UK surname
An occupational surname derived from the Middle Low German word meaning "to clear land."
In the 1881 census there were 67 people recorded with the Rud surname, ranking it #24,104 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 16, ranked #36,998, down from #24,104 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Eastham, St Leonard Shoreditch and Workington (Workington), Clossocks. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Rud is 138 in 1851. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 76.1%.
1881 census count
67
Ranked #24,104
Modern count
16
2016, ranked #36,998
Peak year
1851
138 bearers
Map years
1
1851 to 1851
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Rud surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Rud surname density by area, 1851 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.
| Year | Period | Count | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1851 | historical | 138 | #13,745 |
| 1881 | historical | 67 | #24,104 |
| 1901 | historical | 52 | #28,377 |
| 1997 | modern | 4 | #38,094 |
| 1998 | modern | 5 | #37,861 |
| 1999 | modern | 4 | #38,100 |
| 2000 | modern | 5 | #37,823 |
| 2001 | modern | 5 | #37,652 |
| 2002 | modern | 7 | #37,379 |
| 2003 | modern | 8 | #37,248 |
| 2004 | modern | 9 | #37,213 |
| 2005 | modern | 8 | #37,422 |
| 2006 | modern | 11 | #37,118 |
| 2007 | modern | 13 | #36,990 |
| 2008 | modern | 9 | #37,473 |
| 2009 | modern | 11 | #37,336 |
| 2010 | modern | 9 | #37,654 |
| 2011 | modern | 15 | #37,030 |
| 2012 | modern | 13 | #37,169 |
| 2013 | modern | 13 | #37,224 |
| 2014 | modern | 14 | #37,161 |
| 2015 | modern | 14 | #37,157 |
| 2016 | modern | 16 | #36,998 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Eastham, St Leonard Shoreditch, Workington (Workington), Clossocks, Liverpool and Bishop Wearmouth. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Eastham | Worcestershire |
| 2 | St Leonard Shoreditch | London (East Districts) |
| 3 | Workington (Workington), Clossocks | Cumberland |
| 4 | Liverpool | Lancashire |
| 5 | Bishop Wearmouth | Durham |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Rud surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Rud, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.
These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.
The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.
UK neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Rud surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Rud household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Rud is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Rud is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Rud, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname RUD is of German origin, derived from the Middle High German word 'rūde', meaning a clearing or a piece of cultivated land. It is believed to have originated in the 12th or 13th century.
The name was first recorded in the regions of Bavaria and Swabia, where many families bearing this surname were found. It is likely that the name was originally an occupational name, referring to someone who worked on or owned a piece of cleared land.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Codex Diplomaticus Saxoniae, a collection of historical documents from Saxony, dating back to the 13th century. The name appears in various forms, such as 'Rude', 'Ruden', and 'Rudene'.
In the 14th century, the name is mentioned in the records of the city of Augsburg, where a certain Ulrich Rude is listed as a citizen. Another early bearer of the name was Hans Rud, a merchant from Nuremberg, who lived in the late 15th century.
During the 16th and 17th centuries, the name spread to other parts of Germany and neighboring regions. One notable figure was Johann Rud (1536-1592), a German theologian and reformer who was a prominent figure in the Lutheran church.
In the 18th century, the name was also found in Switzerland, where a family of Ruds settled in the canton of Bern. One of their descendants, Samuel Rud (1760-1822), was a Swiss politician and judge.
Another notable bearer of the name was Friedrich Rud (1807-1885), a German philologist and scholar who made significant contributions to the study of ancient Greek literature.
As the name spread across Europe, it also made its way to other countries, including the United Kingdom and the United States. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name in England was in the 16th century, when a certain Thomas Rud was listed as a merchant in London.
In the 19th century, the name was found in the United States, where many immigrants from Germany and other parts of Europe settled. One of the earliest recorded instances was John Rud, who arrived in Philadelphia in 1808.
Throughout history, the surname RUD has been associated with various occupations and professions, from farmers and merchants to scholars and politicians. While its origins can be traced back to the German-speaking regions of Europe, it has since become a name found in many parts of the world.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Rud surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Cumberland leads with 10 Ruds recorded in 1881 and an index of 18.05x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Cumberland | 10 | 18.05x |
| Middlesex | 10 | 1.55x |
| Hampshire | 8 | 6.06x |
| Lancashire | 8 | 1.05x |
| Kent | 7 | 3.19x |
| Surrey | 7 | 2.23x |
| Durham | 3 | 1.57x |
| Berkshire | 2 | 4.14x |
| Devon | 2 | 1.49x |
| Staffordshire | 2 | 0.92x |
| Yorkshire | 2 | 0.31x |
| Ayrshire | 1 | 2.08x |
| Cheshire | 1 | 0.70x |
| Gloucestershire | 1 | 0.79x |
| Lincolnshire | 1 | 0.97x |
| Warwickshire | 1 | 0.62x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Workington in Cumberland leads with 9 Ruds recorded in 1881 and an index of 283.91x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Workington | 9 | 283.91x |
| Shoreditch London | 7 | 25.09x |
| Tenterden | 7 | 909.09x |
| Bermondsey | 6 | 31.32x |
| Portsea | 6 | 23.21x |
| Kirkdale | 5 | 38.91x |
| Hedworth Monkton Jarrow | 3 | 36.19x |
| Liverpool | 3 | 6.47x |
| Kensington London | 2 | 5.59x |
| Plymouth St Andrew | 2 | 19.38x |
| West Swallowfield | 2 | 869.57x |
| Bonchurch | 1 | 666.67x |
| Cannock | 1 | 26.39x |
| Clifton | 1 | 15.67x |
| Coventry St Michael | 1 | 19.19x |
| Doncaster | 1 | 21.46x |
| Lambeth | 1 | 1.78x |
| Liscard | 1 | 39.06x |
| New Cumnock | 1 | 119.05x |
| Southcoates | 1 | 28.25x |
| St Cuthbert W O Carleton | 1 | 666.67x |
| St George Hanover | 1 | 11.90x |
| Stoke Upon Trent | 1 | 4.34x |
| Sutton St Mary | 1 | 103.09x |
| Weeke | 1 | 250.00x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Rud surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Rud surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Rud households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 19 |
| Bricklayer Journeyman | 2 |
| Labourer | 2 |
| (No Occ) | 1 |
| Agl Lab (Indoor) | 1 |
| Bricklayer | 1 |
| Carman | 1 |
| Carpenter | 1 |
| Decorator | 1 |
| Decorator Wife | 1 |
| Dressmaker | 1 |
| Driller (Iron Ship Yd) | 1 |
| Driver | 1 |
| Galvaniser (Iron) | 1 |
| General Servant Domestic | 1 |
| Grocers Apprentice | 1 |
| Harness Maker | 1 |
| Housekeeper Domestic | 1 |
| Labourer In Brass Works | 1 |
| Painter | 1 |
| Rope Maker | 1 |
| Seaman | 1 |
| Shoemaker | 1 |
| Solicitor | 1 |
| Valet Dom | 1 |
| Waiters Wife | 1 |
| Wheel Chair Man | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 67 people were recorded with the Rud surname. That placed it at #24,104 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 16 in 2016. That gives Rud a modern rank of #36,998.
An occupational surname derived from the Middle Low German word meaning "to clear land."
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Rud bearers relative to the surrounding population.
The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.