The Rutledge surname

In the 2010 U.S. Census, 26,887 people carried this name — #1,306 among all U.S. surnames, about 1 in every 11,000 people counted. That is up 3% from 26,010 in 2000.

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Where the name comes from

The origin of the Rutledge surname

A surname of uncertain etymology.

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary (en.wiktionary.org) — entry «Rutledge» (English), by Wiktionary contributors · licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 (creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0) · excerpt, lightly adapted.

In Ireland’s birth registers, 1890

Ireland registered 23 births for the Rutledge name in 1890.

Most were registered in Ulster. By the Registrar-General’s own method — births multiplied by 44.38 — that is about 1,000 people bearing the name in Ireland at the time. 4 of them were indexed under other spellings of the name. The Registrar-General’s note on the name: “Tyrone.”

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

Where they were born, 1890

Ulster 15
Connacht 5
Leinster 3

Registrar-General for Ireland, «Special Report on Surnames in Ireland» (R. E. Matheson, 1894), births index of 1890 — public domain.

In the first U.S. census, 1790

43 families named Rutledge, or a close spelling, were counted in 1790.

Each family is counted by its head. About 249 people lived in those households, 5.8 to a family on average. The table counts it together with 4 other spellings. The table lists white heads of families only, in the twelve states whose 1790 records survive; Virginia’s figures come from state lists of 1782–1785.

Families, by state

North Carolina 16
Maryland 13
South Carolina 9
Virginia 4
New York 1

U.S. Census Bureau, «A Century of Population Growth from the First Census of the United States to the Twelfth, 1790–1900» (Washington, 1909), table 111, p. 260 — public domain · names carried by at least 100 white persons in 1790.

In print

Rutledge in American newspapers,
1802–1915.

Newspaper page from United States Oracle And Portsmouth Advertiser carrying the name Rutledge
United States Oracle And Portsmouth Advertiser 1802-12-11
Newspaper page from United States Oracle And Portsmouth Advertiser carrying the name Rutledge
United States Oracle And Portsmouth Advertiser 1802-12-25
Newspaper page from River Falls Journal carrying the name Rutledge
River Falls Journal 1915-05-20

Chronicling America, Library of Congress — digitised newspapers in the public domain · 87,681 pages in all carry the name.

In print

Rutledge in Australian newspapers,
1830s–2000s.

35,436 articles name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Rutledge. The most, 5,544, date from the 1890s. Weighed against how much of each state’s press from the same decades has been digitised, it stands out most in Queensland, at 2.3 times its expected share.

Articles, by state

Queensland 13,702
New South Wales 13,450
Victoria 6,342
South Australia 771
Western Australia 611
Tasmania 359
ACT (Canberra) 124
Northern Territory 6

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

Who carried it

People named Rutledge,
with a public archive behind them.

  • John Rutledge
    John Rutledge 1739–1800 · judge
  • Mary Rutledge Smith
    Mary Rutledge Smith 1747–1832
  • Edward Rutledge
    Edward Rutledge 1749–1800 · lawyer
  • Edward Rutledge
    Edward Rutledge 1749–1800 · lawyer
  • John Rutledge, Jr.
    John Rutledge, Jr. 1766–1819 · lawyer
  • Mary Shubrick Everleigh Rutledge 1752–1837

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 Rutledge,
in the records of 7 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 States1,965 records

1,965 records of the Rutledge name in the United States
  • U.S. Army enlistment records, World War II 961
  • U.S. veterans' cemetery records, burials to 2001 392
  • Other U.S. records 612
  1. Names engraved on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Washington, D.C.
    Example: U.S. war memorial
    War record James Robert Rutledge

    Born 1947; from Memphis, Tennessee. U.S. Army, infantryman; killed in action 1970 in Tay Ninh, South Vietnam. Buried at West Tennessee Veterans Cemetery, Memphis, Tennessee.

    U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain); U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0)
  2. A United States Selective Service registration card, 1942
    Example: U.S. registration card, 1942
    Military record Fred Rutledge

    Born 1904 in Iowa. Enlisted 1942 at Portland, Oregon; construction worker from Multnomah County, Oregon. U.S. Army veteran of World War II; died 1978, buried at Willamette National Cemetery, Oregon.

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

    Arrived at New York in 1864 aboard the Progress from Liverpool, aged 40; matron. From Ireland.

    U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted)

Showing 3 of 1,965 records for Rutledge in the United States.

Counts: U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain) · U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0) · NYC Department of Records & Information Services, Historical Vital Records (NYC Open Data) · U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted) · U.S. National Archives, Flexoline Index Data File (public domain) · New York State Department of Health, Genealogical Research Death Index · U.S. National Archives, Famine Irish Passenger Records (public domain) · U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain) · Sacramento County, Historic Burials (CC BY 4.0) · City of Asheville (public domain, PDDL) · New York State, Open NY (police and firefighter memorial rolls). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Vietnam Veterans Memorial, photo by U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Michael J. Carden, 2009 (public domain); U.S. Selective Service registration card, 1942 (public domain); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain).

Australia431 records

431 records of the Rutledge name in Australia
  • Victoria passenger lists, 1839–1923 253
  • Victoria wills and probate, deaths to 2001 64
  • Other Australian records 114
  1. An 1829 etching of convicts being rowed out to the prison ship York in Portsmouth Harbour
    Pictured: convicts going on board a prison ship, 1829
    Transportation record Maria Rutledge

    Transported to Van Diemen's Land aboard the Maria, sailing from Kingston in 1849. Native of Mayo. Applied for permission to marry in Van Diemen's Land in 1851. Married 1851 in Hobart, Tasmania, aged 28.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (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 Chas Rutledge

    Arrived in Victoria in 1889 aboard the Orizaba, aged 21; English.

    Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A petition to the probate court of St. Louis, 1848
    Example: probate petition, 1848
    Probate record James P. Rutledge

    Tobacco worker of Flemington, Victoria; died 1934.

    Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 431 records for Rutledge in Australia.

Counts: Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0) · Queensland State Archives (CC BY 4.0) · Museums of History NSW – State Archives Collection (CC BY) · Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Prison-ship in Portsmouth Harbour, with the convicts going on board, etching by Edward William Cooke, 1829, Royal Museums Greenwich (public domain); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain); Petition to the probate court, St. Louis, 1848, Missouri Historical Society (public domain).

Canada198 records

198 records of the Rutledge name in Canada
  • Nova Scotia Archives name indexes 147
  • City of Calgary cemetery records 11
  • Other Canadian records 40
  1. The first page of an emigration file from Gündlingen, Baden, 1883
    Example: German emigration file, 1883
    Emigration record Simon Rutledge

    Left New York in 1783 aboard the Nesbitt, bound for Port Matton, aged 23.

    Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia.
  2. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Wm Rutledge

    Came to Ontario in 1871 aboard the St. David, landing at Quebec, bound for Port Credit, Ontario; Scotch.

    Archives of Ontario. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario.
  3. Fairview Lawn Cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia
    Example: Canadian cemetery
    Burial record Beatrice Rutledge

    Buried in 1974 at Queen's Park Cemetery, Calgary, Alberta, aged 86.

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

Showing 3 of 198 records for Rutledge in Canada.

Counts: Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia. · 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 Vancouver. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Vancouver. · City of Winnipeg. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Winnipeg. · Archives of Ontario. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario. · Halifax Regional Municipality. Contains information licenced under the Open Government Licence—Halifax. · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Emigration file, Gündlingen, 1883, Landesarchiv Baden-Württemberg, Staatsarchiv Freiburg B 694/1 Nr. 1389 (CC BY 4.0); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain); Fairview Lawn Cemetery, Halifax, photo by Edgar El (CC BY 3.0).

New Zealand36 records

36 records of the Rutledge name in New Zealand
  • Christchurch City cemetery records 26
  • Marlborough District cemetery records 10
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Neville William Rutledge

    Died 2001, aged 61; buried at Fairhall Cemetery, Marlborough.

    Marlborough District Council (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Henry Rutledge

    Died 1880, aged 28; buried at Addington Cemetery, Christchurch, Canterbury.

    Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Alice Rutledge

    Died 1950, aged 78; buried at Omaka Cemetery, Marlborough.

    Marlborough District Council (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 36 records for Rutledge in New Zealand.

Counts: Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0) · Marlborough District 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).

United Kingdom6 records

6 records of the Rutledge name in the United Kingdom
  • War Office casualty lists, 1917–1919, among the dead 5
  • Stirling Council burial records 1
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Ratchel Rutledge

    Buried in 1917 at Ballengeich Cemetery, Stirling, Scotland, aged 78.

    Stirling Council. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
  2. A First World War roll of honour of the staff of C. & E. Morton Ltd
    Example: roll of honour, 1914–1919
    War record J. Rutledge

    Cheshire Regiment. Listed among the dead in the War Office casualty list of 1919.

    National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain)
  3. A First World War roll of honour of the staff of C. & E. Morton Ltd
    Example: roll of honour, 1914–1919
    War record R. J. Rutledge

    Listed among the dead in the War Office casualty list of 1917.

    National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain)

Showing 3 of 6 records for Rutledge in the United Kingdom.

Counts: National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · Stirling Council. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0); C. & E. Morton Ltd roll of honour, 1914–1919, photo by Adrian S Pye via Geograph (CC BY-SA 2.0).

Ireland6 records

6 records of the Rutledge name in Ireland County Galway graveyard records
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Thomas Rutledge

    Died 1685, aged 74; buried at White Chapel, Co. Galway.

    Galway County Council (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Diane Rutledge

    Died 1991, aged 80; buried at Kilcummin, Co. Galway.

    Galway County Council (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Nora Rutledge

    Died 1973; buried at Kilcummin, Co. Galway.

    Galway County Council (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 6 records for Rutledge in Ireland.

Counts: Galway County 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).

France1 record

1 record of the Rutledge 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 Genevieve Rutledge

    Born 1915 in the United States; died 1998 in Le Cannet (Alpes-Maritimes).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)

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).

Nearby in the index

Surnames next to Rutledge.

When the index is not enough

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

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