NameCensus.

UK surname

Ruta

A surname derived from the Latin word for "route," possibly referring to one who traveled frequently.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Trafford, Eastleigh and Kirklees.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Ruta is 123 in 2013. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

114

2016, ranked #28,515

Peak year

2013

123 bearers

Map years

1

2016 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 114 in 2016, ranked #28,515.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 11 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Multicultural Inner Suburbs.

Ruta surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Ruta surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Ruta 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
1861 historical 11 #32,452
1891 historical 1 #34,674
1901 historical 3 #34,063
1997 modern 52 #32,444
1998 modern 50 #32,899
1999 modern 54 #32,660
2000 modern 62 #31,939
2001 modern 54 #32,583
2002 modern 57 #32,661
2003 modern 51 #33,266
2004 modern 55 #33,154
2005 modern 64 #32,482
2006 modern 74 #31,850
2007 modern 91 #30,061
2008 modern 84 #31,370
2009 modern 90 #31,094
2010 modern 101 #30,078
2011 modern 109 #28,653
2012 modern 114 #27,868
2013 modern 123 #26,974
2014 modern 121 #27,503
2015 modern 121 #27,405
2016 modern 114 #28,515

Geography

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Where Rutas are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Trafford, Eastleigh, Kirklees, Southend-on-Sea and West Berkshire. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Trafford 025 Trafford
2 Eastleigh 005 Eastleigh
3 Kirklees 048 Kirklees
4 Southend-on-Sea 014 Southend-on-Sea
5 West Berkshire 010 West Berkshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Ruta

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Ruta

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

Baseline UK

Group

Multicultural Inner Suburbs

Nationally, the Ruta surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Multicultural Inner Suburbs, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Ruta household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods house many younger and middle-aged adults with children. All ethnic minorities, apart from those identifying as Pakistani or Bangladeshi, appear to be present in above average proportions. Affiliation to Christian religions is uncommon. Long-term disability rates are low, mirrored in limited provision of unpaid care. Privately rented terrace houses and flats are the norm. Managerial, professional and technical occupations are prevalent, and work is rarely part time. Many individuals have degree level qualifications. These areas form the inner suburbs of many of the UK’s towns and cities.

Wider pattern

This Supergroup exemplifies the broad base to the UK’s social structure, encompassing as it does the average or modal levels of many neighbourhood characteristics, including all housing tenures, a range of levels of educational attainment and religious affiliations, and a variety of pre-retirement age structures. Yet, in combination, these mixes are each distinctive of the parts of the UK. Overall, terraced houses and flats are the most prevalent, as is employment in intermediate or low-skilled occupations. However, this Supergroup is also characterised by above average levels of unemployment and lower levels of use of English as the main language. Many neighbourhoods occur in south London and the UK’s other major urban centres.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Ruta is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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 located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Ruta is most concentrated in decile 10 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Ruta falls in decile 2 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

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

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Ruta 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 - Other

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

Meaning and origin of Ruta

The surname Ruta has its origins in Italy, dating back to the medieval period. It is believed to be derived from the Latin word "rupta," meaning a broken or torn piece of land, implying that the earliest bearers of this name may have resided near a rocky or mountainous area. Alternatively, some sources suggest that the name could be a topographic surname referring to a path or road, stemming from the Italian word "rutta," which itself is derived from the Latin "rupta."

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Ruta surname can be found in the historical records of the city of Genoa, Italy, dating back to the 13th century. A document from 1274 mentions a certain "Guglielmo Ruta," indicating that the name was already established in that region during that time period.

In the 14th century, the name appeared in various Venetian records, including the "Estimo" of 1379, which was a tax register of the Venetian Republic. This suggests that the Ruta family had established itself in the prosperous city of Venice by that time.

Throughout the centuries, the Ruta surname has been associated with several notable individuals. One of the earliest was Giacomo Ruta, a 15th-century Italian painter and architect from the city of Messina in Sicily. His birth and death dates are unknown, but he is credited with the design of the Church of Santa Maria della Scala in Messina, completed in 1479.

Another significant figure was Giovanni Battista Ruta, a 17th-century Italian architect and engineer who worked extensively in the Kingdom of Naples. He was born in 1668 and is renowned for his contributions to the restoration and reconstruction of several significant buildings in Naples following the devastating earthquake of 1688.

In more recent history, one of the most prominent individuals with the Ruta surname was Vincenzo Ruta, an Italian politician and lawyer. Born in 1875 in the town of Campobasso, he served as a member of the Italian Parliament and played a crucial role in the drafting of the Italian Civil Code of 1942.

The Ruta surname has also been found in other parts of Europe, such as Spain and France, although its origins can be traced back to Italy. The name may have been carried by Italian immigrants or families who settled in these regions over the centuries.

While the Ruta surname is not among the most common surnames in Italy today, it continues to hold a place in the country's rich cultural heritage, reflecting the diverse geographical and historical influences that have shaped the Italian peninsula over many centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Ruta surname: questions and answers

How common is the Ruta surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 114 in 2016. That gives Ruta a modern rank of #28,515.

What does the Ruta surname mean?

A surname derived from the Latin word for "route," possibly referring to one who traveled frequently.

What does the Ruta map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Ruta 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.