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

Rutledge, 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 Rutledge surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Rutledge in America

Rutledge is the 1306th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Rutledge surname appeared 26,887 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 9 people would have the surname Rutledge.

We can also compare 2010 data for Rutledge 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 Rutledge

The surname Rutledge is of English origin and dates back to the late 11th century. It is derived from the Old English words "rude" meaning "red" and "leah" meaning "woodland clearing." The original bearers of this surname were likely individuals who lived near or worked in a red woodland area.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name is found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which mentions a landowner named Roderic de Rudelea in Bedfordshire. This early spelling variation highlights the evolution of the name over time.

During the 12th and 13th centuries, the Rutledge family is believed to have been prominent in the county of Hertfordshire, England. Records from this period show various spellings such as Rudeleg, Rudelegh, and Rutlege.

In the 14th century, the name appears in the Feet of Fines, a legal document, which mentions a John Rutlege of Hertfordshire in 1346. This record suggests that the spelling had stabilized to its current form by that time.

Notable individuals with the surname Rutledge include Sir John Rutledge (1739-1800), one of the signers of the United States Constitution and the 39th Governor of South Carolina. Another prominent figure was Edward Rutledge (1749-1800), a delegate to the Continental Congress and the youngest signer of the Declaration of Independence.

In the literary world, Ann Rutledge (1813-1835) was the first love interest of Abraham Lincoln, and her memory had a lasting impact on the former President. The poet Archibald Rutledge (1883-1973) was a renowned American writer and teacher, known for his works celebrating the natural beauty of the South Carolina Lowcountry.

Lastly, James Rutledge (1834-1899) was a British explorer and adventurer who is credited with being the first European to explore the interior of the Antarctic Peninsula in the late 19th century.

These are just a few examples of individuals who have carried the Rutledge surname throughout history, showcasing its enduring presence across various fields and regions.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Rutledge

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

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

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

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