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Ruhr Family History

Ruhr Name Meaning

German:: topographic name from any of several field names in Westphalia and Rhineland. possibly an occupational name for someone who worked with a pack of hounds from Middle High German rour(e) ‘pack (of hounds)’.

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


Similar surnames: Fuhr, Rohr, Rehr, Ruhe, Suhr, Rudi, Ruhl, Rush, Lehr, Uhr

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

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

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Where is the Ruhr family from?

You can see how Ruhr families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Ruhr family name was found in the USA, and Canada between 1880 and 1920. The most Ruhr families were found in USA in 1880. In 1880 there were 37 Ruhr families living in Missouri. This was about 49% of all the recorded Ruhr's in USA. Missouri had the highest population of Ruhr families in 1880.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Ruhr surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.

What did your Ruhr ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Farmer and Housewife were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Ruhr. 28% of Ruhr men worked as a Farmer and 50% of Ruhr women worked as a Housewife. Some less common occupations for Americans named Ruhr were Farm Laborer and Stenographer. .

View Census Data for Ruhr | 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 1940

  • Farmer
    28%
  • Laborer
    18%
  • Truck Driver
    14%
  • Farm Laborer
    11%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Housewife
    50%
  • Stenographer
    50%
Black & white image of two construction labourers

What Ruhr family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 2,000 census records available for the last name Ruhr. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Ruhr census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search US census records for Ruhr

Passenger Lists

There are 650 immigration records available for the last name Ruhr. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the USA, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Ruhr immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 9,000 military records available for the last name Ruhr. For the veterans among your Ruhr ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Ruhr military records

You've only scratched the surface of Ruhr family history

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What is the average Ruhr lifespan?

Between 1963 and 2004, in the United States, Ruhr life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1975, and highest in 2004. The average life expectancy for Ruhr in 1963 was 69, and 90 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Ruhr

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