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

Russaw, 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 Russaw surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Russaw in America

Russaw is the 35812th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Russaw surname appeared 627 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 Russaw.

We can also compare 2010 data for Russaw 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 Russaw

The surname RUSSAW is of English origin, tracing its roots back to the Norman conquest of 1066. It is believed to have derived from the Old French word "rousseau," which means "reddish-brown" or "russet-colored." This name was likely given as a descriptive nickname to someone with reddish-brown hair or complexion.

During the medieval period, the name was found primarily in the counties of Kent, Surrey, and Sussex in southeastern England. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is listed as "Russeau."

The surname RUSSAW underwent various spelling variations over the centuries, including Rousseau, Roussow, Russow, and Russeau. These variations were common due to the inconsistencies in record-keeping and the influence of local dialects.

In the 14th century, a notable bearer of the name was John Russaw, a landowner and farmer who lived in the village of Shere, Surrey. Records from the Pipe Rolls of 1332 mention his name in connection with a land dispute.

Another early recorded instance of the name is found in the Feet of Fines for Essex, dated 1448, which mentions a Thomas Russaw from the town of Colchester.

During the 16th century, the name RUSSAW was associated with several prominent figures. William Russaw (1505-1572) was a scholar and theologian who served as the Chancellor of Wells Cathedral in Somerset.

In the 17th century, a notable bearer of the name was Sir Edward Russaw (1618-1691), a wealthy merchant and Member of Parliament for the city of Bristol. He was known for his philanthropic efforts and contributed significantly to the rebuilding of the city after the English Civil War.

The 18th century saw the birth of Robert Russaw (1735-1805), a renowned landscape painter who was elected as a member of the Royal Academy in 1770. His works are still celebrated for their depictions of English countryside scenery.

In the 19th century, the name RUSSAW gained further recognition through the achievements of Mary Russaw (1845-1923), a pioneering educator and advocate for women's rights. She founded several successful schools for girls and was instrumental in promoting educational opportunities for women in her time.

Throughout its history, the surname RUSSAW has been associated with various locations, including the village of Russaw in Buckinghamshire, as well as the town of Russaw in Gloucestershire. These place names may have influenced the spelling and pronunciation of the surname over time.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Russaw

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

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

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

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