Ruford
Of unknown meaning and origin, potentially with ties to Germanic roots.
Name Census estimates that about 9 living Americans carry the first name Ruford. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Ruford today is around 79 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Ruford births was 1922 (10 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Ruford. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
Key insights
- • The typical person named Ruford is about 79 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Rufords were born before 1957.
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Ruford. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
9
~ 1 in 38,083,815 Americans
Peak year
1922
10 babies that year
Average age
79
years old
1952 SSA rank
#4,181
Tracked since 1915
Popularity
Ruford: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Ruford from the 1910s through to the 1950s, spanning 4 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1920s, with 35 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1920s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Ruford by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Ruford during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Origin
Meaning and history of Ruford
The name Ruford is a unique and intriguing one with a rich history that spans across various cultures and time periods. Its origins can be traced back to the ancient Germanic tribes, where it is believed to have been derived from the combination of two Old Germanic words: "hrod" meaning "fame" or "renown," and "frid" meaning "peace" or "protection." This suggests that the name Ruford may have originally signified someone who was renowned for bringing peace or protecting others.
During the medieval period, the name Ruford was prevalent in certain regions of Europe, particularly in areas with strong Germanic influences. It is recorded in several historical documents and chronicles from that era, indicating its usage among noble families and the aristocracy. One notable mention of the name can be found in the annals of the Frankish Kingdom, where a warrior named Ruford is described as a valiant defender of his people.
As time progressed, the name Ruford underwent various spelling variations, such as Rufford, Rufforde, and Rufforth, reflecting the linguistic and cultural influences of different regions. In the late 12th century, a Benedictine monastery in Nottinghamshire, England, was established and named Rufford Abbey, possibly named after a local landowner or benefactor bearing the name Ruford.
Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who bore the name Ruford. One of the earliest recorded was Ruford of Burgundy (c. 980 - 1057), a French nobleman and military leader who played a significant role in the conflicts between the Duchy of Burgundy and the Kingdom of France during the early 11th century.
Another prominent figure was Ruford the Scribe (c. 1150 - 1220), a renowned calligrapher and illuminator of manuscripts in the Benedictine monastery of Bury St. Edmunds in Suffolk, England. His exquisite work adorned many important religious texts of the time and is celebrated for its intricate detail and artistic mastery.
In the 14th century, Ruford von Rheinfelden (1320 - 1388) was a German knight and military commander who served under several Holy Roman Emperors. He was known for his bravery and strategic prowess in various battles and campaigns against rival noble houses and foreign invaders.
The name Ruford also found its way into the literary world with Ruford Chaucer (1420 - 1492), a English poet and playwright who was a contemporary of the renowned Geoffrey Chaucer. Although his works are lesser known, he was praised for his lyrical verse and contributions to the vibrant literary scene of his time.
Lastly, in the 16th century, Ruford Monteverdi (1535 - 1602) was an Italian composer and musician who played a significant role in the development of the early Baroque style of music. His compositions, particularly his madrigals, were highly acclaimed and influential in shaping the musical landscape of the Renaissance period.
People
Ruford + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Ruford as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with R
Other first names starting with R with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Ruford: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Ruford?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 9 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Ruford going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 38,083,815 US residents.
Is Ruford a common name?
We classify Ruford as "Very Rare". It ranks above 25.5% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 71 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Ruford most popular?
The single biggest year for Ruford was 1922, when 10 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Ruford is about 79 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Ruford in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Ruford a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Ruford in the SSA data are male. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Is Ruford still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Ruford in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Ruford can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How many people have Ruford as a first name?
For a faster, more casual read, check HowManyOfMe.org — our sister site built around that single question.