Surname Ruffell - Meaning and Origin
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Ruffell: What does the surname Ruffell mean?
The last name Ruffell is an English and Irish patronymic surname, meaning "son of Ruffel,” which is derived from the given name “Ralph.” Ralph derives from the Old Norse name Ráðúlfr, which means 'counsel wolf.' It was common throughout medieval Europe and was particularly popular in France, England, and Germany.
The origin of the family name Ruffell is thought to have derived from the Old English word “rufe,” meaning wolf. There is also a potential link to the Old Norse word “hroh” which means “slope” or “decline.”
The Ruffell coat of arms was awarded to John Ruffel in 1630 in Devon, England, for services rendered to the King. The arms feature three blue wolf crests, each bearing a gold collar. This crest illustrates the deep connection between the name and its possible connection to wolves and its reflective of its ancient heritage.
Present-day bearers of the name Ruffell can be found in England, Ireland, Canada, the United States, and scattered throughout the world. Although experienced with significant geographic dilution, the illustrious family name continues to represent wealth, power, and reverence.
Order DNA origin analysisRuffell: Where does the name Ruffell come from?
The last name Ruffell is generally found in English-speaking countries, particularly in the United Kingdom and Australia. In England, Ruffell is particularly common in the counties of Hampshire and Wiltshire, along with scattered occurrences throughout other counties of England, such as East Sussex. The name is also popular in Australia, particularly among residents of New South Wales and Victoria.
In the United States, Ruffell is much less common. Although it can still be found spread throughout the country, it is especially prevalent in the eastern region that was once home to many of the American colonies. In particular, states such as New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Massachusetts, and Maryland tend to have the highest concentration of the surname Ruffell.
In Canada, the surname Ruffell is most common in the provinces of British Columbia, Alberta, and Manitoba. Interestingly enough, there is also a significant occurrence of the name Ruffell amongst the Indigenous peoples of Canada, likely due to intermarriage between the English settlers and the native tribes.
Overall, the surname Ruffell is relatively common in many English speaking countries, although it tends to be more common in certain regions than others.
Variations of the surname Ruffell
Ruffell is an English surname, derived from Old French "Ruffel," which means red-haired or red-headed. This particular surname is most common in England, where it has numerous variants, spellings, and forms.
Some of the most common variations of Ruffell are Ruffell, Rufel, Rufall, Ruffle, Ruffoe, Ruffaux, Ruffault, and Ruffle. Each of these has a slightly different origin, but all are derived from the Old French word.
The surname can also appear in different parts of the world under several other spellings, such as Ruffolo, Ruffolo, Ruffula, Ruvel, Rufell, Rufole, Rufole, Rufowski, Ruffola, Ruffoul, Ruffaul, Ruffoul, Ruffl, and Ruffin.
In addition, due to the prominent spelling Ruffell, there are also some related surnames, such as Riffel, Riffle, and Rifel.
In the United Kingdom, the surname Ruffell is much more common in England than in other parts of the British Isles, however, variations of the surname can also be found in Scotland, Ireland, and Wales.
In the United States, the surname is mainly spelled Ruffell, however, it can also be seen as Rufell, Ruffole, Ruffel, Rufel, Ruffo, Ruffaux, or Ruffle. The surname is particularly common in some areas in Pennsylvania and Ohio where immigrants from England settled. In Australia, Ruffell is mostly used by descendants of immigrants from Great Britain.
In conclusion, Ruffell has numerous variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin, each one having a slightly different history, but all connected to the same Old French root.
Famous people with the name Ruffell
- Courtney Ruffell: an actress best known for her role in 'The Flash'
- Gary Ruffell: British Actor, who has appeared in shows like 'Casualty'
- Andy Ruffell: British professional football player
- Mark Ruffell: professional golfer
- Mike Ruffell: former professional ice hockey player
- Paul Ruffell: British radio DJ
- Julian Ruffell: actor and film producer
- Dennis Ruffell: WWII USAF hero
- Liz Ruffell: British actress
- Bill Ruffell: stand-up comedian and TV presenter