Rutherford
A habitational surname derived from places in the Scottish Borders, Northern England, and elsewhere, meaning "cattle river crossing."
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 32,630 Americans carry the last name Rutherford. That puts it at #1,250 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 9.52 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 10,504 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Rutherford surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
33K
1 in 10,504
Census rank
#1,250
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
9.5
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
28K
uncommon in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 28,079 bearers of the surname Rutherford in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 9.52 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 1250th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Rutherford, the largest self-reported group is White at 82.1%. The next largest groups are Black (11.7%) and Two or More Races (2.3%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Rutherford
The surname Rutherford has its origins in Scotland, dating back to the 12th century. It is derived from the Old English words "hryther" meaning cattle and "ford" meaning a shallow river crossing, indicating that the name likely referred to a cattle crossing or a ford used by cattle herders. The name is associated with the town of Rutherford in the Scottish Borders region.
One of the earliest recorded references to the name Rutherford can be found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, a historical document containing the names of Scottish nobles who pledged allegiance to King Edward I of England. The name appears as "de Rothirford," reflecting an older spelling variation.
In the 14th century, the Rutherford family established themselves as a prominent clan in the Scottish Borders, with their ancestral seat at Rutherford Castle near the village of Maxton. The Rutherfords played a significant role in the Border Reivers, a series of raids and conflicts that took place along the Anglo-Scottish border during the 16th and 17th centuries.
Notable individuals with the surname Rutherford include Sir Samuel Rutherford (1600-1661), a Scottish Presbyterian theologian and author who was a prominent figure in the Covenanter movement. Another influential figure was Daniel Rutherford (1749-1819), a Scottish chemist and physician who discovered nitrogen gas and its role in the Earth's atmosphere.
In the field of science, Ernest Rutherford (1871-1937), a New Zealand-born British physicist, made groundbreaking contributions to the understanding of atomic structure and radioactivity. He is often referred to as the "father of nuclear physics" and was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1908.
Other notable figures include Andrew Rutherford (1832-1899), a Scottish-born politician and journalist who served as the first Premier of New Zealand from 1891 to 1893, and Mark Rutherford (1832-1913), the pen name of William Hale White, an English novelist and essayist known for his works exploring themes of religion and social commentary.
The surname Rutherford has a rich history, with its roots firmly planted in the Scottish Borders region and a notable presence among influential figures across various fields throughout the centuries.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Rutherford
Among Census respondents with the surname Rutherford, the largest self-reported group is White at 82.1%. The next largest groups are Black (11.7%) and Two or More Races (2.3%).
The bar chart below shows how Rutherford bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Rutherford surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White82.1%
- Black or African American11.7%
- Two or more races2.3%
- Hispanic or Latino2.2%
- American Indian and Alaska Native1.2%
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.5%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Rutherford surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2010 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #1,250 | #1,250 | 0.0% |
| Count | 28,079 | 28,079 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 9.52 | 9.52 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Rutherford bearers went from 28,079 to 28,079 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #1,250 to #1,250.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Rutherford
FAQ
Rutherford surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Rutherford?
The surname Rutherford holds position #1,250 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 32,630 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 9.52 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Rutherford surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Rutherford, the largest self-reported group is White at 82.1%. The next largest groups are Black (11.7%) and Two or More Races (2.3%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.