Explore the Family Name Russell
The meaning of Russell
1. English, Scottish, and Irish: of Norman origin, from Old French and Anglo-Norman French r(o)ussel, a diminutive of Old French rous(e) ‘red, reddish’, used either as a nickname for someone with red hair or a ruddy complexion, or as a personal name. Compare Rouse. This Norman name has been established in Ireland since the 12th century. It has been reinforced in Britain and Ireland by Huguenot bearers of the name Roussel, of the same Old French origin. 2. English: habitational name from any of several places called Rushall (Norfolk, Staffordshire, Wiltshire) or possibly sometimes from Rusthall in Speldhurst (Kent). Rushall in Staffordshire derives from Old English rysc ‘rush, rushes’ + halh ‘nook, corner of land’. Rushall in Norfolk derives from an uncertain first element + Old English halh. Rushall in Wiltshire derives from an Old English personal name Rust (genitive Rustes) + halh. Rusthall in Speldhurst (Kent) probably derives from Old English rust ‘rust, rust color’ + wella ‘well, spring, stream’, but with a change in the final element due to influence from Middle English, Old English hall ‘hall, residence’, perhaps referring to a nearby building. 3. Americanized form of German Rüssel: from a pet form of any of various personal names formed with the ancient Germanic element hrōd ‘fame, renown’. 4. In some cases also an Americanized form (actually an adoption of the name in 1 or 2 above) of French Racine. History: Some of the American bearers of the surname Russell are descendants of Étienne Racine from France (see Racine).
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Russell in the United States?
According to the Decennial U.S. Census data, the popularity of the surname "Russell" has seen a slight decline from 2000 to 2010. In 2000, Russell was ranked as the 93rd most popular surname, but it fell to 104th place in 2010, marking an 11.83% decrease. However, despite this drop in ranking, the count of individuals with this surname actually increased by 2.84% over the same period. The proportion per 100,000 people decreased slightly by 5.95%, indicating that while the overall population may have grown, the percentage of people named Russell slightly dropped.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #93 | #104 | -11.83% |
| Count | 215,432 | 221,558 | 2.84% |
| Proportion per 100k | 79.86 | 75.11 | -5.95% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Russell
On the basis of ethnicity, the data from the Decennial U.S. Census reveals shifts between 2000 and 2010. The largest increase was seen within the Hispanic community, where there was a significant rise of 50.92%. The Asian/Pacific Islander group also saw a notable increase of 32.56%. The percentage of people with the surname Russell identifying as Two or more races rose by 28.24%. There was a smaller increase of 5.70% among those identifying as Black, and a 5.00% increase among individuals who identify as American Indian and Alaskan Native. Meanwhile, those identifying as White saw a slight decrease of 3.02%.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 79.45% | 77.05% | -3.02% |
| Black | 15.79% | 16.69% | 5.7% |
| Hispanic | 1.63% | 2.46% | 50.92% |
| Two or More Races | 1.7% | 2.18% | 28.24% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 1% | 1.05% | 5% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0.43% | 0.57% | 32.56% |
Russell ancestry composition
23andMe computes an ancestry breakdown for each customer. People may have ancestry from just one population or they may have ancestry from several populations. The most commonly-observed ancestry found in people with the surname Russell is British & Irish, which comprises 54.8% of all ancestry found in people with the surname. The next two most common ancestries are French & German (22.3%) and Eastern European (3.9%). Additional ancestries include Scandinavian, Italian, Nigerian, Spanish & Portuguese, and Ashkenazi Jewish.
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| ANCESTRY BREAKDOWN | COMPOSITION |
|---|---|
| British & Irish | 54.8% |
| French & German | 22.3% |
| Eastern European | 3.9% |
| Other | 19.1% |
Possible origins of the surname Russell
Your DNA provides clues about where your recent ancestors may have lived. Having many distant relatives in the same location suggests that you may all share common ancestry there. Locations with many distant relatives can also be places where people have migrated recently, such as large cities. If a large number of individuals who share your surname have distant relatives in a specific area, it could indicate a connection between your surname and that location, stemming from either recent ancestral ties or migration.
Based on 23andMe data, people with last name Russell have recent ancestry locations in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Ireland.
| RECENT ANCESTRY Location | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Greater London, United Kingdom | 85.70% |
| Merseyside, United Kingdom | 85.50% |
| Greater Manchester, United Kingdom | 85.40% |
| Glasgow City, United Kingdom | 85.30% |
| West Yorkshire, United Kingdom | 85.00% |
What Russell haplogroups can tell you
Haplogroups are genetic population groups that share a common ancestor on either your paternal or maternal line. These paternal and maternal haplogroups shed light on your genetic ancestry and help tell the story of your family.
The top paternal haplogroup of people with the surname Russell is R-FGC924, which is predominantly found among people with European ancestry. Haplogroup R-FGC924 is descended from haplogroup R-M343. Other common haplogroups include R-P311 and R-L21, which are predominantly found among people with European and European ancestry. Other surnames with similar common haplogroups are: Reid, Clark, Wright, Smith, Wilson, Brown, Thompson, Young, Gibson, Harrison.
The most common maternal haplogroups of people with Russell surname are: H1, T2b, H. These most commonly trace back to individuals of European ancestry.
Paternal Haplogroup Origins R-M343
Your paternal lineage may be linked to King Louis XVI
The rule of France by men of the House of Bourbon began with King Henri IV in 1589 C.E. and continued until the beheading of his direct paternal descendant King Louis XVI in 1793. Several years ago, researchers analyzed a mummified head and a blood-soaked cloth that they believed might belong to the two kings, and concluded that the royal paternal line belonged to haplogroup G. In a more recent study, however, a different set of researchers tested three living men who are direct descendants of the Bourbon kings. Their efforts revealed that the male lineage of the House of Bourbon is actually a branch of haplogroup R-M405.
Your maternal lineage may be linked to Marie Antoinette
Because it is so dominant in the general European population, haplogroup H also appears quite frequently in the continent's royal houses. Marie Antoinette, an Austrian Hapsburg who married into the French royal family, inherited the haplogroup from her maternal ancestors. So did Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, whose recorded genealogy traces his female line to Bavaria. Scientists also discovered that famed 16th century astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus traced his maternal lineages to haplogroup H.
What do people with the surname Russell have in common?
Spoiler alert: it's complicated. People with the same last name are usually no more genetically similar than a randomly sampled group of people from the same population. That said, people with the same surname are more likely to have similar ancestries than randomly sampled individuals. The reason is the tendency of people with similar cultural or geographical backgrounds to preferentially mate with one another. That's why people who share a surname may be more likely to share traits and tendencies in common than people within the general population. Check out the percentages below to see the prevalences of tastes, habits, and traits of people with your surname compared with prevalences among 23andMe users.
Preferences
Chocolate Ice Cream
Prefers chocolate flavored ice cream over other flavors.
"Russell" Surname 41.7%
23andMe Users 41.3%
Traits
Misophonia
When sounds made by others, like the sound of chewing or yawning, provoke strong emotional reactions in an individual.
"Russell" Surname 27.8%
23andMe Users 27.9%
Habits
Sugary Drink
Drinks one or more sugary drinks per day.
"Russell" Surname 21.2%
23andMe Users 21.1%
Wellness
Migraine
A severe headache characterized by intense pain, sensitivity to light and sound, and often accompanied by nausea and vomiting.
"Russell" Surname 19.3%
23andMe Users 16.4%
Are health conditions linked to the last name Russell?
The short answer is that, if there is an association between surname and health, it's usually more about your ancestry than your name. Individuals with a given surname are no more genetically similar than the general population but often have similar ancestries. The populations of people associated with those shared ancestries often have sets of genetic variations, also known as alleles, in common. Some of those alleles are associated with a greater likelihood of developing certain diseases.
Disease variant frequency by ancestry
Disease allele frequencies in populations associated with the surname Russell are shown below. Important Note: not everyone with a disease allele will develop these health condition