Surname Ruffing - Meaning and Origin

Ruffing: What does the surname Ruffing mean?

The surname Ruffing is of German origin and is derived from a profession or trade. It is believed to originate from the occupation of a spinner or maker of woolen cloth, specifically someone who operated the final stage in the process, which was known as "ruffing". By using a ruffing iron or ruffling tool, the cloth was given a fur-like finish or "ruffed" appearance which was popular during those times. The process was carried out by a "ruffer" or "ruffler", and thus, those who practiced this trade became known by this surname. Like many old occupational surnames, the exact meaning and origin can be challenging to trace due to historical language changes and regional variations. Over the years, the surname may have evolved and could be spelled in different ways including Ruffin, Ruffing, Ruffings, Ruffins and more. Nevertheless, the surname Ruffing is a part of the wider tapestry of European surnames that tell us about the jobs our ancestors undertook.

Ruffing: Where does the name Ruffing come from?

Ruffing is a surname found most commonly in the United States today. It derives from German immigrants to the United States in the late 19th century and has become a well-established surname with multiple variations including Ruffen, Ruffin and Ruffner. Ruffing is found most commonly in the Midwestern states of the US, notably in Michigan, Ohio, Maryland, Illinois, Missouri and Wisconsin.

Ruffing is found all over the US, though with varying levels of commonality; the 2010 census found the highest concentrations in the aforementioned Midwest states. In Michigan, for example, one out of every 10,014 people have the last name Ruffing. In comparison, the census found that approximately one in every 6,430 people in Ohio had the surname Ruffing.

Ruffing is an unusual surname but it remains present in the US population today, especially in the Midwest. It has its own unique history and, in many states, is more common than many other surnames.

Variations of the surname Ruffing

The surname Ruffing has numerous variants, spellings, and derivatives throughout Europe. The most common derivatives for Ruffing include Rufing and Rufinger. These typically originated from the same geographic areas, often with slight spelling variations due to the different languages spoken in the respective regions and traditional ways of writing one's name.

In Germany, the Ruffing family originates from the German region of Westphalia, where the family can be traced back to the 15th century. During the early modern period, the spelling of the family name underwent several changes, which eventually settled into the form Rufing, and later Rufinger, with variants such as Ruffing and Rüfing.

In France and Belgium, the Ruffing family is traditionally thought to have come from the French region of Lorraine. During the late medieval period, the family name was largely spelled as Ruffignon, which underwent a gradual transformation into various derivatives such as Rufigny, Ruffin and Ruffing.

In Austria, the Ruffing family is most likely of South-Western German origin, and can be traced back to the Austro-Bohemian border region. Conversely, in the United Kingdom, the Ruffing family is generally thought to have originated from North-Western Germany. Here, the family name largely settled on the form Rufing, with variants such as Ruffing being relatively uncommon.

Finally, in Italy, the Ruffing surname is thought to have originated from the Italian region of Piedmont. It is likely that the Italian form of the name is the derivative of the French Ruffing, as it was often spelled as Ruffin.

Famous people with the name Ruffing

• Carl Ruffing, Major League Baseball Hall of Fame player
• Bud Ruffing, former Major League Baseball pitcher
• Jim Ruffing, former American football player
• John Ruffing, former Major League Baseball pitcher
• Sophia Ruffing, German social media influencer
• William Ruffing, American author
• Pete Ruffing, former Major League Baseball player
• Robert Ruffing, German politician
• Adam Ruffing, American artist
• Henry Ruffing, former college football player

Other surnames

RuffianRuffinRuffini