor Library.

4. Samuel Battey Ruggles (1800-1881), an American lawyer and politician who served as a member of the United States House of Representatives from Ohio.

5. Edward Ruggles (1810-1880), an English-born American daguerreotypist and photographer, considered one of the pioneers of photography in the United States.

The surname Ruggles has a rich history rooted in the English countryside, and its connection to geographical features like ridges and clearings is reflected in its etymology. While the name has spread worldwide, its origins can be traced back to the medieval period in the counties of Staffordshire and Shropshire.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Ruggles

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

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

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

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