Find out how popular the last name Rusev is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Rusev.
A Bulgarian surname likely derived from the Slavic word "rusiy" meaning reddish-blonde or blonde-haired.
Rusev, 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 Rusev surname is from the 2010 census data.
Rusev is the 76029th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.
The Rusev surname appeared 253 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 Rusev.
We can also compare 2010 data for Rusev 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.
2010 | 2000 | Change (%) | |
---|---|---|---|
Rank | 76029 | 135837 | -56.46% |
Count | 253 | 114 | 75.75% |
Proportion per 100k | 0.09 | 0.04 | 76.92% |
The surname Rusev has its origins in the Slavic countries of Eastern Europe, primarily in the regions of present-day Bulgaria and Russia. It is believed to have emerged during the medieval period, around the 10th to 12th centuries.
One theory suggests that the name Rusev is derived from the Slavic root "rus," which means "fair-haired" or "light-colored." This could indicate that the name was initially a descriptive term used to distinguish individuals with light hair or complexion. Another possibility is that the name evolved from the word "rus," which was an early name for the Rus' people, an East Slavic ethnic group that formed the foundation of the Russian nation.
In terms of historical references, the Rusev surname has been recorded in various documents and manuscripts from the region. For instance, there are mentions of individuals bearing this surname in the Veliky Novgorod Chronicles, a series of medieval Russian chronicles dating back to the 12th century.
One of the earliest known individuals with the surname Rusev was Fyodor Rusev, a Russian nobleman and military commander who lived in the late 15th century. He is mentioned in several historical records from that era, including the Voskresenskaya Chronicle, which details his participation in various military campaigns.
Another notable figure was Ivan Rusev, a Russian explorer and cartographer who lived in the 17th century. He is credited with mapping vast regions of Siberia and contributing to the exploration and expansion of the Russian Empire during that time.
In the 19th century, Nikolai Rusev (1827-1901) was a prominent Russian architect who designed several notable buildings, including the Old English Court in St. Petersburg and the Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood.
Turning to Bulgaria, one of the earliest recorded instances of the Rusev surname can be found in the Ravanitsa Monastery Chronicles, which date back to the 14th century. These chronicles mention a Bulgarian nobleman named Georgi Rusev, who was involved in the defense of the monastery against Ottoman attacks.
In the 20th century, Aleksandar Rusev (1913-1997) was a renowned Bulgarian writer and poet, known for his works that explored the themes of love, nature, and the human condition. His literary contributions earned him several prestigious awards and recognition throughout his lifetime.
While the surname Rusev has roots in Eastern Europe, it has since spread to various parts of the world due to migration and diaspora communities. However, this historical account focuses primarily on the earliest known instances and notable figures from the regions where the name originated.
We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Rusev.
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:
For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Rusev was:
Race/Ethnicity | Percentage | Total Occurrences |
---|---|---|
Non-Hispanic White Only | 98.42% | 249 |
Non-Hispanic Black Only | 0.00% | 0 |
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only | (S)% | (S) |
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0.00% | 0 |
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races | (S)% | (S) |
Hispanic Origin | 0.00% | 0 |
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 Rusev has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.
2010 | 2000 | Change (%) | |
---|---|---|---|
White | 98.42% | 92.11% | 6.62% |
Black | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
Asian and Pacific Islander | (S)% | (S)% | (S)% |
American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
Two or More Races | (S)% | 7.02% | (S)% |
Hispanic | 0.00% | (S)% | (S)% |
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 Rusev was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.
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<a href="http://namecensus.com/last-names/rusev-surname-popularity/">Rusev last name popularity, history, and meaning</a>
"Rusev last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on June 4, 2025. http://namecensus.com/last-names/rusev-surname-popularity/.
"Rusev last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/last-names/rusev-surname-popularity/. Accessed 4 June, 2025
Rusev last name popularity, history, and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/last-names/rusev-surname-popularity/.
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