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

Ruhl, 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 Ruhl surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Ruhl in America

Ruhl is the 7468th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Ruhl surname appeared 4,462 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 Ruhl.

We can also compare 2010 data for Ruhl 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 Ruhl

The surname Ruhl is believed to have originated in Germany, specifically in the region of Bavaria. It is thought to have derived from the Old High German word "ruoh," which means "rough" or "coarse." The name may have been given to someone who lived in a rugged or rough terrain, or it could have been an occupational name for someone who worked with rough materials or in a rugged environment.

The earliest recorded instances of the name Ruhl can be traced back to the 13th century in various German documents and records. One notable mention is in the Codex Diplomaticus, a collection of medieval documents from the region of Franconia, which includes references to individuals with the surname Ruhl.

In the 14th century, the name appears in the records of the city of Nuremberg, where a family by the name of Ruhl was involved in the local textile industry. This could suggest that the name may have been associated with the production or trade of rough fabrics or materials.

Throughout the centuries, the Ruhl surname has undergone various spelling variations, such as Ruhl, Ruhle, Ruhll, and Rühl. These variations can be found in various historical records and documents across different regions of Germany.

One notable individual with the surname Ruhl was Johann Ruhl (1662-1721), a German sculptor who was active in the late 17th and early 18th centuries. His works can be found in several churches and palaces throughout Germany.

Another prominent figure was Johann Philipp Ruhl (1677-1740), a German composer and organist who served as the Kapellmeister (music director) at the court of the Prince-Bishop of Würzburg. His compositions, which include sacred works and operas, were highly regarded during his lifetime.

In the 19th century, Johann Christian Ruhl (1828-1900) was a German-American architect who designed several notable buildings in New York City, including the former Astor Library and the Tweed Courthouse.

The name Ruhl also has a connection to the world of literature. Katharina Ruhl (1900-1950) was a German writer and poet who was part of the literary circle known as the "Gruppe 47" in the post-World War II era.

Finally, one of the more recent notable individuals with the surname Ruhl is Ulrich Ruhl (born 1939), a German philosopher and academic who has written extensively on ethics, political philosophy, and the philosophy of law.

These are just a few examples of individuals throughout history who have carried the surname Ruhl, a name with deep roots in the German language and culture, reflecting the rugged and rough environments from which it likely originated.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Ruhl

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

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

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

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