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Russ Family History

Russ Surname Meaning

English: variant of Rouse. German: from a short form of an ancient Germanic personal name formed with hrōd ‘renown’ for example Rudolf.

German (of Slavic origin): from Old Slavic rusъ ‘reddish’ used as a nickname (compare 6 below and Rus). Swiss German: topographic name for someone who lived by an area of scree Middle High German ru(o)ʒʒe.

Swiss German: occupational name for a smith or charcoal burner or nickname for a dirty person from Middle High German ruoʒ ‘soot dirt’. Germanized or Americanized form of Slovenian, Croatian, Czech, and Slovak Rus meaning ‘brownish red’, ‘blond’, or ‘Russian’.

In part, it is a Gottscheerish (i.e. Gottschee German) surname originating from the Kočevsko region in Lower Carniola, Slovenia (see Kocevar) and is either of Slovenian or German (see above) etymology.

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

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Where is the Russ family from?

You can see how Russ families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Russ family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Russ families were found in USA in 1880. In 1911 there were 126 Russ families living in Ontario. This was about 65% of all the recorded Russ's in Canada. Ontario had the highest population of Russ families in 1911.

Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Russ surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.

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What Russ family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 93,000 census records available for the last name Russ. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Russ census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

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Passenger Lists

There are 11,000 immigration records available for the last name Russ. 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.

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Draft Cards

There are 35,000 military records available for the last name Russ. For the veterans among your Russ ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

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What is the average Russ lifespan?

Between 1941 and 2004, in the United States, Russ life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1951, and highest in 2000. The average life expectancy for Russ in 1941 was 34, and 74 in 2004.

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