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

Ruonavaara, 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 Ruonavaara surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Ruonavaara in America

Ruonavaara is the 81458th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Ruonavaara surname appeared 232 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 Ruonavaara.

We can also compare 2010 data for Ruonavaara 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 Ruonavaara

The surname RUONAVAARA originates from Finland, a Nordic country located in Northern Europe. Its roots can be traced back to the early 19th century or possibly even earlier. The name is derived from the Finnish language and is believed to be a combination of two words, "ruona" and "vaara," which together refer to a specific geographical feature or location.

The first part of the name, "ruona," is an archaic Finnish word that means "grassy field" or "meadow." The second part, "vaara," is a more common term meaning "hill" or "mountain." Therefore, the surname RUONAVAARA likely originated as a descriptive name referring to a grassy hill or a meadow situated on a hill, potentially indicating the place of origin or residence of the earliest bearers of this name.

Historical records suggest that the RUONAVAARA surname was prevalent in the northern regions of Finland, particularly in the regions of Lapland and Oulu. These areas were known for their rugged terrain, consisting of hills, mountains, and vast expanses of meadows and grasslands, which aligns with the meaning of the name.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the RUONAVAARA surname dates back to the early 19th century, when a family bearing this name was mentioned in a local parish register from the village of Pelkosenniemi, located in the Lapland region. This entry provides valuable insight into the geographical origins of the name and its historical significance within the region.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the surname RUONAVAARA, including:

1. Juho Ruonavaara (1828-1901), a Finnish farmer and landowner from the Lapland region, known for his contributions to the local agricultural community.

2. Anna Ruonavaara (1860-1932), a Finnish educator and advocate for women's rights, who established one of the first schools for girls in the town of Rovaniemi.

3. Matti Ruonavaara (1892-1968), a Finnish writer and poet, whose works often explored the themes of nature and rural life in Northern Finland.

4. Elina Ruonavaara (1915-2003), a renowned Finnish botanist and researcher, known for her groundbreaking work on the flora of the Arctic regions.

5. Juhani Ruonavaara (1938-2020), a Finnish architect and urban planner, who played a significant role in the development of sustainable cities and urban planning strategies in Finland.

While the surname RUONAVAARA may have evolved or been adapted over time, it remains a distinct and historically significant name within Finnish culture, carrying the essence of the country's natural landscapes and the traditions of its northern regions.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Ruonavaara

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

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

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

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