Surname Rüf - Meaning and Origin
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H. Rüf
read moreRüf: What does the surname Rüf mean?
The last name Rüf is an German and Swiss surname. It is most common in German-speaking Switzerland, where it is estimated to be the 28th most common surname with around 6,000 individuals bearing the name.
The exact origin and meaning of the name is unclear; however, many believe it is derived from the words Rhoder and Ruf, which mean “clear” and “brave.” In German, Rüf can also mean “rumor” or “noise.” Other theories suggest the name might be derived from a place of residence, either a town or a feature of the landscape such as a meadow. Additionally, it is possible the name has its origins in personal names, particularly those beginning with “Ru.”
While the origin of the Rüf family name is uncertain, it is known to be an old one. Records show a Johannes Ruf was living in Switzerland in 1284, and a Hans Rüf of the same area was mentioned in 1387. From the 16th-19th centuries, many people with this surname emigrated from Switzerland, primarily to Canada and the United States, although some also made their way to Australia and other parts of the world.
The last name Rüf may have deep roots and an uncertain origin, but its number of bearers have only grown throughout the centuries.
Order DNA origin analysisRüf: Where does the name Rüf come from?
Today, the last name Rüf is most common in Swiss German-speaking areas of Switzerland, especially in the canton of St. Gallen. It is also found in pockets of German-speaking Switzerland and Austria, as well as parts of Germany, such as Baden-Württemberg. Furthermore, due to Swiss emigration dating to the 19th century, the surname Rüf can be found in other parts of the world, including the United States, Canada, and Australia.
Rüf is a German-language surname that translates to "Rough". It likely originated from parts of medieval Switzerland and is derived from Old High German ruh meaning "rough or rugged". It could have been used to refer to someone with a rough personality or physical nature.
In Switzerland, the surname Rüf has been documented since at least 1454, where records revealed a certain Johannes Ruf from Ausseerland in Austria. Later, in the 16th and 17th centuries, numerous Rüf families emigrated from Switzerland to Germany and other parts of Europe, as well as to overseas countries such as the United States.
Today, most people with the surname Rüf live in Switzerland and other parts of Europe. But the Rüf family can also be found in the United States, Canada, Australia, and other countries throughout the world where Swiss emigration occurred in the 19th century.
Variations of the surname Rüf
The surname Rüf is a German-language surname. It is derived from the Middle High German or Old High German word rûf, which means red. It can also mean famous or glorious, or rebounding echo.
There are many variations of and spellings associated with the Rüf surname, many of which originated in Germany. Some spelling variations include Ruf, Reuff, Riffe, Ruffe, Rupf, Roopf, Ruff, Raf, Rauf, Rauff, Rave, Raaf, and Raveh. In some cases, the surname has changed to Rife, Ryfe, Reif, Reifs, Reifes and Rief.
In some cases, the surname has been changed to English-language variants, such as Rife, Reif, Reifs, Reifes, Rief, Roof, Rhuf, Ruffe, Roop, Riff, Roff, Raff, Rave, Raaf, and Raveh. These variants may appear with double consonants, such as Riffer, Rufffer, Rufffer, Rhuffer, Rufffer, and Rofffer.
In some regions, the surname has also been Germanized into Rosch, Roschner, Roosch, etc. In other instances, the surname has been changed to the Dutch language variant Rauf or Rauw.
In addition to variants, Rüf has also been adopted as a family name for other ethnicities, such as Jewish surnames Rüfos and Rufas or Ukrainian-language surnames such as Rufov or Rufovska. There are also some related names, such as Ruby, Ruggiero, and Rue.
Famous people with the name Rüf
- Daniela Rüf: Swiss alpine skier, two-time FIS Alpine Ski World Cup winner.
- Hardy Rüf: Swiss professional ice hockey goaltender.
- Olaf Rüf: German economist and director of the Federal Statistical Office of Germany.
- Paul Rüf: German artist widely known for his 1920s artwork in the style of Expressionism.
- Peter Rüf: Swiss politician and an influential member of the Swiss government.
- Robert Rüf: Swiss motorcycle racer who competed in Grand Prix, Tourist Trophy and endurance racing.
- Urs Rüf: Swiss ski mountaineer and former World Cup specialist in different ski disciplines.
- Uwe Rüf: German commander of the German armed forces (Bundeswehr) from 2013 to 2017.
- Wilhelm Rüf: Swiss painter and professor at the University of Basel.
- Simon Rüf: Swiss artist known for his oil paintings depicting hyperrealistic scenes.