Rukes is an uncommon surname worldwide. Only 202 people have this surname today.
Origin and Meaning of the Rukes surname
The name Rukes comes from the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture of Britain. It was a name for a person who because of their physical characteristics was known as a rook.
A broad and miscellaneous class of surnames, nickname surnames referred to a characteristic of the first person who used the name. They can describe the bearer’s favored style of clothing, appearance, habits, or character. In this case the surname refers to those individuals who have black hair or dark complexions.
Soundex Code
The Soundex Code for the Rukes surname is R220. Here is a list of the names that share this soundex code: RACHAS | RAKES | RASCHKE | REISWIG | RESCHKE | RESEIGH | RICHES | ROGASCH | ROJAS | RUKES | RUZICKA.
Early examples of the Rukes name
Only recently has spelling become standardized in the English language. As the English language evolved in the Middle Ages, the spelling of names changed. The name Rukes has undergone many spelling variations, including Rook, Rooke, Rookes, Rooks, Roke and others.
First found in Oxfordshire where Geoffrey le Roke, William le Ruk and Adam le Roc were all listed in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273. A few years later during the rule of King Edward III (1312-1377), Richard le Rouke and Hugh le Rook were listed as holding lands in Somerset.
Early North American records indicate many people bearing the name Rukes or it’s derivatives were among early settlers: Daniel Rooke settled in Virginia in 1652; Samuel Rooke settled in Virginia in 1654; Samuel Rooke settled in Boston in 1712; Thomas Rooke settled in Virginia in 1650. An actual spelling of Rukes settled in Virginia in 1840.
US Immigration Records between 1820-1957 show 15 Rukes surnames immigrated from Germany, 15 from England, 4 from Great Britain, 1 Preussen, and 1 from Natherlth.
Rukes is an unusual surname.
Rukes is an uncommon surname worldwide. Only 202 people have this surname: 192 in the United States, 3 each in Germany and India, 2 in Indonesia, and 1 each in Spain and Turkey. This surname ranks 113,849 in popularity in the US, and 1,219,338th worldwide.
Famous people with the Rukes surname
Todd Rukes
Family Crest / Coat of Arms
Range Ethnic Distribution
As reported by the US Census Bureau in 2000, the Rukes surname represented themselves as 94% Caucasian. By the 1920s there was at least one Rukes surname in about 2/3 of the states in the US.
Longevity of this Clan
The average life expectancy of the Rukes surname is at least into the 80s, with the oldest recorded member living to 104.
Rukes Military Records
182 Rukes individuals enlisted in the military between 1798 and 1958 and 34 were casualties of war. Three received awards of Honor and 50 were disciplined for various offenses.
Davies, William and John Rukes, all of Vigo, Indiana were drafted into the Civil War. John was killed during the war. One Rukes from Alabama (first name unknown) fought on the Union side.
2 Rukes men were Kentucky soldiers in the War of 1812.
26 Rukes were drafted into World War I from the US and one was on a military roster from Bavaria, Germany. 21 served in World War II.
One Rukes served in the Korean War and was reported Missing in Action. ? Rukes soldiers died in the Vietnam War, ? in the Gulf War, ? in the US War on Terror, and ? were Peacetime Military Casualties.
179 Rukes Surnames on this website.
Other websites researching the Rukes surname:
9,380 Rukes died in the US between 1935 – 2014. Find more info in the Social Security Death Index.