Surname Ruelling - Meaning and Origin
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Ruelling: What does the surname Ruelling mean?
The last name Ruelling is of German origin. It is a regional surname, traceable to the area surrounding the town of Lippe in the former Duchy of Lippe, which is located in modern day northwest Germany in close proximity to the country's border with the Netherlands. The name likely originated from the Low German word "ruling" or "roeling," which is related to the German words "ruhe" (rest) and "ruhen" (to rest). The name likely refers to someone who lived in a place of rest or respite.
An alternate interpretation might be that Ruelling is a form of the Germanic personal name Rugilo, composed of the elements "Hruod" (fame or renown) and "Wulf" (wolf). This interpretation would suggest that the bearer of the name had a reputation for ferocity.
The fountainhead of modern Ruelling emigration appears to be Westphalia, where records of the name trace back to the 16th century. In the centuries since, Ruellings have become spread throughout the world, with concentrations in Germany, The Netherlands, the United States, and Canada.
Today, the last name is found in most German-speaking countries and generally refers to a person of German descent, although it is also common in some other countries. More recently, Ruellings have been found among the German immigrant population of the United States and Canada, where the name has been most popular in the midwest.
Order DNA origin analysisRuelling: Where does the name Ruelling come from?
The last name Ruelling is not particularly common today, but there are still some pockets of families who bear the name scattered across various regions. It is most commonly seen in Germany, particularly in the cities of Wiesbaden, Frankfurt, and Munich. In the United States, there is a large number of people with the last name Ruelling living in the states of Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Iowa.
Ruelling families are thought to have Germany as their ancestral homeland, but there is no one definitive answer to their origins. The earliest record of the name dates back to 1693 in Dresden, Saxony, Germany. It is thought that the name is derived from an old German word, "rulingen," which means a swampland.
Other than Germany and the US, Ruellings are found scattered throughout other countries, particularly in other places with German-speaking populations such as Austria, Switzerland, Slovenia, Hungary, Poland, Belgium, and Luxembourg. The last name is uncommon but not entirely rare, and a few people still carry the proud name of Ruelling into the modern era.
Variations of the surname Ruelling
The surname Ruelling is thought to have originated in Germany. The surname is based on the names Rölling and Rollinger, and is known in various forms and spellings, including Rülling, Rölling, Rollinger, Röllin, Röllen, Röhling, and Röhlinger.
Ruelling is derived from an ancient Germanic personal name, composed of the elements hrod, meaning ‘fame’, and berht, meaning ‘bright’. Variants of the name would have arisen due to local dialectic differences, while some variants could have emerged when families moved to another region and scribes wrote the name according to their local pronunciation.
In addition to its various variants, the surname Ruelling is also found under the spelling Ruling, which could be derived from the Germanic personal name Rüdolf. Rüdolf was formed from elements hrodwulf, meaning ‘famous wolf’.
Many people with the surname Ruelling may have emigrated from Germany during 19th and 20th centuries and settled in the United States and Canada. Their descendants may spell the surname differently depending on how their ancestors would have spelled it themselves.
Overall, the surname Ruelling is found in many different variations and spellings, all originating from the same source. The origin of the surname can be traced back to two separate roots, meaning ‘bright fame’ and ‘famous wolf’, respectively.
Famous people with the name Ruelling
- William J. Ruelling Jr.: A Senior Attorney and Vice President of Governmental Affairs for the National Automobile Dealers Association.
- Dwight Ruelling: A former professional American Football player who played for the San Francisco 49ers in the National Football League (NFL).
- George R. Ruelling: A former pilot and United States Army Colonel who flew missions in Air Force One during the years of the Lyndon B. Johnson and Richard Nixon presidencies.
- Chad Ruelling: A former professional baseball player and coach who worked in the Minor League Baseball teams affiliated with the Oakland Athletics and Philadelphia Phillies.
- Sherman A. Ruelling: A former United States Air Force Colonel and Distinguished Alumnus of the Air Force Academy.
- Kurt Ruelling: An architect known for his modernist architecture, as well as being the author of The Generic Bungalow.
- Bruce Ruelling: A former professional American Football player who played five seasons in the National Football League (NFL).
- Dean Ruelling: A successful businessman and real estate investor in the midwest who also served in the army.
- Sean Ruelling: An actor and director best known for his work on the television show Medium.
- Reid Ruelling: The current football coach at Fort Vancouver High School in Vancouver, Washington.