Ruud
A surname derived from the Old German word "rūd" meaning clearing or open land.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 1,679 Americans carry the last name Ruud. That puts it at #18,858 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.49 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 204,142 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Ruud 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
1.7K
1 in 204,142
Census rank
#18,858
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.5
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
1.4K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 1,450 bearers of the surname Ruud in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.49 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 18858th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Ruud, the largest self-reported group is White at 96.0%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (1.5%) and Hispanic (1.2%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of 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.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Ruud
Among Census respondents with the surname Ruud, the largest self-reported group is White at 96.0%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (1.5%) and Hispanic (1.2%).
The bar chart below shows how Ruud 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 Ruud surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White96.0%
- Two or more races1.5%
- Hispanic or Latino1.2%
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.9%
- Black or African American0.4%
Year on year
2000 vs 2010 Census
How has the Ruud 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 | 2000 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #17,702 | #18,858 | -6.5% |
| Count | 1,460 | 1,450 | -0.7% |
| Per 100K | 0.54 | 0.49 | -9.3% |
Between the 2000 and 2010 Census, the number of Ruud bearers went from 1,460 to 1,450 (-0.7% change). The surname moved down 1,156 positions in the national ranking, going from #17,702 to #18,858.
FAQ
Ruud surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Ruud?
The surname Ruud holds position #18,858 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 1,679 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.49 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Ruud surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Ruud, the largest self-reported group is White at 96.0%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (1.5%) and Hispanic (1.2%). 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.