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Ruby Family History

Ruby Surname Meaning

German: variant of Rubi.

English (of Norman origin): habitational name from Roubaix in Nord (France).

English: nickname from Middle English and Old French rubi (from Latin rubinus) ‘ruby’ perhaps denoting a virtuous or radiant person or a jeweler.

English: variant of Roby.

French: variant of Rubin.

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


Similar surnames: 

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Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Ruby family from?

You can see how Ruby families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Ruby family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Ruby families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 81 Ruby families living in London. This was about 17% of all the recorded Ruby's in United Kingdom. London had the highest population of Ruby families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Ruby 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 Ruby 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 Ruby. 32% of Ruby men worked as a General Labourer and 78% of Ruby women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Ruby were Retired and Housekeeper.

View Census Data for Ruby | 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
    32%
  • Builders Labourer
    14%
  • Bricklayer
    14%
  • Retired
    7%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    78%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    5%
  • Domestic Duties
    4%
  • Housekeeper
    3%

What Ruby family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 56,000 census records available for the last name Ruby. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Ruby census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Ruby

Passenger Lists

There are 5,000 immigration records available for the last name Ruby. 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 Ruby immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 8,000 military records available for the last name Ruby. For the veterans among your Ruby ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Ruby military records

You've only scratched the surface of Ruby family history

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What is the average Ruby lifespan?

Between 1940 and 2004, in the United States, Ruby life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1944, and highest in 1984. The average life expectancy for Ruby in 1940 was 34, and 77 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Ruby

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Ruby 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 Ruby family tree

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