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

Ruggs, 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 Ruggs surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Ruggs in America

Ruggs is the 57639th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Ruggs surname appeared 353 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 Ruggs.

We can also compare 2010 data for Ruggs 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 Ruggs

The surname Ruggs has its origins in England and dates back to the 12th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "hrycg" or "rycg," meaning "ridge" or "back," and was likely used as a topographic name to describe someone who lived on or near a ridge.

The earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in various historical documents from the Middle Ages. One notable reference is in the Pipe Rolls of Lincolnshire from 1195, where a person named Radulfus de Rugis (Ralph of the Ridges) is mentioned.

Another early record of the surname appears in the Hundred Rolls of Buckinghamshire from 1273, which lists a Henry Rugg. This spelling variation, "Rugg," was common during this time period and is thought to be a shortened form of the original "Ruggs."

In the 14th century, the surname Ruggs appeared in various medieval manuscripts and records, such as the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1327, which mentions a John Rugge. The Subsidy Rolls were tax records, suggesting that the Ruggs family had established themselves as landowners or individuals of some means.

One notable historical figure bearing the surname was John Ruggs, a 15th-century English scholar and clergyman who was born in Warwickshire around 1420. He served as the Warden of Merton College, Oxford, and was a renowned scholar of canon law.

Another individual of note was William Ruggs, born in 1565 in Gloucestershire. He was a prominent merchant and landowner who played a significant role in the development of the English wool trade during the Elizabethan era.

In the 17th century, the surname Ruggs appeared in various parish records and legal documents across England. One example is Thomas Ruggs, a yeoman farmer from Oxfordshire, who was born in 1612 and is mentioned in various land deeds and tax records from the period.

During the 18th century, the Ruggs surname continued to be found in various parts of England, with notable individuals including John Ruggs, a wealthy merchant from Bristol who was born in 1723 and made significant contributions to the city's trade and infrastructure.

Another prominent figure was Mary Ruggs, born in 1758 in Dorset, who was a renowned author and poet during the Romantic era. Her works were widely published and celebrated, contributing to the literary landscape of the time.

Throughout history, the surname Ruggs has evolved and adapted to various spellings, including Rugg, Rugge, and Riggs, reflecting the fluidity of language and regional variations. However, the core meaning and origin of the name remain rooted in the Old English concept of a ridge or elevated landform.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Ruggs

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

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

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

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