Explore the Family Name Ruffo
The meaning of Ruffo
Italian (southern): 1. from the personal name Ruffo, from Latin Rufus, originally a nickname for someone with red hair, from a dialect form of the standard Latin word rubeus. The name Rufus was borne by various minor early Christian saints. 2. from a personal name of ancient Germanic origin but uncertain form and meaning. The Calabrian noble family of this name is said to be of Norman origin. 3. perhaps also from a short form of a personal name ending in ruffo, such as Macaruffo and Peruffo. Some characteristic forenames: Italian Salvatore, Antonio, Arturo, Attilio, Attillo, Carmelo, Carmine, Eduardo, Elena, Gustavo, Mario, Ofelia, Rafael, Roberto, Rocco. Spanish Jose, Carmella, Juan, Raul.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Ruffo in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census, the surname Ruffo has seen small changes in its popularity from 2000 to 2010. The rank of the surname shifted from 23191 to 24222, a decrease in popularity of about 4.45%. However, the count of individuals with this surname slightly rose by 0.88% from 1027 to 1036. Interestingly, the proportion of this surname per 100,000 people dipped by 7.89%, moving from 0.38 to 0.35.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #23,191 | #24,222 | -4.45% |
| Count | 1,027 | 1,036 | 0.88% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.38 | 0.35 | -7.89% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Ruffo
The ethnic identity associated with the surname Ruffo also experienced some changes between 2000 and 2010 according to the Decennial U.S. Census. In 2000, the majority of individuals with this surname identified as White at 89.39%, but by 2010, this had decreased slightly to 84.85%. Meanwhile, there was a significant increase in those identifying as Hispanic, rising from 9.15% to 13.03%. The percentage of individuals identifying as two or more races also increased from 0.58% to 1.06%. There were no individuals with this surname that identified as Asian/Pacific Islander in 2010, down from 0.49% in 2000. Data for Black and American Indian and Alaskan Native identities were either suppressed for privacy or remained at zero percent.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 89.39% | 84.85% | -5.08% |
| Hispanic | 9.15% | 13.03% | 42.4% |
| Two or More Races | 0.58% | 1.06% | 82.76% |
| Black | 0% | 0.77% | 0% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0.49% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |