This page needs Javascript enabled in order to work properly. Click here for instructions on how to enable it in your browser.
Surname Header Image
Get access to Rusk family records.Start a 14-Day Free Trial

Rusk Family History

Rusk Surname Meaning

Scottish: from Gaelic riasg ‘marsh with sedge’. The surname may be topographic denoting someone who lived beside a marsh or habitational denoting someone who lived at a place so named such as Risk in Lochwinnoch (Renfrewshire).

Probably also an altered form of German Ruske Roske diminutives of Rose.

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


Similar surnames: 

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

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Rusk family from?

You can see how Rusk families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Rusk family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Rusk families were found in USA in 1880. In 1911 there were 92 Rusk families living in Ontario. This was about 67% of all the recorded Rusk's in Canada. Ontario had the highest population of Rusk families in 1911.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Rusk surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
Mapbox
© Mapbox © OpenStreetMap Improve this map

What did your Rusk ancestors do for a living?

In 1921, Farmer and Stenographer were the top reported jobs for men and women in the Canada named Rusk. 57% of Rusk men worked as a Farmer and 28% of Rusk women worked as a Stenographer. Some less common occupations for Americans named Rusk were Laborer and Dressmaker.

View Census Data for Rusk | 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 1921

  • Farmer
    57%
  • Labourer
    9%
  • Farming
    6%
  • Laborer
    5%

Top Female Occupations In 1921

  • Stenographer
    28%
  • Housekeeper
    17%
  • Book Keeper
    12%
  • Dressmaker
    12%

What Rusk family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 30,000 census records available for the last name Rusk. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Rusk census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search Canadian census records for Rusk

Passenger Lists

There are 2,000 immigration records available for the last name Rusk. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in Canada, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Rusk immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 7,000 military records available for the last name Rusk. For the veterans among your Rusk ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Rusk military records

You've only scratched the surface of Rusk family history

Discover More

What is the average Rusk lifespan?

Between 1951 and 2004, in the United States, Rusk life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1956, and highest in 2003. The average life expectancy for Rusk in 1951 was 51, and 75 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Rusk

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

Explore Your Tree
Search for another surname
Enter last name/surname
Start a 14-Day Free Trial