Surname Ruling - Meaning and Origin
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Ruling: What does the surname Ruling mean?
The last name Ruling is of German origin. It is derived from the German word "ruling," which means "power" or "authority." Historically, this surname was likely used by people who held a position of authority in their community. It may refer to a political leader, a magistrate, or a religious figure.
It has also been suggested that the name has a biblical origin, as the Hebrew variation "Reuling" has been documented. Another possible source of the name is that it may have been derived from the Latin Rullingus, which derived from rol.
The surname is fairly common throughout Germany and has been adopted by many other countries over the years. Examples include Ruling in the United States, Ruling in Australia, and Ruling in England.
Although there is not much information about the surname, the common consensus appears to be that the Ruling surname was used to identify those who held a position of authority in a particular area. It could have been used for anyone from a judge to a noble or military leader. In any case, this surname is likely to be a reminder of someones ancestor's influence on the greater community.
Order DNA origin analysisRuling: Where does the name Ruling come from?
Today, the surname Ruling can be found primarily in Ireland and the United Kingdom, with most occurrences occurring in England. While the family is of ancient Irish origin, the surname correspondingly has British origins since it came to Britain in 1690 during the Protestant Williamite Regime Change.
In Ireland, the Ruling family has a long history, stretching back to the 15th century when they settled in County Kilkenny. The most prominent family seat is the ancestral home of Bedfords Castle, near Owning in County Kilkenny. The family also held positions in the civil service of the British Empire in Ireland during the 18th and 19th centuries. Prior to the Regime Change, they also owned large estates there, as did other classes of the Irish aristocracy.
In the United Kingdom, the surname first appeared in the historic Scottish county of Angus in the early 1700s. From there and southward through England and Wales, the family name spread throughout Britain. Occupations related to the surname have included clergymen, one of the most famous being Reverend Robert Ruling who was the Vicar of Pentonville, near London, between 1810 and 1860.
Today, there are many people in the UK, including England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, bearing the surname Ruling.
Variations of the surname Ruling
The surname Ruling can be spelled in various ways, such as Ruling, Rueling, and Röhling, depending on the language. The variants of the surname have also been found to include Reuling, Reulingk, Reassling, Rulling, Reulingen, and Ruelinge.
Ruling is a Germanic and Anglo-Saxon surname that originated from the personal name Ruald, which is composed of elements "rau" which means "fame" and “wald” meaning “rule”. It was a popular first name among ruling families of Germanic regions during the Middle Ages.
The Ruling surname is believed to have been used as a suffix, like the –son in Johnson, grabbing the surname of the father to refer to a family’s lineage and status.
Variants of the Ruling surname can also be found in other languages. In German-speaking countries, the surname can also be spelled as Röhling; while in Dutch, it is spelled Rueling or Ruleing. In French, the surname is spelt Reuling, and in English, it is spelt Ruling.
Ruling can also be combined with a prefix to form regional spellings, such as “Van Reulingen” which is a Dutch variant of the surname.
Overall, many variants of the Ruling surname have been formed over time, reflecting the linguistic, regional, and cultural diversity of countries and regions, where this surname has been used.
Famous people with the name Ruling
- Darren Ruling, a British swimmer and six-time world record holder in the 1985 World Masters Championships.
- Lee Ruling, an American professional basketball coach and former player.
- David Ruling, a British politician who served as a Member of the European Parliament from 1985 to 1999.
- Ellen Ruling, an American children's television host, author, and actress best known for her role on the PBS show Zoom.
- Knight Ruling, an Australian actor best known for his roles in the television series Flashforward and Home and Away.
- George Ruling, an American painter best known for his realistic oil paintings of urban street scenes.
- Per Ruling, a Swedish discus thrower and world record-holder from 1985 to 1986.
- Clive Ruling, a British architect best known for his works in London and across the United Kingdom.
- Jack Ruling Jr., an American professional golfer who won the U.S. Open in 1951.
- Lewis Ruling, an American singer and songwriter best known for his pioneering work in country music.