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

Russ, 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 Russ surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Russ in America

Russ is the 2237th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Russ surname appeared 16,300 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 6 people would have the surname Russ.

We can also compare 2010 data for Russ 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 Russ

The surname Russ has its origins in the Anglo-Saxon regions of Britain. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "read," meaning "red," and was likely given as a nickname to someone with reddish hair or a ruddy complexion. The name is thought to have first appeared in the 11th century.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of landholdings in England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. Several individuals with the surname Russ or variations such as Rede or Rudde are listed as landowners or tenants.

During the Middle Ages, the name Russ was particularly prevalent in the counties of Warwickshire, Staffordshire, and Lincolnshire. It is also closely associated with the town of Rushden in Northamptonshire, which likely took its name from the Old English "Rysedene," meaning "valley of rushes."

Notable historical figures bearing the surname Russ include John Russ (c. 1485-1550), a English Catholic priest and author who was martyred during the Protestant Reformation. Another prominent individual was Martin Russ (1521-1581), a German theologian and reformer who played a significant role in the spread of Protestantism.

In the arts, the name is associated with the English painter and engraver Norman Russ (1858-1909), known for his landscapes and maritime scenes. The American author and historian Willard Russ III (1929-2009) was renowned for his work on the history of the American West and Native American culture.

One of the earliest known bearers of the name was Sir Robert Russ, a knight who fought alongside Richard the Lionheart during the Third Crusade in the 12th century. Another historical figure was Sir John Russ, a prominent English landowner and soldier who served under King Edward III during the Hundred Years' War in the 14th century.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Russ

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

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

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

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