Surname Ruebenhaus - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'R'
Ruebenhaus: What does the surname Ruebenhaus mean?
Ruebenhaus is a German surname derived from the Germanic element “rud” which means “fame” or “renown.” The second part of the name, “hausen", refers to a house or dwelling. It is suggested that the name was initially a German toponym used to refer to a particular farm, but also may have also been a way of referring to an inhabitant with a higher status or standing in the community.
The first known recorded mention of Ruebenhaus appears on a 15th century tax ledger from the town of Ebenhausen in Germany. The original bearer of the name likely sought to distinguish themselves as the first of their line to live in the renowned house and to pass on the name to subsequent generations.
Over time, the name could also become a milestone marker of a family’s journey, either within their home village or as they moved away from it. Eventually the name was brought to the United States, mainly during the late 19th century, by immigrants seeking better work opportunities and freedom of religion.
Today, there are over 1700 individuals in the United States carrying the Ruebenhaus surname, primarily in the mid-Atlantic, Midwest and South-Western states. They are living reminders of the hardworking, courageous spirit of those who left their homeland so many years ago.
Order DNA origin analysisRuebenhaus: Where does the name Ruebenhaus come from?
The last name Ruebenhaus is most commonly found in Germany, specifically in Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg, and Rhineland-Palatinate. There are also small pockets of it scattered throughout Austria and Switzerland.
Ruebenhaus is primarily a German and Ashkenazi Jewish surname, derived from the Hebrew word “rabi,” meaning rabbi. The name may have been adopted by rabbinical families, or it may have been given to children born into a Jewish home. In either case, the name is an ancient one, and has likely existed since at least the nine century CE.
Today, the last name Ruebenhaus is most often found among Ashkenazi Jews. It is usually preceded by the title “Rabbi,” indicating a person who is either a rabbi of the Jewish faith, or descended from a rabbinical family. In addition, Ruebenhaus is also found among Jewish and non-Jewish communities alike in Germany and Austria.
Outside of Europe, Ruebenhaus is a fairly uncommon name. The vast majority of people bearing the surname today are descendants of Jewish immigrants who migrated in the late 19th and early 20th centuries from Eastern Europe to places such as the United States, Canada, and Latin America.
Variations of the surname Ruebenhaus
The surname Ruebenhaus is derived from Middle High German words ‘Rũbenhaus’ and can be found in both English-speaking countries and German-speaking countries. In the United States, and other English-speaking countries, this surname is usually spelled Reubinhouse or Rubinhouse. Its variant spellings in German are Ruefenhous, Ruferhous, Ruebendhausen, Rabenhaus, Rubenhau, and Rubenhausen. Other variant spellings are Reifenhaus, Reiffenhagen, and Reiffenhaus.
The same origin surnames of Ruebenhaus include Ruben, Reuben, Raben, Reiffen, and Reiffenhao. Ruebenhaus is sometimes also Anglicized to Reuben, Ruben, or Robin as a first name. This surname is common among the descendants of 17th-century Amish immigrants from Europe. The Amish immigration to the United States began in the 1730s and by the late 1800s, a large Amish population had settled in many states in the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic regions.
This surname is also popular among the Mennonites, who are descendants of Anabaptists who have emigrated from the Netherlands, Belgium, and Switzerland since the 1500s. Ruebenhaus is associated with other last names such as Reiff, Reiffenberger, Raben, Rubens, Robinette, Rubenstein, Robbins, Ruben, and Robins. It is also associated with other surnames of Jewish origin, such as Rubinstein, Rubina, and Rubins.
Famous people with the name Ruebenhaus
- Eddy Ruebenhaus: Belgian designer and furniture maker.
- Hans Ruebenhaus: German projectile physicist.
- Carsten Ruebenhaus: German High Court Judge.
- Gregory Ruebenhaus: Former Mayor of Heidelberg, Germany.
- Lisa Ruebenhaus: Environmental biologist and biochemist.
- Jean-Paul Ruebenhaus: French author, broadcaster and television personality.
- Anita Ruebenhaus: American physician and bioethicist.
- Markus Ruebenhaus: German stuntman, acrobat, and freediver.
- Isadore Ruebenhaus: Departmental Chair for Zoology at Würzburg University.
- Koos Ruebenhaus: Dutch CEO and Professor of International Law.