UK surname
A surname likely derived from a topographic name referring to rough or rugged terrain.
In the 1881 census there were 3 people recorded with the Rugh surname, ranking it #33,498 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1, ranked #39,061, down from #33,498 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Sedgley, Llanddarog and Llanwonno. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Rugh is 258 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 66.7%.
1881 census count
3
Ranked #33,498
Modern count
1
2016, ranked #39,061
Peak year
1891
258 bearers
Map years
2
1861 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Rugh surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Rugh surname density by area, 1891 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 | 58 | #22,928 |
| 1861 | historical | 198 | #12,114 |
| 1881 | historical | 3 | #33,498 |
| 1891 | historical | 258 | #12,440 |
| 1901 | historical | 36 | #30,099 |
| 1911 | historical | 61 | #26,724 |
| 1997 | modern | 4 | #38,094 |
| 1998 | modern | 2 | #38,550 |
| 1999 | modern | 2 | #38,551 |
| 2000 | modern | 4 | #38,004 |
| 2003 | modern | 1 | #38,735 |
| 2005 | modern | 3 | #38,312 |
| 2006 | modern | 3 | #38,334 |
| 2007 | modern | 2 | #38,617 |
| 2008 | modern | 1 | #38,949 |
| 2009 | modern | 1 | #38,998 |
| 2010 | modern | 2 | #38,775 |
| 2011 | modern | 2 | #38,745 |
| 2012 | modern | 1 | #38,986 |
| 2013 | modern | 1 | #39,008 |
| 2014 | modern | 1 | #39,020 |
| 2015 | modern | 1 | #39,021 |
| 2016 | modern | 1 | #39,061 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Sedgley, Llanddarog, Llanwonno, Festiniog and St George, Hanover Square, Buckingham Palace. 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 | Sedgley | Staffordshire |
| 2 | Llanddarog | Carmarthenshire |
| 3 | Llanwonno | Glamorganshire |
| 4 | Festiniog | Merionethshire |
| 5 | St George, Hanover Square, Buckingham Palace | London (West Districts) |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Rugh 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 Rugh, 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 Rugh surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Rugh 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, Rugh 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 Rugh is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Rugh, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Rugh is believed to have originated in Germany during the Middle Ages. It is thought to have derived from the Old German word "ruh," meaning "rough" or "coarse," suggesting that the name was initially given as a descriptive nickname to someone with a gruff or rugged appearance or personality.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Rugh can be found in the Codex Diplomaticus Anhaltinus, a collection of historical documents from the Anhalt region of Germany, dating back to the 13th century. In this document, a certain "Johannes Rugh" is mentioned as a landowner in the town of Zerbst.
The name Rugh also appears in various other historical records from across Germany, such as the Liber Censuum, a tax register from the 14th century, which lists several individuals with the surname Rugh living in the city of Cologne.
In the 16th century, the name Rugh was prominently associated with a family of Protestant reformers and scholars. Johann Rugh (1492-1564) was a notable theologian and one of the first advocates of the Reformation in the region of Saxony. His son, Philipp Rugh (1531-1597), was a renowned jurist and professor at the University of Leipzig.
Another notable figure with the surname Rugh was Hans Rugh (1555-1621), a German painter and engraver who was active in the late Renaissance period. His works can be found in various museums and galleries across Europe.
In the 18th century, a branch of the Rugh family migrated to the United States, where they settled in Pennsylvania. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name in America is that of Johannes Rugh, who arrived in Philadelphia in 1732. His descendants can be traced to various parts of the country, particularly in the states of Ohio and Indiana.
Throughout history, the surname Rugh has also been associated with various places and locations. For example, the village of Rughausen in Bavaria, Germany, is believed to have derived its name from the Rugh family who once resided there. Similarly, the town of Rughville in Ohio, United States, was named after one of the early settlers of the area, Jacob Rugh, who established a farm in the region in the early 19th century.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Rugh 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. Sussex leads with 3 Rughs recorded in 1881 and an index of 60.85x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Sussex | 3 | 60.85x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Preston in Sussex leads with 3 Rughs recorded in 1881 and an index of 3333.33x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Preston | 3 | 3333.33x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Rugh 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 Rugh surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
| Name | Count |
|---|---|
| Thomas | 1 |
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 Rugh households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Land Owner | 3 |
FAQ
In 1881, 3 people were recorded with the Rugh surname. That placed it at #33,498 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 1 in 2016. That gives Rugh a modern rank of #39,061.
A surname likely derived from a topographic name referring to rough or rugged terrain.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Rugh 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.