Surname Ruth - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'R'
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The DNA test conducted by iGENEA significantly enhanced my understanding of my surname, Ruth. The comprehensive analysis covered several aspects, including paternal and maternal lineage, genetic origins, ancient tribes, and surname history, all of which collectively traced my lineage back to ancient times.
U. Ruth
read moreRuth: What does the surname Ruth mean?
The surname Ruth is of Hebrew origin and it is derived from the Hebrew name "Re'ut", meaning "companion" or "friend". It was used as a personal name in the Middle Ages and later came to be used as a surname. The name Ruth was used in the Old Testament of the Bible and belongs to the central character in the Book of Ruth, who was a Moabite woman that showed great loyalty and devotion to her mother-in-law Naomi after the death of her husband. Therefore, this name also symbolizes loyalty and devotion. It is worth mentioning that the detailed origin of surnames is often influenced by various factors including geographical location, occupation, or personal characteristics, so meanings can vary. For some families, the surname Ruth might not carry a significant meaning, as many surnames have simply been carried down through generations.
Order DNA origin analysisRuth: Where does the name Ruth come from?
The last name Ruth is most commonly found in the United States of America. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, it is the 243rd most frequent surname, with a population of over 240,000 individuals bearing the name.
Ruth is a relatively popular family name given to American households. It is especially common in the Midwestern and Southern regions of the country. In particular, the states of Illinois, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania record the highest proportion of the population with the last name Ruth.
Other nations also feature a sizeable population with the surname Ruth. Specifically, Canada, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, and Australia all list considerate amounts of people with this surname.
The etymology of the word ‘Ruth’ is derived from the Bible and means ‘mercy’. As such, it’s used as a biblical last name given to individuals by their parents to reflect their religious faith, or as a sign of protection or compassion. The popularity of the name could also be driven by its use as a female given name in the United States.
Today, the surname Ruth has become a firmly established family name in a number of countries. With its lack of variants and fairly consistent spelling, it is likely to remain so for a while in the future.
Variations of the surname Ruth
The surname Ruth is derived from an ancient Hebrew name "Rova". It was a popular name for girls in the United States during the 1940s and is now viewed as a classic name. The variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for the surname Ruth include:
Ruta
Rout
Rhoute
Routh
Ruthe
Rut
Ruuth
Ruthers
Rouff
Ruf
Rufe
Ruff
Ruggle
Ruggles
Rugh
Ruhlle
Ruhlman
Ruhlmann
Rul
Rum
Runge
Rup
Ruppe
Rurck
Rure
Rush
Ruths
Rutha
Rutheford
Ruther
Ruthers
Ruthford
Rutkin
Rutkowski
Rutledge
Rutt
Rutten
Ruttenberg
Ruttenburg
Rutter
Rutz
Ruyter
Rwoth
The names Ruth and Ruta have Scandinavian, Dutch, German, and North Germanic origins. It is sometimes Anglicized to Routh, Rouths, Routhe, and Rwoth. There is also a spelling variant – Ruhl. The surnames Rutkin, Rutkowski, Rutledge, and Rutkin mean 'son of Ruta'. The Czech and Slovak spelling of the same surname is Rutt.
All these variants, spellings and surnames share the same root and the common English origin of the name 'Ruth' is the Hebrew name Rova.
Famous people with the name Ruth
- Babe Ruth: also known as "The Bambino" and "The Sultan of Swat". Babe Ruth was an American professional baseball player who played in the Major League Baseball (MLB) from 1914 to 1935. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest baseball players in the history of the game.
- Ruth Bader Ginsburg: commonly known as RBG, was an American jurist who served as the 135th associate justice of the United States Supreme Court. She was appointed by President Bill Clinton and served from 1993 to 2020. During her time on the court, she was noted for her defense of the rights of women and minorities.
- Frederick Ruth: was an American lawyer, law professor and state judge in Delaware. He served as the Chief Justice of the Delaware Supreme Court from 2003 to 2011.
- Ruth Westheimer: also known as "Dr. Ruth", is a German-born American sex therapist, media personality, author and lecturer. She first became known for her radio and television show "Sexually Speaking".
- Ruth Chatterton: was an American stage, film, radio and television actress during the 1910s through the 1940s. She is best remembered for her leading roles in the films "Dodsworth" (1936) and "Sarah and Son" (1930).
- Ruth Bell Graham: was an American Christian writer, speaker and the wife of Billy Graham, who was an evangelist and spiritual leader. She wrote various books, devotionals, and contributed to magazines.
- Ruth Ann Minner: was an American politician from the state of Delaware. She was the 72nd Governor of Delaware from 2001 to 2009 and the first woman to hold the office.
- Ruth Prawer Jhabvala: was a German-born British and American Booker Prize–winning novelist, short story writer and two-time Academy Award–winning screenwriter.
- Ruth Warrick: was an American actress, singer, and political activist. She is best known for her role as Phoebe Tyler Wallace on the soap opera "All My Children".
- Ruth Rendell: was an English mystery writer. She was nominated for the Edgar Award four times and won the award three times. She also received a Grand Master Award from the Mystery Writers of America in 1994.