Explore the Family Name Rudel

The meaning of Rudel

1. German (also Rüdel): from a pet form of the personal names Rüdiger (see Rudiger) or Rudolf. 2. French (mainly Puy-de-Dôme): nickname derived from the (Old) French adjective rude ‘rude, ignorant’. Some characteristic forenames: German Heinz, Kurt. French Jean Marc, Michel.

Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.

How common is the last name Rudel in the United States?

The surname Rudel, according to the Decennial U.S. Census data, has seen a decline in popularity from 2000 to 2010. In 2000, it was ranked 55,732 out of all surnames in the United States, but by 2010, it had dropped to a rank of 68,122 – a decrease of 22.23%. The number of people bearing this surname also decreased, with the count falling from 344 in 2000 to 289 in 2010, representing a 15.99% reduction. The proportion of people named Rudel per 100,000 population also declined by 23.08%, moving from 0.13 in 2000 to 0.1 in 2010.

20002010Change
Rank#55,732#68,122-22.23%
Count344289-15.99%
Proportion per 100k0.130.1-23.08%

Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Rudel

In terms of ethnic identity, the majority of individuals with the surname Rudel are identified as White, based on the Decennial U.S. Census data. However, there was a slight decrease in this group, from 93.31% in 2000 down to 87.2% in 2010. Hispanic representation within the Rudel surname increased significantly during the same time period, jumping from 2.03% to 4.5% - a striking increase of 121.67%. Similarly, the percentage of Black individuals bearing the Rudel surname rose from 3.78% to 5.88% between 2000 and 2010, marking a 55.56% increase. The census data did not record any individuals of Asian/Pacific Islander or American Indian and Alaskan Native descent with the Rudel surname in either 2000 or 2010.

20002010Change
White93.31%87.2%-6.55%
Black3.78%5.88%55.56%
Hispanic2.03%4.5%121.67%
Asian/Pacific Islander0%0%0%
Two or More Races0%0%0%
American Indian and Alaskan Native0%0%0%