This page needs Javascript enabled in order to work properly. Click here for instructions on how to enable it in your browser.
Surname Header Image
Get access to Ruhe family records.Start a 14-Day Free Trial

Ruhe Family History

Ruhe Surname Meaning

North German: variant of Ruge (Rühe): nickname from Rüde ‘hound’ (see Rude).

Habitational name from any of the places called Rühen, Rüden, Rhüden in northern Germany.

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022


Similar surnames: 

Search for a relative to learn more about your family history.

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Ruhe family from?

You can see how Ruhe families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Ruhe family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Ruhe families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 4 Ruhe families living in Sussex. This was about 80% of all the recorded Ruhe's in United Kingdom. Sussex had the highest population of Ruhe families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Ruhe surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
Mapbox
© Mapbox © OpenStreetMap Improve this map

What did your Ruhe ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Farmer and Clerk were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Ruhe. 21% of Ruhe men worked as a Farmer and 19% of Ruhe women worked as a Clerk. Some less common occupations for Americans named Ruhe were Salesman and Housewife.

View Census Data for Ruhe | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

United States shown, England data unavailable

Top Male Occupations In 1940

  • Farmer
    21%
  • Laborer
    19%
  • Farming
    14%
  • Salesman
    9%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Clerk
    19%
  • Teacher
    19%
  • Saleslady
    13%
  • Housewife
    13%

What Ruhe family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 4,000 census records available for the last name Ruhe. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Ruhe census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Ruhe

Passenger Lists

There are 1,000 immigration records available for the last name Ruhe. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the UK, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Ruhe immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 18,000 military records available for the last name Ruhe. For the veterans among your Ruhe ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Ruhe military records

You've only scratched the surface of Ruhe family history

Discover More

What is the average Ruhe lifespan?

Between 1957 and 2004, in the United States, Ruhe life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1957, and highest in 1994. The average life expectancy for Ruhe in 1957 was 53, and 75 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Ruhe

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Ruhe ancestors lived in harsh conditions. A short lifespan might also indicate health problems that were once prevalent in your family. The SSDI is a searchable database of more than 70 million names. You can find birthdates, death dates, addresses and more.

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Ruhe family tree

Explore Your Tree
Search for another surname
Enter last name/surname
Start a 14-Day Free Trial