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

Ruh, 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 Ruh surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Ruh in America

Ruh is the 24064th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Ruh surname appeared 1,047 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 Ruh.

We can also compare 2010 data for Ruh 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 Ruh

The surname Ruh is believed to have originated in Germany, dating back to the 16th century. It is thought to be derived from the old German word "Rue," which means "rest" or "repose." This suggests that the name may have been given to someone who lived near a resting place or inn.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Ruh can be found in the town records of Augsburg, Germany, from the year 1562, where a person named Hans Ruh is mentioned. This suggests that the name was already well-established in the region by that time.

In the 17th century, the name Ruh appeared in various church records and tax rolls across southern Germany, particularly in the regions of Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg. Some notable individuals from this period include Johann Ruh (1592-1667), a prominent theologian and author from Nuremberg, and Matthias Ruh (1614-1688), a respected jurist from Stuttgart.

As the name spread throughout Europe, it underwent several spelling variations, such as Ruhe, Ruhe, and Ruhe. These variations were often influenced by local dialects and the preferences of scribes who recorded the name.

One of the earliest known bearers of the name Ruh in England was Johann Ruh (1720-1798), a German-born merchant who settled in London in the mid-18th century. His descendants went on to establish successful businesses in the city.

Another notable figure was Karl Ruh (1856-1923), a German-born sculptor who emigrated to the United States in the late 19th century. He became known for his intricate woodcarvings and worked on several significant public projects in New York City.

In the 19th century, the name Ruh appeared in various parts of Europe, including France, where a family of winemakers from the Alsace region carried the name. One of the most famous members of this family was Georges Ruh (1874-1942), whose vineyard produced some of the region's finest wines.

Other notable individuals with the surname Ruh include Friedrich Ruh (1889-1964), a Swiss writer and poet known for his works exploring the themes of nature and spirituality, and Theodor Ruh (1901-1977), a German-born architect who designed several notable buildings in California during the mid-20th century.

While the surname Ruh is not among the most common surnames globally, it has a rich history spanning several centuries and has been borne by individuals from various walks of life, including scholars, artists, merchants, and professionals.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Ruh

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

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

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

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