Rustin is a name of American origin, derived from the English surname "Ruxton," which is believed to have originated as a habitational name for someone who lived at a settlement called Ruxton in Lancashire, England. The name Rustin is thought to have been brought to America by early settlers and has since become more commonly associated with American culture.
The meaning of the name Rustin is not explicitly known, but it is believed to be derived from the Old English word "hyrst," which means "wooded hill." Therefore, Rustin could potentially be interpreted as someone who lives on or comes from a wooded hill.
Throughout history, there have been several notable figures with the name Rustin. One of the most famous was Bayard Rustin (1912-1987), an American civil rights activist and organizer who played a key role in the Montgomery bus boycott of 1955. He was also a close friend and advisor to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
In popular culture, Rustin has been used as a character name in various movies, TV shows, and books, further contributing to its familiarity among American audiences. Overall, while not one of the most common names, Rustin carries a distinctively American history and association with social justice movements.
The name Rustin has seen a varied pattern of usage in the United States over the past seven decades. Between 1949 and 1951, there were only five births each year. However, starting from 1953, the number of newborns named Rustin began to increase, reaching a peak of 87 births in 1979.
During the late 1970s and early 1980s, the popularity of the name continued to grow, with over 60 births recorded each year from 1974 to 1985. This trend stabilized through the mid-1990s, with an average of around 35 to 45 births per year between 1988 and 1995.
Since then, the name Rustin has experienced periods of decline and stability in its usage. From 2000 onwards, there were fewer than 35 births each year until a slight increase starting from 2011. The most recent data shows that there were 50 births in 2022.
In total, over the past seven decades, there have been 2784 newborns named Rustin in the United States. This statistic reflects the evolving popularity and preference of parents when choosing a name for their child.