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Rule Family History

Rule Surname Meaning

English (of Norman origin): probably a habitational name from one or other of several places in northern France named Reuil or Rueil such as Reuil (Aisne), Reuil (Marne), Réau (Seine-et-Marne), Rueil (Seine-et-Oise, Eure-et-Loir), and Reuil-sur-Brèche (Oise). Ruelle (Calvados) is also another possibility.

English: habitational name from Reule, a minor settlement now in the parish of Haughton (Staffordshire). The placename probably derives from Old English rūh ‘rough’ + halh ‘nook, corner of land’.

Scottish: habitational name from the lands of Rule (Roxburghshire), now Bedrule, Hallrule, and Abbotrule. The placename may be from Old English rūh ‘rough’ + wella ‘spring, stream’ or may embody an older British Celtic name.

Probably an altered form of German Ruhle.

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


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Where is the Rule family from?

You can see how Rule families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Rule family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Rule families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 388 Rule families living in Cornwall. This was about 22% of all the recorded Rule's in United Kingdom. Cornwall had the highest population of Rule families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Rule surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
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What did your Rule ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, General Labourer and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Rule. 12% of Rule men worked as a General Labourer and 69% of Rule women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Rule were Farm Labourer and Domestic Duties.

View Census Data for Rule | 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.

Top Male Occupations In 1939

  • General Labourer
    12%
  • Incapacitated
    7%
  • Gardener
    6%
  • Farm Labourer
    6%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    69%
  • Housewife
    3%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    3%
  • Domestic Duties
    3%

What Rule family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 80,000 census records available for the last name Rule. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Rule census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Rule

Passenger Lists

There are 8,000 immigration records available for the last name Rule. 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 Rule immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 15,000 military records available for the last name Rule. For the veterans among your Rule ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Rule military records

You've only scratched the surface of Rule family history

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What is the average Rule lifespan?

Between 1942 and 2004, in the United States, Rule life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1943, and highest in 1987. The average life expectancy for Rule in 1942 was 40, and 72 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Rule

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Rule 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.

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