NameCensus.

UK surname

Ruff

Derived from a nickname for a person with curly or unruly hair, or a boisterous, unruly personality.

In the 1881 census there were 960 people recorded with the Ruff surname, ranking it #4,037 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,541, ranked #4,013, up from #4,037 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Amberley, London parishes and Ealing, Chiswick. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Chichester, South Gloucestershire and Shropshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Ruff is 1,641 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 60.5%.

1881 census count

960

Ranked #4,037

Modern count

1,541

2016, ranked #4,013

Peak year

1999

1,641 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Ruff had 960 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,037 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,541 in 2016, ranked #4,013.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,512 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Ruff surname distribution map

The map shows where the Ruff surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Ruff surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Ruff over time

The 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 710 #3,675
1861 historical 631 #4,244
1881 historical 960 #4,037
1891 historical 1,120 #3,793
1901 historical 1,368 #3,672
1911 historical 1,512 #3,197
1997 modern 1,582 #3,731
1998 modern 1,628 #3,777
1999 modern 1,641 #3,780
2000 modern 1,626 #3,792
2001 modern 1,565 #3,860
2002 modern 1,589 #3,881
2003 modern 1,570 #3,840
2004 modern 1,595 #3,797
2005 modern 1,552 #3,840
2006 modern 1,510 #3,946
2007 modern 1,523 #3,941
2008 modern 1,523 #3,960
2009 modern 1,571 #3,937
2010 modern 1,587 #3,985
2011 modern 1,560 #4,007
2012 modern 1,550 #3,961
2013 modern 1,572 #3,974
2014 modern 1,568 #4,004
2015 modern 1,544 #4,016
2016 modern 1,541 #4,013

Geography

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Where Ruffs are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Amberley, London parishes, Ealing, Chiswick and Pertenhall, Little Staughton, Bolnhurst (Riseley, Bedfordshire), Keysoe (Riseley, Bedfordshire). These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Chichester, South Gloucestershire, Shropshire, Huntingdonshire and Epping Forest. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Amberley Sussex
2 London parishes London 1
3 London parishes London 3
4 Ealing, Chiswick Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts)
5 Pertenhall, Little Staughton, Bolnhurst (Riseley, Bedfordshire), Keysoe (Riseley, Bedfordshire) Huntingdonshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Chichester 013 Chichester
2 South Gloucestershire 019 South Gloucestershire
3 Shropshire 016 Shropshire
4 Huntingdonshire 014 Huntingdonshire
5 Epping Forest 015 Epping Forest

Forenames

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First names often paired with Ruff

These lists show first names that appear often with the Ruff surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Ruff

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Ruff, 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

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Ruff surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Ruff household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Ruff is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Mainly concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Ruff is most concentrated in decile 8 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Ruff falls in decile 5 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Ruff is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Ruff, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Ruff

The surname Ruff originates from England, emerging in the late 12th century. It derives from the Old English word 'rufan' which means 'rough' or 'coarse'. This was likely originally a nickname given to someone with a rough or untamed appearance.

The name can be traced back to the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as 'Rufus' in various locations across England. This early spelling variation highlights the name's longevity and deep roots in the country's history.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Ruff is in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire in 1177, where a Richard Ruf is mentioned. In the 13th century, a John Ruff is listed in the Curia Regis Rolls of Norfolk in 1201.

The name Ruff is also found in connection with several place names, such as Rufford in Nottinghamshire and Rufford in Lancashire, both of which date back to the 12th century and likely derived their names from individuals bearing the Ruff surname.

Notable individuals with the surname Ruff include Sir Thomas Ruff (1505-1560), an English merchant and politician who served as Lord Mayor of London in 1558. Another figure is Sir Walter Ruff (1599-1673), an English lawyer and Member of Parliament during the reign of King Charles I.

In the 18th century, John Ruff (1727-1799) was a prominent English engraver and cartographer, known for his intricate maps and illustrations. Meanwhile, Samuel Ruff (1765-1826) was a British naval officer who served during the Napoleonic Wars and famously participated in the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805.

Moving into the 19th century, Emily Ruff (1829-1901) was a notable English author and poet, best known for her collection of sonnets titled "Echoes from the Heart."

The surname Ruff has a rich history dating back to the Middle Ages in England, with its roots firmly planted in the Old English language. Its connection to various place names and the appearance of individuals bearing the name in historical records and manuscripts further solidify its significance as a longstanding English surname.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Ruff families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Ruff surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Middlesex leads with 170 Ruffs recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.80x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 170 1.80x
Sussex 131 8.23x
Surrey 79 1.72x
Huntingdonshire 73 38.94x
Northamptonshire 62 6.98x
Worcestershire 55 4.46x
Bedfordshire 48 9.82x
Shropshire 41 5.03x
Kent 38 1.18x
Cambridgeshire 36 6.02x
Essex 29 1.56x
Herefordshire 29 7.49x
Derbyshire 27 1.83x
Yorkshire 18 0.19x
Nottinghamshire 17 1.34x
Buckinghamshire 10 1.75x
Staffordshire 10 0.31x
Glamorgan 9 0.55x
Hampshire 8 0.41x
Channel Islands 7 2.50x
Wiltshire 7 0.84x
Berkshire 6 0.85x
Lancashire 6 0.05x
Northumberland 6 0.43x
Radnorshire 6 7.88x
Gloucestershire 4 0.22x
Lincolnshire 4 0.26x
Montgomeryshire 4 1.85x
Warwickshire 4 0.17x
Lanarkshire 3 0.10x
Leicestershire 3 0.29x
Midlothian 3 0.24x
Suffolk 3 0.26x
Hertfordshire 2 0.31x
Pembrokeshire 2 0.67x
Royal Navy 2 1.78x
Brecknockshire 1 0.53x
Cornwall 1 0.09x
Dorset 1 0.16x
Monmouthshire 1 0.15x
Morayshire 1 0.68x
Norfolk 1 0.07x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Amberley in Sussex leads with 33 Ruffs recorded in 1881 and an index of 1398.31x.

Place Total Index
Amberley 33 1398.31x
Ealing 28 33.18x
Somersham 28 615.38x
Whittlesey St Mary St 25 119.67x
St Marylebone London 21 4.17x
Islington London 18 1.97x
Bignor 17 2833.33x
Keysoe 17 742.36x
Broseley 15 103.45x
Battersea 14 4.03x
Brighton 14 4.36x
Hampton London 13 83.76x
Hasland 13 86.38x
Kingston On Thames 13 11.76x
South Bersted 12 88.63x
St Luke London 11 7.26x
Aldingbourn 10 416.67x
Camberwell 10 1.66x
Gravesend 10 36.66x
Great Staughton 10 274.73x
Lutton 10 1666.67x
Ramsey 10 66.62x
St George Hanover 10 8.11x
Thorney 10 150.60x
Tredington 10 296.74x
Billington 9 652.17x
Minster In Sheppey 9 16.86x
Orsett 9 185.19x
Oundle 9 90.63x
Upton Snodsbury 9 762.71x
Warboys 9 166.05x
Bedford St Paul 8 23.85x
Fladbury 8 544.22x
Ringstead 8 258.90x
Sutton 8 740.74x
Whistones 8 89.59x
Wimbledon 8 15.49x
East Ham 7 20.24x
Rudgwick 7 192.84x
Shifnal 7 31.60x
Shoreditch London 7 1.71x
St Helier 7 7.68x
Twickenham 7 17.29x
Clerkenwell London 6 2.69x
Coal Aston 6 235.29x
Goring 6 350.88x
Marsworth 6 405.41x
Mitcham 6 20.63x
Paddington London 6 1.73x
Rodd Nash Little 6 1071.43x
Slipton 6 1764.71x
Southwick 6 71.26x
St Nicholas At Wade 6 319.15x
Stilton 6 285.71x
Sutton Veney 6 255.32x
Twywell 6 370.37x
West Ham 6 1.46x
Ystradyfodwg 6 4.16x
Bothal Demesne 5 74.40x
Bradfield 5 13.86x
Bramcote 5 205.76x
Clapham 5 4.24x
Evesham All Sts 5 86.96x
Fletton 5 83.47x
Hemington 5 980.39x
Hereford All Sts 5 28.18x
Little Staughton 5 328.95x
Llangunllo 5 318.47x
Mile End Old Town 5 3.35x
Newington 5 1.43x
Ockley 5 246.31x
Peterborough 5 7.78x
Portsea 5 1.32x
Shillington 5 69.44x
Tottenham 5 3.32x
Walsall Foreign 5 3.04x
Westminster St James 5 5.15x
Woolstaston 5 1612.90x
Arnold 4 21.53x
Cheltenham 4 2.80x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Ruff surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Ruff surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
John 59
William 54
George 44
James 35
Thomas 34
Henry 21
Charles 20
Arthur 14
Richard 13
Edward 12
Alfred 11
Joseph 11
Walter 11
Albert 9
Frederick 9
Robert 9
Francis 8
Samuel 8
Harry 7
Herbert 5
Christopher 4
Daniel 4
Fredrick 4
Stephen 4
Tom 4
Wm. 4
Charley 3
Fred 3
Isaac 3
Edmund 2
Edwin 2
Essek 2
Fredk. 2
Geo. 2
J. 2
Jas. 2
Josiah 2
Lewis 2
Michael 2
Patrick 2
Percy 2
Rueben 2
Silas 2
Ebenezer 1
Edgar 1
Frederic 1
Fredk.G. 1
Fredric 1
Fritz 1
Jesse 1

FAQ

Ruff surname: questions and answers

How common was the Ruff surname in 1881?

In 1881, 960 people were recorded with the Ruff surname. That placed it at #4,037 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Ruff surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,541 in 2016. That gives Ruff a modern rank of #4,013.

What does the Ruff surname mean?

Derived from a nickname for a person with curly or unruly hair, or a boisterous, unruly personality.

What does the Ruff map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Ruff bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

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.