Ruff Surname Meaning & Origin
What the Ruff last name means, where the surname began and how it spread.
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Meaning and origin of the Ruff last name
Meaning of the Ruff last name: ruff / Rudolf. Ruff is an English and German surname from a byname for a ruff-wearer, a short Rudolf, or German Ruff. The last name sits in southern England and among German settlers. Palatine Rotterdam embarkation lists already carry Ruff toward Philadelphia, so the Ruff surname stayed easy to spot in later indexes.
Arms associated with the Ruff name
Coats of arms associated with the Ruff surname follow English heraldry, each set out in a short blazon.
Get your full Ruff family history
This is only a glimpse of the Ruff story. The full Ruff history report goes much deeper into where the name began, who carried it and how the family spread, and it comes with a museum-style painted Ruff coat of arms. Get the full Ruff report.
Ruff name FAQ
What does the Ruff name mean?
Ruff / Rudolf. Common variants include Ruffe, Ruf.
Where does the Ruff surname come from?
It originates in England, and is also found in the United States, Canada and Australia.
Is there a Ruff coat of arms?
Arms were granted to individuals rather than to everyone with a surname. Herald Lab paints a personalized Ruff coat of arms in museum style, based on historic heraldry.
Sources: Reaney & Wilson, Dictionary of English Surnames; Dictionary of American Family Names (Oxford).