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

Rushing, 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 Rushing surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Rushing in America

Rushing is the 1827th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Rushing surname appeared 19,604 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 7 people would have the surname Rushing.

We can also compare 2010 data for Rushing 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 Rushing

The surname Rushing has its origins in England, specifically in the county of Oxfordshire, where it first appeared in the late 13th century. The name is derived from the Old English word "riscing," which means "a rush" or "a reed." It is believed that the name was initially given to someone who lived near a place where rushes grew abundantly.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Rushing can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire, a census-like document from 1273. The entry mentions a "William le Risching," indicating that the name was already in use at that time.

In the 14th century, the name appeared in various other historical records, such as the Court Rolls of the Manor of Weston in Oxfordshire, where a "John Russhing" was mentioned in 1348.

The Rushing surname has also been associated with certain place names in England. For example, there is a village called Rushmere in Suffolk, which may have been connected to the name's early origins.

One notable individual with the surname Rushing was Sir Thomas Rushing (1494-1563), a member of the English gentry and a landowner in Oxfordshire. He served as a Member of Parliament for the county during the reign of Queen Mary I.

Another historical figure with this surname was John Rushing (1558-1612), an English poet and playwright who lived during the Elizabethan era. He is best known for his satirical works, which often criticized the social and political issues of his time.

In the 17th century, the Rushing name appeared in the records of the Massachusetts Bay Colony in America. One of the earliest settlers with this surname was William Rushing, who arrived in Massachusetts in 1635 and later moved to Connecticut.

During the 18th century, a notable figure named Thomas Rushing (1720-1789) was a prominent merchant and landowner in Virginia. He played a significant role in the American Revolutionary War, serving as a supplier for the Continental Army.

In the 19th century, the name Rushing gained prominence in the southern United States, particularly in states like Georgia and Alabama. One individual of note was James M. Rushing (1819-1887), a successful businessman and plantation owner in Georgia.

Throughout its history, the Rushing surname has been associated with various occupations and backgrounds, from landed gentry and merchants to poets and playwrights, showcasing the diverse origins and paths of those who have carried this name.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Rushing

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

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

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

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