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

Scruggs, 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 Scruggs surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Scruggs in America

Scruggs is the 2310th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Scruggs surname appeared 15,808 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 5 people would have the surname Scruggs.

We can also compare 2010 data for Scruggs 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 Scruggs

The surname Scruggs is of English origin, and it is believed to have originated in the 14th century. The name is derived from the Old English word "scrogges," which referred to a thicket or a small grove of trees. It is also thought to be related to the Middle English word "shrog," which means a shrub or a bush.

The earliest recorded instance of the name Scruggs can be found in the Yorkshire Poll Tax returns of 1379, where a Thomas Skrogges is listed. In the 15th century, the name appeared in various records with spellings such as Scrogges, Scroggis, and Scruggis.

One of the earliest notable bearers of the name was Sir John Scruggs, a prominent landowner and military commander who lived in the late 15th century. He is mentioned in several historical documents, including the Paston Letters, which provide insight into the lives of the English gentry during the Wars of the Roses.

In the 16th century, the name Scruggs began to appear in parish records and other documents from various parts of England, including Lancashire, Cheshire, and Yorkshire. One of the earliest recorded instances is that of William Scruggs, who was born in Lancashire in 1542.

During the 17th century, the Scruggs family established roots in the American colonies. One of the earliest immigrants was John Scruggs, who arrived in Virginia in 1635. His descendants went on to become prominent landowners and community leaders in the region.

Another notable figure with the surname Scruggs was Benjamin Scruggs, a soldier and frontiersman who fought in the American Revolutionary War. He was born in Virginia in 1756 and later settled in Tennessee, where he played a significant role in the early exploration and settlement of the region.

In the 19th century, the Scruggs name gained further prominence with the birth of George Paschal Scruggs, a renowned Confederate general during the American Civil War. Born in Georgia in 1834, he served with distinction in numerous battles and was known for his bravery and leadership.

Another prominent bearer of the name was Earl Scruggs, a legendary American banjo player and songwriter who was born in 1924. He was a pioneer of the three-finger banjo picking style and was a major influence in the development of bluegrass music. His contributions to the genre earned him numerous accolades, including induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame.

Throughout history, the surname Scruggs has been associated with various occupations and professions, including farming, military service, and music. While its origins can be traced back to England, the name has since spread to other parts of the world, particularly the United States, where it continues to be a prominent surname.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Scruggs

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

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

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

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