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

Rule, 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 Rule surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Rule in America

Rule is the 5573rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Rule surname appeared 6,236 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 Rule.

We can also compare 2010 data for Rule 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 Rule

The surname RULE is of English origin, with records indicating it first emerged in the 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "riole" or the Anglo-Norman French word "reule," both of which refer to a ruler or a person who governs.

The earliest known record of the surname RULE can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire in 1273, where it is listed as "le Ruele." This spelling variation suggests that the name may have initially been an occupational surname, referring to someone who was a ruler or a person in a position of authority.

In the 14th century, the surname RULE appeared in various records across England, including the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379, where it was spelled as "Rughyll." This variation hints at the name's potential connection to the Old English word "rih," meaning a ridge or a hill, possibly indicating that some bearers of the name lived near such geographic features.

The RULE surname was also present in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of land and property ownership in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. While the exact spelling and occurrence are not specified, this suggests that the name had established roots in England by the 11th century.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the surname RULE. One example is John Rule (c. 1485-1544), an English prelate who served as the Bishop of Galloway in Scotland. Another is William Rule (1768-1849), a Scottish Baptist minister and author who wrote extensively on religious topics.

In the realm of literature, the surname RULE is associated with Gilbert Rule (1629-1701), an English playwright and writer known for his work "The Westminster-Scholars: A Comedy." Additionally, the name is linked to James Rule (1809-1890), a Scottish-born American businessman and politician who served as the 13th Mayor of Knoxville, Tennessee.

One particularly noteworthy figure was Margery Rule (c. 1565-1650), an English woman who was accused of witchcraft during the infamous Pendle Witch Trials in Lancashire. Her case garnered significant attention and highlighted the persecution of individuals accused of practicing witchcraft during that period.

While the surname RULE has its roots in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world, including North America and beyond, carried by individuals and families who immigrated from their homeland.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Rule

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

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

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

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