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

Rugley, 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 Rugley surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Rugley in America

Rugley is the 101737th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Rugley surname appeared 177 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 Rugley.

We can also compare 2010 data for Rugley 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 Rugley

The surname Rugley is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period, likely between the 11th and 13th centuries. Its roots can be traced back to the Old English words "hrycg" meaning "ridge" and "leah" meaning "meadow" or "clearing." This suggests that the name may have initially referred to someone who lived near a ridge or a clearing in a meadow.

One of the earliest known references to the name Rugley can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of land ownership in England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The book mentions a settlement called "Ruggeleia" in Staffordshire, which is believed to be the origin of the modern surname.

By the 13th century, the name had evolved into various spellings such as Rugeley, Ruggelye, and Ruggeleye. These variations were often used interchangeably, reflecting the fluidity of spelling conventions during that time. Records from the 13th and 14th centuries show individuals bearing the name Rugley residing in various parts of England, including Staffordshire, Warwickshire, and Worcestershire.

One notable figure with the surname Rugley was Sir John Rugley, a prominent landowner and knight who lived in the late 14th century. He was mentioned in several historical records and is believed to have played a role in the Hundred Years' War between England and France.

Another individual of note was Thomas Rugley, born in 1542 in Staffordshire. He was a respected scholar and theologian who served as a canon at Christ Church, Oxford, and published several works on religious subjects.

In the 17th century, the name Rugley appeared in records related to the English Civil War. Captain Richard Rugley, born in 1610, was a Royalist officer who fought for King Charles I during the conflict.

Moving forward to the 18th century, Elizabeth Rugley, born in 1734 in Worcestershire, was a notable educator and philanthropist who founded several schools for underprivileged children in her local community.

Lastly, in the 19th century, William Rugley, born in 1822 in Staffordshire, was a renowned architect who designed several notable buildings, including churches and public buildings, in various parts of England.

While the surname Rugley may have evolved and spread across different regions over time, its origins can be traced back to the medieval period in England, reflecting the country's rich history and the linguistic influences that have shaped its surnames.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Rugley

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

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

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

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