The Runge surname

In the 2010 U.S. Census, 5,139 people carried this name — #6,591 among all U.S. surnames, about 1 in every 57,500 people counted. That is up 4% from 4,921 in 2000.

See Runge on the map Look up another surname

Share

What the name means

The meaning of the Runge surname

An occupational name for a wheelwright.

An occupational nickname from Middle High German and Middle Low German runge (“stake, stanchion on a wagon”), for a wheelwright or cartwright.

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary (de.wiktionary.org, the German edition) — entry «Runge», by Wiktionary contributors · licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 (creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0) · translated from German and condensed.

In Poland’s population register

193 people named Runge have a registered home in Poland.

Of the 273 in Poland’s national register, these are the ones with a permanent address on file. They live in 10 of Poland’s 16 voivodeships, most of all in Kuyavian-Pomeranian.

Where it concentrates, on the map

Where they live today

Kuyavian-Pomeranian 49
Silesian 38
Lubusz 26
Greater Poland 19
Lower Silesian 17
West Pomeranian 14
Warmian-Masurian 12
Pomeranian 10

PESEL register, Ministry of Digital Affairs of Poland (dane.gov.pl) — CC0 · living people by voivodeship of permanent residence, 20 January 2026.

In Argentina’s national register

At least 179 people named Runge live in Argentina.

RENAPER only publishes a name in a province when more than ten people there share it, so the real number is higher. Most of them live in Misiones.

Where it concentrates, on the map

Where they live today

Misiones 133
Buenos Aires Province 19
Chaco 16
Río Negro 11

RENAPER (National Registry of Persons, Argentina), surnames of residents by province, December 2021 — CC BY 4.0.

In Switzerland’s population statistics

77 people named Runge live in Switzerland.

They live in 8 of Switzerland’s 26 cantons, most of all in Zurich.

Too few records to say where it concentrates region by region — these are plain counts, not shares.

Where they live today

Zurich 31
Aargau 12
Thurgau 11
Basel-Landschaft 6
Zug 6
Basel-Stadt 5
Fribourg 3
Lucerne 3

Swiss Federal Statistical Office (FSO), «Surnames of the permanent resident population by canton», 2025, opendata.swiss/en/dataset/nachnamen-der-standigen-wohnbevolkerung-nach-kanton3 · names with fewer than 3 bearers in a canton are not published.

In France’s civil register

France’s register of deaths holds 27 people named Runge.

Most of them — 19 — were born outside France. Those born in France came from 2 départements, most often Bas-Rhin.

Too few records to say where it concentrates region by region — these are plain counts, not shares.

Where they were born

Born outside France 19
Bas-Rhin 5
Paris 3

Fichier des personnes décédées, INSEE — Licence Ouverte 2.0 · deaths recorded in France since 1970, by place of birth.

In the Nordic population registers

124 people named Runge is counted in Sweden.

Sweden’s figure is from 31 December 2022, the last count Statistics Sweden published.

Counted, by country

Sweden (2022) 124

Own calculations based on data from Statistics Sweden (SCB), surnames with at least two bearers, 31 December 2022 — CC BY 4.0 (names with 20 or more bearers shown).

In print

Runge in American newspapers,
1893–1919.

Newspaper page from The Bienville Democrat carrying the name Runge
The Bienville Democrat 1919-12-18
Newspaper page from Der Deutsche Correspondent carrying the name Runge
Der Deutsche Correspondent 1893-06-10

Chronicling America, Library of Congress — digitised newspapers in the public domain · 38,370 pages in all carry the name.

In print

Runge in Australian newspapers,
1850s–1990s.

4,344 articles name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Runge. The most, 1,169, date from the 1930s. Queensland has the most articles, but weighed against how much of each state’s press from the same decades has been digitised, the name stands out most in South Australia, at 2.4 times its expected share.

Articles, by state

Queensland 1,759
Victoria 1,115
South Australia 1,112
New South Wales 262
Western Australia 67
Tasmania 17
Northern Territory 4
ACT (Canberra) 3

Trove, National Library of Australia (trove.nla.gov.au) · articles in its digitised newspapers that name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Runge.

Who carried it

People named Runge,
with a public archive behind them.

  • Friedrich Runge
    Friedrich Runge 1559–1604 · theologian
  • David Runge
    David Runge 1564–1604 · theologian
  • Christoph Runge d. 1607 · printer
  • Georg Runge d. 1639 · printer
  • Otto Runge d. 1945 · hunter
  • Sd Laika d. 2023 · electronic musician

Wikidata (CC0) · portraits via Wikimedia Commons, shown cropped, in the public domain or CC0 · 10 lives in all are documented under this name.

In the public record

People named Runge,
in the records of 8 countries.

Soldiers, farmers, migrants and neighbours who carried the name and left a trace in public archives. Everyone shown here died long ago or was born more than a century ago.

United States1,504 records

1,504 records of the Runge name in the United States
  • Passenger arrivals in the United States, 1820–1912 949
  • New York City birth, marriage and death certificates 247
  • Other U.S. records 308
  1. A United States Selective Service registration card, 1942
    Example: U.S. registration card, 1942
    Military record Russell F. Runge

    Born 1916 in Missouri. Enlisted 1942 at Jefferson Barracks; laundress from St Louis City. U.S. Army veteran of World War II; died 1984, buried at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery, Missouri.

    U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain); U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0)
  2. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Angurd Runge

    Arrived at New York in 1904 aboard the Moltke from Cherbourg, aged 22; clerk. From Flensburg, Germany; bound for New York.

    U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted)
  3. Names engraved on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Washington, D.C.
    Example: U.S. war memorial
    War record Glenn W. Runge

    Born 1930; from Brule County, South Dakota. U.S. Army, medical aidman; killed in action 1952 in North Korea.

    U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain)

Showing 3 of 1,504 records for Runge in the United States.

Counts: U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted) · NYC Department of Records & Information Services, Historical Vital Records (NYC Open Data) · U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain) · U.S. National Archives, Flexoline Index Data File (public domain) · U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0) · New York State Department of Health, Genealogical Research Death Index · U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: U.S. Selective Service registration card, 1942 (public domain); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain); Vietnam Veterans Memorial, photo by U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Michael J. Carden, 2009 (public domain).

Germany1,633 records

1,633 records of the Runge name in Germany
  • Germany's First World War casualty lists, 1914–1919 1,614
  • German emigration and citizenship files 18
  • German estate files 1
  1. A page of the German First World War casualty lists, 18 April 1918
    Example: German casualty list, 1918
    Casualty list Hermann Runge

    Born 1886; from Obernkirchen. Reported wounded in the Prussian casualty list of 31 August 1918; then reported dead in the list of 2 December 1918 (Reserve Infantry Regiment No. 260).

    Verein für Computergenealogie e.V. (2026). Deutsche Verlustlisten des Ersten Weltkriegs – Datensammlung (Version 1.0), DOI 10.5281/zenodo.18330751 (CC0)
  2. The first page of an emigration file from Gündlingen, Baden, 1883
    Example: German emigration file, 1883
    Emigration record Georg Runge

    Emigrated to Poland in 1818.

    Deutsche Digitale Bibliothek / Brandenburgisches Landeshauptarchiv (CC0)
  3. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Civil record August Runge

    Naturalised at Burgberg in 1905; merchant.

    Deutsche Digitale Bibliothek / Staatsarchiv Bamberg (CC0)

Showing 3 of 1,633 records for Runge in Germany.

Counts: Verein für Computergenealogie e.V. (2026). Deutsche Verlustlisten des Ersten Weltkriegs – Datensammlung (Version 1.0), DOI 10.5281/zenodo.18330751 (CC0) · Deutsche Digitale Bibliothek (CC0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Deutsche Verlustlisten, Prussian list 1116, 18 April 1918 (scan via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0); Emigration file, Gündlingen, 1883, Landesarchiv Baden-Württemberg, Staatsarchiv Freiburg B 694/1 Nr. 1389 (CC BY 4.0); Civil register, Berlin, 1880, Landesarchiv Berlin (CC0).

Netherlands345 records

345 records of the Runge name in the Netherlands
  • Dutch civil registers (births, marriages, deaths) 215
  • Dutch population registers 124
  • Dutch church registers before 1811 6
  1. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Maria Jantiena Runge

    Married in 1921 in Onstwedde; domestic servant. Died 1966 in Apeldoorn, aged 72.

    Open Archives, Groninger Archieven (CC BY 4.0); Open Archives, Gelders Archief (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Jan Runge

    Married in 1936 in Amsterdam; driver. Died 1943 in Arnhem, aged 30; porter.

    Open Archives, Noord-Hollands Archief (CC BY 4.0); Open Archives, Gelders Archief (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Hendrik Runge

    Married in 1828 in Zwolle; "karaveelschipper", born 1791 in Zwolle. Died 1869 in Heino, aged 78.

    Open Archives, Collectie Overijssel locatie Zwolle (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 345 records for Runge in the Netherlands.

Counts: Open Archives (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Marriage register, Tilburg, 1911, Regionaal Archief Tilburg (public domain).

Australia76 records

76 records of the Runge name in Australia
  • Queensland State Archives indexes 31
  • Victoria wills and probate, deaths to 2001 23
  • Other Australian records 22
  1. A petition to the probate court of St. Louis, 1848
    Example: probate petition, 1848
    Probate record Charles J. Runge

    Motor body builder of Pascoe Vale, Victoria; died 1954.

    Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Christiana Runge

    Arrived in Victoria in 1863 aboard the Star of India, aged 21.

    Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Civil record Christoph Friedrich Runge

    Naturalised in Queensland in 1869.

    Queensland State Archives (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 76 records for Runge in Australia.

Counts: Queensland State Archives (CC BY 4.0) · Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0) · Museums of History NSW – State Archives Collection (CC BY). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Petition to the probate court, St. Louis, 1848, Missouri Historical Society (public domain); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain); Civil register, Berlin, 1880, Landesarchiv Berlin (CC0).

Canada11 records

11 records of the Runge name in Canada
  • Mountain View Cemetery, Vancouver 6
  • City of Calgary cemetery records 3
  • Other Canadian records 2
  1. Fairview Lawn Cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia
    Example: Canadian cemetery
    Burial record Wanda Tillie Runge

    Buried in 1982 at Queen's Park Cemetery, Calgary, Alberta, aged 91.

    City of Calgary. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – City of Calgary.
  2. Fairview Lawn Cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia
    Example: Canadian cemetery
    Burial record Frank Bonafice Runge

    Died 1993; buried at Mountain View Cemetery, Vancouver, British Columbia.

    City of Vancouver. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Vancouver.
  3. Fairview Lawn Cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia
    Example: Canadian cemetery
    Burial record Paul Runge

    Died 1979; buried at Brookside Cemetery, Winnipeg, Manitoba.

    City of Winnipeg. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Winnipeg.

Showing 3 of 11 records for Runge in Canada.

Counts: City of Vancouver. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Vancouver. · City of Calgary. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – City of Calgary. · Veterans Affairs Canada. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Canada. · City of Winnipeg. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Winnipeg. Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Fairview Lawn Cemetery, Halifax, photo by Edgar El (CC BY 3.0).

France9 records

9 records of the Runge name in France France's national death register, 1970–2001
  1. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Anne Jeanne Madeleine Runge

    Born 1922 in Strasbourg; died 1999 in Strasbourg (Bas-Rhin).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)
  2. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Georges Runge

    Born 1954 in Paris; died 1975 in Clichy (Hauts-de-Seine).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)
  3. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Alfred Wilhelm Josef Runge

    Born 1916 in Germany; died 2000 in Maisons-Laffitte (Yvelines).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)

Showing 3 of 9 records for Runge in France.

Counts: Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Death register of Nice, 1930, Archives départementales des Alpes-Maritimes (public domain).

Norway2 records

2 records of the Runge name in Norway Norway's 1910 census
  1. A page of the 1910 United States census, Milwaukee
    Example: U.S. census, 1910
    Census record Veronika Josepha Runge

    Census of 1910: Ullevoldsveien, Kristiania; nurse, born 1867 in Germany.

    Arkivverket, Digitalarkivet, 1910 census (CC BY 3.0 NO)
  2. A page of the 1910 United States census, Milwaukee
    Example: U.S. census, 1910
    Census record Ferd Runge

    Census of 1910: Øvre Holmegate, Stavanger; "hotelvert", born 1877 in Kesdorf af Fürstent. Lübeck.

    Arkivverket, Digitalarkivet, 1910 census (CC BY 3.0 NO)

Counts: Arkivverket, Digitalarkivet, 1910 census (CC BY 3.0 NO). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: U.S. census of 1910, Milwaukee (public domain).

New Zealand1 record

1 record of the Runge name in New Zealand Christchurch City cemetery records
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Emelia Runge

    Died 1913, aged 88; buried at Addington Cemetery, Christchurch, Canterbury.

    Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0)

Counts: Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0).

Nearby in the index

Surnames next to Runge.

When the index is not enough

This page says where Runge is.
A volume says what happened to it.

Every page in the index is free and stays free. The Heritage Volume is the long form: the full paper trail, the arms, the crossing — bound, and yours.

See the Runge volume
Scroll to Top