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

Ruud, 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 Ruud surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Ruud in America

Ruud is the 18858th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Ruud surname appeared 1,450 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 Ruud.

We can also compare 2010 data for Ruud 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 Ruud

The surname RUUD has its origins in Norway and dates back to the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old Norse word "rauðr," meaning "red" or "ruddy," possibly referring to the reddish complexion or hair color of an early bearer of the name.

The RUUD surname is most commonly found in the regions of Vestfold and Østfold in southeastern Norway, where it has been documented since the 14th century. Some of the earliest recorded instances of this name can be found in the medieval Norwegian census records and parish registers.

One of the first documented individuals with the surname RUUD was Tord Ruud, a landowner mentioned in a legal document from the year 1389. Another early bearer of the name was Jón Ruud, a farmer from Vestfold who was recorded in a land registry in 1427.

In the 16th century, the RUUD surname appeared in several historical records, including the Bergen Census of 1567, where a man named Hans Ruud was listed as a resident of the city. Around the same time, a Niels Ruud was mentioned in a document from the town of Tønsberg, dated 1573.

One of the earliest known places associated with the RUUD surname is the farm Ruud in Gjerdrum, Norway, which dates back to the Middle Ages. The name of this farm is believed to have influenced the spelling and pronunciation of the surname over time.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the RUUD surname. These include:

1. Martin Ruud (1742-1824), a Norwegian merchant and ship owner who played a significant role in the early whaling industry.
2. Jens Rathke Ruud (1801-1868), a Norwegian politician and judge who served as the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Norway.
3. Hans Olav Ruud (1859-1933), a Norwegian theologian and academic who served as the Bishop of Nidaros from 1920 to 1933.
4. Arne Ruud (1891-1952), a Norwegian journalist and author known for his contributions to children's literature.
5. Morten Ruud (born 1962), a Norwegian former professional soccer player who represented Norway in the 1994 FIFA World Cup.

These examples illustrate the long-standing presence and historical significance of the RUUD surname, which has its roots in the medieval era of Norwegian history and has been carried by individuals from various walks of life over the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Ruud

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

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

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

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