Surname Reuben - Meaning and Origin
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Reuben: What does the surname Reuben mean?
The last name Reuben is of Hebrew origin and originates from the biblical name Reuven, which is given in reference to one of the sons of Jacob and Leah in the Old Testament of the Bible. The name Reuben means "behold, a son" in Hebrew. In the Biblical account, Leah names her son Reuben as an expression of her distress because Jacob, her husband, loved Rachel, her sister, more than he loved her. By naming him Reuben, she expressed her hopes that the birth of this son would enable her husband to look upon her with more affection. Therefore, the name Reuben may also be associated with themes of sight and affection. As a surname, Reuben is often used by Jewish communities but can also be found among Christian communities due to the biblical origin of the name. As with most surnames, Reuben can also be indicative of a person's lineage tracing back to a paternal ancestor named Reuben.
Order DNA origin analysisReuben: Where does the name Reuben come from?
The last name Reuben can commonly be found in areas throughout Europe, North America and Australasia. This is because the surname has a history which dates back hundreds of years and has been present in many different countries.
Reuben is a surname of Hebrew origin and is a variation of the name ‘Reuvin’. It is an ancient Biblical name meaning ‘Behold a son’. The earliest records of the family surname come from Yvetot in Normandy, France, around the 11th century. Since then, the name has been present throughout Europe, particularly in Germany, Poland, Britain, and Ireland.
By the 19th century, many individuals with the Reuben surname had moved to the United States and Canada. The surname is particularly common in the Mid-Atlantic region and the West Coast.
In terms of current figures, the surname Reuben is now primarily concentrated in the United States, where it ranks at number 4,500 of most common surnames. It is also highly ranked in Australia where it comes in at number 4,000 and in Canada, where it is the 4,700th most common name.
Variations of the surname Reuben
The surname Reuben is an ancient Jewish surname that is of Hebrew origin and is derived from the word ‘ראובן’, meaning ‘behold, a son’. There are several alternative spellings and variants that are used across different cultures, such as Ruben, Reubin, Ruban, Rubon, Reuban, Ruebin, Ruben, Rubino, Rubin, Rubino, Rubing, Rubens, Rubinsohn, Rubinstein, Rubenstein, Rabin, Reuvain, Reubin, Reubensohn, Reubenstein, Rupert, Reuvain, and Ruebner.
In addition, it is also possible to find other surnames that have a similar origin, such as Rubel, Robison, Robins, Robeson, Robinson, Roger, Rodgers, Reine, Rakhma, and Rubinowicz. Throughout history, the Reuben surname has often undergone adjustment or shifting in many of the cultures that its bearers have lived in. Spelling variations are common, as well as abbreviations, which may be a reflection of the culture or even the different dialects of languages.
In terms of distribution, it is possible to find bearers of the Reuben surname located all throughout the United States, Europe, and other parts of the world. This is likely due to the fact that it is an ancient Jewish surname which may have roots in many parts of the world. It is also likely to find Reuben individuals in other countries that have large Jewish diaspora communities, such as Argentina and Brazil.
Famous people with the name Reuben
- Al Reuben; American sports commentator and radio personality
- Bob Reuben; American actor
- Clark Reuben; American fashion designer
- Dave Reuben; mathematician and professor at the University of California, Los Angeles
- Ed Reuben; actor in Broadway musicals and MGM musicals
- Forrest Reuben; American painter
- Gerard Reuben; American entrepreneur and philanthropist
- Isaac Reuben; British cabinet minister, trade unionist and teacher
- Jack Reuben; American World War II soldier and Medal of Honor recipient
- John Reuben; American Christian hip hop artist
- Merel Reuben; artist and sculptor
- Mike Reuben; English actor
- Paul Reuben; Professional Keyboard Player, Composer, Philosopher, and actor
- Robert Reuben; former Vice President of Mergers and Acquisitions at Fortis Bank
- Samuel Reuben; American artist
- Steve Reuben; British comedian and actor
- Tami Reuben; Israeli actress
- Tom Reuben; American actor
- Warren Reuben; Argentine sculptor
- William Reuben; American film maker, documentary filmmaker, and composer.