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

Running, 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 Running surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Running in America

Running is the 19105th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Running surname appeared 1,424 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 Running.

We can also compare 2010 data for Running 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 Running

The surname RUNNING originated in England during the early medieval period. It is derived from the Old English word "rinnan," which means "to run" or "to flow." The name likely referred to someone who lived near a stream or river, or who was known for their swiftness or agility.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name RUNNING can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which mentions a landholder named Radulfus Runninge in Oxfordshire. This spelling variation suggests that the name may have initially been a descriptive nickname before becoming an inherited surname.

During the 13th century, the name appeared in various records with spellings such as Runninge, Runnynge, and Rennynge. These variations reflect the fluid nature of surnames during that period, as well as regional differences in pronunciation and spelling.

In the 14th century, the RUNNING surname was associated with several notable individuals, including John Rennynge, a merchant from London who was active in the city's trade guilds around 1350. Another early bearer of the name was Sir Thomas Runnynge, a knight who fought in the Hundred Years' War against France in the late 1300s.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the RUNNING surname continued to spread throughout England, with concentrations in counties like Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, and Northamptonshire. Notable bearers of the name during this period include William Running (c. 1530-1600), a wealthy landowner from Gloucestershire, and Edward Running (1587-1667), a Puritan minister who emigrated to Massachusetts Bay Colony.

In the 18th century, the RUNNING name was found in various parts of England, as well as in Scotland and Ireland. One notable bearer was Sir Jonah Running (1718-1796), a British naval officer who served during the American Revolutionary War.

As the RUNNING surname spread and evolved over the centuries, it also became associated with various place names and geographic features. For example, there is a village called Running in Northamptonshire, as well as a Running Brook in Yorkshire.

Throughout its long history, the surname RUNNING has been borne by numerous individuals from various walks of life, including merchants, soldiers, clergy, and landowners. While its origins can be traced back to medieval England, the name has since spread to many parts of the world, reflecting the diverse and far-reaching history of English surnames.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Running

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

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

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

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