Surname Rulffes - Meaning and Origin
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Rulffes: What does the surname Rulffes mean?
The last name Rulffes is of German origin. It is derived from the a combination of two words, which are "ruffen" and "hufe", meaning "horned foot." The name's literal translation is "shod with horns."
The name is indicative of a family who is of an ancient, rural German family, further supported by the fact that a coat of arms for Rulffes contains a bull's head. This suggests that the family has ancestral memories of herding, eventually becoming a farming family. It was likely that at some point the family owned or raised farm animals, which is why they adopted this animal in their coat of arms.
The Rulffes family may have originally lived in some of the rural regions of Germany in the Upper Rhine region. However, the family name can be found scattered throughout Germany and other parts of Europe.
The Rulffes family likely had a long history, but the first traceable record of this name goes back to 1535 in Baden-Württemberg. From here, the name continued spreading both within Germany and to other countries.
The Rulffes family name is still well-known to this day and serves as a reminder to the generations to come that the family is of quite an ancient origin. It is also a testament to the tenacity of the Rulffes family to survive and continue to thrive even through the most trying of times.
Order DNA origin analysisRulffes: Where does the name Rulffes come from?
The last name Rulffes is relatively uncommon today. The most recent known occurrence of the surname in the United States is in the 1930 census, in which one individual is recorded with the name. This suggests that the surname may have been more common in the past than it is currently.
It is also possible that the surname is still in use in a few locations outside of the United States. The name appears frequently in records from Germany, where, according to Google Books, several people bearing the surname appear in official records dating back to at least the 16th century. Furthermore, research into the name reveals that many people with the name Rulffes or variants of it (Rulff, Rulffs, Rulfs, and Rhulffs, for example) were originally from German-speaking regions in East or Central Europe, including Germany, Austria, Hungary, and Bohemia. This suggests that the name is still found in some countries, at least in significant numbers.
Finally, the name Rulffes appears to be relatively common in the Netherlands, where records from the 18th century onward indicate that it was a well-established surname. It may still exist in some Dutch-speaking parts of the world, such as the United States.
Variations of the surname Rulffes
The surname Rulffes is derived from an ancient Germanic term meaning wolf, and is likely derived from the Middle High German given name Rudolph (meaning 'famed wolf' or 'brave wolf'). It is believed to be of Germanic origin, hence the variants and alternative spellings that have emerged over time, particularly amongst those who have emigrated from the region.
Variants of the surname Rulffes include Rolves, Roulfs, Rolf, Rolfe, Rolff, Rolfs, Rolfsen, Rulofs, Rulff, Rulffe, Rudolph, Rudolf, Rideau, Roulette, Ruffe, Ruffer, Ruffes, Ruffles, Ruppe, Rupp, Rups, and Ryf.
Surnames sharing the same ultimate origin as Rulffes include Rudel, Rudelbach, Rudelmaier, Rudert, Rudig, Rudlof, Ruppel, Ruser, Ruller, and others. In some instances, the spelling may be slightly altered and the surname might bear a different pronunciation. For example, the Germanic surname Rudel may take the form 5014Rudelle or Riddell in the United States or other English-speaking countries.
The surname Rulffes can be traced in history back to medieval Germany and has its roots in Germanic personal names which were composed of the elements “Hruod” (meaning “fame” or “glory”) combined with “wolf” (meaning “wolf”). Its variants and alternate spellings are still found in locations across the world today, testifying to the far reach of this ancient Germanic surname.
Famous people with the name Rulffes
- Jacob Rulffes: Jacob is a Danish politician who is a member of the Danish Social-Liberal Party in the Folketing.
- Jürgen Rulffes: professional German footballer, who from 1991 to 1995 played for Borussia Dortmund.
- Christian Rulffes: professional Danish footballer, who most recently played for Greve Fodbold.
- Jörg Rulffes: German actor best known for his roles in the films Ants in the Pants, Girl on the Train, and Stille Nacht.
- Johann Rulffes: German opera singer and conductor based in Berlin who has performed for many well-known companies and orchestras throughout the world.
- Friederich Rulffes: German classical composer and conductor from the Baroque period who wrote several cantatas and works for the organ.
- Johann Friedrich Rulffes: German classical composer and organist of the 18th and 17th centuries, best known for his many cantatas.
- Jörgen Rulffes: Swedish voice actor, best known for voicing “Gru” in Despicable Me and “Bob the Builder” in Bob the Builder.
- Louise Rulffes: Danish professional figure skater who competed on the Senior International level for six years.