Surname Rufner - Meaning and Origin
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Rufner: What does the surname Rufner mean?
The surname Rufner is believed to have German origins, specifically from the southern regions of Germany. The name is derived from the profession of roofing. In Middle High German, the word "ruf" translates to roof, while "ner" is an agent suffix. Therefore, Rufner essentially means 'roofer' or 'one who works on roofs'. This suggests that the original bearers of this name might have been involved in the roofing profession.
Like many surnames that originated from professions or occupations, Rufner served to distinguish individuals based on their work or trade. Over generations, these professional titles transformed into hereditary family names and lost their original connotations. However, they still remain as a fascinating reflection of the social and economic conditions of our ancestors.
It's important to note that the exact origin and evolution of surnames can be complex and multifaceted, as names traveled and transformed through migration, translation, and cultural exchange. Therefore, while this explanation offers one plausible interpretation of the name's origins, other interpretations may also exist.
Order DNA origin analysisRufner: Where does the name Rufner come from?
The last name Rufner is most commonly found in the United States and Germany. The vast majority of families with the Rufner surname in the United States are of German descent, with the name having been brought over by immigrants from Germany in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It isn’t clear exactly when or how the name Rufner came to be, but it is believed to have been derived from the German place name Rufen, which is located in southeastern Germany.
Today, the Rufner surname is most prevalent in the states of Iowa, Wisconsin, and Michigan, with a total of 230 individuals in the United States bearing the name according to a 2019 analysis by the US Census Bureau. Additionally, there are an estimated 2,000 Rufners living in Germany—mostly in Bavaria and Lower Saxony—with the name being especially common in the area around Berlin.
Aside from the United States and Germany, the Rufner name can be found scattered throughout other various parts of Europe. There are small communities of Rufner families in the United Kingdom, Portugal, Slovenia, and France, although their population numbers are relatively low. The Rufner family name can also be found in lower quantity in Australia, South America, and other parts of the world, likely due to emigration from one or more source countries.
Variations of the surname Rufner
The surname Rufner is derived from the German word "Ruf" which means "noise" or "call". It is believed to have been a status name given to someone who was a town crier or someone else who was responsible for making important announcements. The variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for the surname Rufner are listed below.
Variants of the surname Rufner include Rüffner, R!--ffner, Ruffner and Ruffel. It is also found with the spelling Ruffener or Rufener.
One surname with a similar origin is Rufner, which is thought to be derived from a form of the old German personal or given name Rufus. This name was popular in the Middle Ages and was derived from the Latin word “rufus”, meaning “red-haired”.
Additional surnames with the same origin as Rufner include Ruff, Ruf, Ruffin, Rouffin, Rouffine, Rouffen, Rouffignac, and Rouff. These variants are found in both German and French forms, due to the history of the region in which the surname originated.
Rufener is another variant of the Rufner surname which is found primarily in Switzerland. It can also be found in the form of Rufener. It is thought to be derived from the Middle High German word “rufen”, meaning “to call out”.
As a result of various migrations, the Rufner surname is found in many other countries. In the United States, it is most commonly found as Raffner, Rufener and Ruffner. Additionally, the surname is spelled Ruffin in African countries.
Famous people with the name Rufner
- Stephan Rufner: Austrian footballer who is currently contracted to Red Bull Salzburg.
- Greg Rufner: American professional ice hockey player who played in the National Hockey League (NHL).
- Sophie Rufner: German sport shooter who has competed in the 2016 Summer Olympics.
- Alex Rufner: American stand-up comedian and television writer.
- Andrea Rufner: Austrian former alpine skier.
- Arthur Rufner: American ice hockey player who won the Eastern Amateur Hockey League's Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Trophy as the league's most valuable player in 1975.
- Mary Rufner: American film and television actress best known for her roles on the soap operas Guiding Light and All My Children.
- Richard Rufner: American Major League Baseball pitcher who played from 1917–1920 for the New York Yankees, Philadelphia Athletics, and St. Louis Cardinals.
- Barbara Rufner: Austrian lawyer, politician, and diplomat who served as Austrian Minister of Justice from 1996 to 2000.
- Karl Georg Rufner: German politician and poet.