Submitted names are contributed by users of this website. The accuracy of these name definitions cannot be guaranteed.
Roszhart GermanThe original spelling of the name is Roßhart. Roß means "horse" and hart means "hard" in German. The name was changed when the family immigrated to the United States in the 1850's. Some took on the name "Rosshart", and some "Roszhart" as the ß has the "sss" sound.
Rota ItalianMeans "wheel" in Italian, from various place names.
Rothchilds Old CelticScottish circa 1500-1600. See Neil Oliver's book 'The Vikings' for mention of Rothkilde
Rothfus GermanMiddle High German rot "red" + vuoz "foot", a nickname for someone who followed the fashion for shoes made from a type of fine reddish leather. Or a variant of
Rotfuchs, from the Middle Low German form fos "fox", a nickname for a clever person.
Rothfuss GermanVariant spelling of
Rothfus. A notable bearer is Patrick Rothfuss (1973-), an American author of epic fantasy.
Rott GermanAs far as I've researched the name dates back to a man by the name of Count Palatine Kuno von Rott (~1083). After he got land from the Pfalzfrafs which seem to be a nobile family line.... [
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Rotten Popular CultureFrom the English word rotten, meaning "In a state of decay/cruel, mean, immoral/bad, horrible". In the Icelandic children's television program LazyTown, Robbie Rotten is the main antagonist of the show who desires silence and peace, continuously formulates reckless schemes that often feature him masquerading in various disguises as a means of hoodwinking or tempting residents away from an active lifestyle... [
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Rotter GermanVariant spelling of Rother, an occupational name for the foreman or leader of a group or association of men, or a work gang, from an agent derivative of Middle High German rotte ‘team’, ‘gang’... [
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Rotterdam DutchDenoting someone from a place named
Rotterdam "place of the muddy water".
Rottscheit GermanModernization of Rotscheidt, also a city in Germany (Rottscheidt) bearing another modern alternate spelling. When broken down it ultimately means "red" and "piece of wood", implying that the families of today descends from woodwrokers.
Rouen FrenchFrom the other broad category of surnames that was given to a person who resided near a physical feature such as a hill, stream, church, or type of tree. ... Ruen is a place-name from in Rouen, the capital of Normandy... [
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Rouge FrenchNickname for someone with a ruddy complexion.
Rougeau FrenchDiminutive of
Rouge, a nickname for someone with a ruddy complexion.
Rouget FrenchDerived from the French adjective
rouge meaning "red" combined with the French masculine diminutive suffix
-et.
Rough EnglishA topographic name referring to a dwelling with uncultivated ground, ultimately deriving from Olde English ruh meaning "rough".
Rouhani PersianMeans "cleric, clergyman" or "clean, pure, good" in Persian.
Rõuk EstonianRõuk is an Estonian surname derived from the word "rõuk", a type of traditional stack made for the collection and drying of hay, cereals, or straw, often made with a wooden frame.
Rouse Englishnickname for a person with red hair, from Middle English, Old French rous ‘red(-haired)’
Roussos GreekOriginally a nickname for a red-haired or blond person, derived from Greek ρούσος
(roúsos) "red".
Routh EnglishFrom the village and civil parish of
Routh in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England (recorded in the Domesday book as
Rutha). The place name may derive from Old Norse
hrúedhr meaning "rough shaly ground"... [
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Rouvoet DutchFrom a nickname that meant "rough foot", derived from Middle Dutch
ru meaning "rough, wild" and
voet meaning "foot". This name is borne by the retired Dutch politician André Rouvoet (1962-).
Röver GermanThis surname was originally used as a derogative nickname for an unscrupulous individual, from Middle Low German
rover meaning "pirate, robber."
Rover English, German (Anglicized)This surname is derived from Middle English
roof (from Old English
hrof) combined with the agent suffix
(i)er, which denotes someone who does/works with something. Thus, the surname was originally used for a constructor or repairer of roofs.... [
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Rovira CatalanTopographic name for someone who lived by an oak wood, from Catalan
rovira meaning "oak wood, oak grove".
Rovnák CzechHabitational name from places named Rovné and/or Rovný.
Rowe JewishA shortened form of the surname Horowitz, a variant of the surname Horovic, from the town of Horovice, Czech Republic.
Röwekamp GermanFrom old German
röwe meaning "lion" and
kamp meaning "fighter". Perhaps named for someone who's brave.
Rowett EnglishEnglish from a medieval personal name composed of the Germanic elements
hrod ‘renown’ +
wald ‘rule’, which was introduced into England by Scandinavian settlers in the form
Róaldr, and again later by the Normans in the form
Rohald or
Roald... [
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Rowley EnglishAnglo Saxon Name- locational, comes from several places in England such as in Devonshire, Yorkshire, County Durham and Staffordshire. It means ' rough wood or clearing', from the Old English 'run' meaning rough and 'leah', meaning clearing in a wood.
Rowson English (British, Anglicized)The ancestors of the Rowson family first reached the shores of England in the wave of migration after the Norman Conquest of 1066. Their name is derived from the Norman given name Ralph. This name, which also occurs as Ralf, Rolf, and Raoul, is adapted from the Old French given name Raol.... [
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Roxburgh ScottishFrom
Roxburgh, a village near the market town of Kelso in the Scottish Borders area in Scotland, derived from the Old English byname
Hroc meaning "rook" and
burh meaning "fortified place"... [
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Royintan PersianRoyintan means "invulnerable". It is a Persian origin surname, which is written as رویین تن in Persian. It consists of
royen meaning "strong" and
tan meaning "body, person".... [
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Rozanov m RussianFrom Russian
роза (roza), meaning "rose". Denoted to a person living by a rose patch.
Rozelle FrenchBeautiful flower from France brought over by an immigrant named Page Rozelle. People said when she said something nice or touched you, good luck would come to you.
Rozema FrisianPossibly a contraction of Roelfsema meaning "son of
Roelf" or derived from
Roos. Also spelled Rosema, Roosma, Rozeman.
Rozhko Ukrainian, RussianFrom Ukrainian and Russian
рожок (rozhok), a diminutive form of the word "horn" in both langauges.
Rozman JewishVariant of Rosman. Slovenian (also Rožman): occupational name for a carter or a horse breeder or dealer, from Middle High German ros 'horse' + man 'man'. Compare German Rossmann.
Rózsavölgyi Hungarian, JewishEither a Magyarized form of
Rosenthal, or a habitational name denoting a person from the village of Ružindol in the Trnava region of Slovakia (formerly a part of Hungary and called Rózsavölgy).
Rozwadowski PolishHabitational name for someone from Rozwady or Rozwadów in Biała Podlaska voivodeship.
Ru ChineseFrom Chinese 汝
(rǔ) referring to the ancient fief of Ru Chuan (汝川) or the Ru river, both located in what is now Henan province.
Rubalcava SpanishHabitational name for someone originally from the town of Rubalcaba in Cantabria, Spain. The name itself is derived from Arabic الربع الخالي
(ar-rubʿ al-ḵālī) meaning "the Empty Quarter", referring to the Rub' al Khali desert in the Arabian Peninsula.
Rubiáns GalicianIt indicates familial origin in the parish of Santa María de Rubiáns in the municipality of Vilagarcía de Arousa.
Rubino ItalianThe surname Rubino derives from the name Rubino, in turn originated from the Latin term "Rubeus" (red) with evident reference to the well-known precious stone. It is thought that originally the surname was attributed to the physical characteristics of having red hair, however, the origin of the surname Rubino from the Hebrew term "Ruben" which meant "son of providence", or even from the apheresis of the name "Cherubino".
Rucci ItalianPatronymic from the personal name
Ruccio, from a short form of various pet names formed with this suffix, as for example Gasparuccio (from Gaspari) or Baldassaruccio (from Baldasare).
Ruch German (Swiss)It was originally a nickname for a greedy person, from Middle High German ruoch ‘eager,’ ‘intent.’... [
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Rucinski PolishHabitational name for someone from a place called Ruciany in Siedlce.
Rucker GermanMiddle High German: nickname
rucken "to move or draw". North German: nickname from Middle Low German rucker "thief", "greedy or acquisitive person". German: from a reduced form of the Germanic personal name
Rudiger... [
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Rückmann GermanFrom a Germanic personal name based on
hrok "intent", "eager" (Old High German
ruoh).
Rudd EnglishThe surname Rudd is derived from the Old English root "rud-," a component in the words "rudig," which means "ruddy," and "ruddoc," which means "red-breast." The surname was originally a nickname for a ruddy complexioned or red-haired person, or perhaps for someone who habitually wore the color red.
Rudeen Swedish (Archaic)Variant or possibly an anglicized form of
Rudén. Rudeen is currently not used in Sweden. One known bearer, bishop Torsten Rudeen (1661-1729), got his name from his father's surname
Rudenius (also related to Rudén).
Rudolf GermanFrom a personal name composed of Old High German
hrōd "renown" and
wolf "wolf", equivalent to English
Ralph. This name is also found in Slovenia.
Rudström SwedishCombination of Swedish
rud "deforested land, clearing" and
ström "stream".
Rudyard EnglishFrom the location Rudyard (Staffs) which is recorded as Rudegeard in 100 The place-name probably derives from Old English
rude "rue" and
geard "enclosure yard".
Rudzutaka Latvian (Rare)Rudzutaka is compound from two words first
rudzu meaning "rye" and second
taka meaning "path". Rudzutaka is femenine form of surname, the masculine form of surname is Rudzutaks. Most famous person with this surname is Jānis Rudzutaks: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jānis_Rudzutaks... [
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Rue FrenchThe name Rue dates back to the days of Medieval France, in the region of Normandy. It is derived from their residence in Normandy. However, the name Ruell is derived from the Old French word ruelle, meaning lane or alley, and indicates that the original bearer lived in such a place... [
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Rueangsi ThaiFrom Thai เรือง
(rueang) meaning "bright, brilliant" and ศรี
(si) meaning "glory, honour, splendour".
Rueger GermanThe name was likely first bestowed on someone thought to have the characteristics of a heron as a nickname, eventually becoming a hereditary surname.
Ruelas FrenchA last name common in Mexico which is believed to have derived from the French word ruelle (or Portuguese word ruela) meaning lane or alley.
Ruetten German(Rütten): from a field name, here showing an inflected form from a full name like aus den Rütten ‘from the clearing(s)’ (see
Rutten and
Reuter 1 Ruffin EnglishFrom the medieval French male personal name
Ruffin, from Latin
Rufinus, a derivative of
Rufus (literally "red-haired one")... [
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Ruffy SwissFrom a either of two places so named in Marne only one of which (in Vertus) still exists. Known bearers of this surname include the Swiss politician Eugène Ruffy (1854-1919), and Swiss politician Victor Ruffy (1823-1869).
Rüga EstonianRüga is an Estonian surname derived from "rügama" meaning to "toil" and "rügaja" meaning "toiler".
Rugby EnglishFrom Rugby, Warwickshire. Originally named
*Rocheberie, from Old English
*Hrocaburg, 'Hroca's fort', the name was altered due to influence fort Danish settlers, with the second element being replaced with Old Norse
byr, 'farm'.... [
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Ruge GermanNickname from Middle High German
ruowe,
ruge ‘quiet’, ‘calm’ or Low German
rug ‘rough’, ‘crude’.... [
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Rugeley EnglishFrom the name of a town in Staffordshire, England, derived from Old English
hrycg "ridge" and
leah "woodland clearing".
Rugg EnglishNickname for a person associated with the color red, whether through hair color, clothing, or complexion. Accordingly, the name is derived from the Old French word ruge, meaning red.
Rugh GermanA variant of the Alsacian German (and probably Swiss before that) Ruch. Also a variant of the Danish Rügh (not related as far as is known)
Ruh GermanDerived from German
ruhig meaning "quiet".
Ruhe GermanVariant of
Ruge. (
Rühe) is also a nickname from
Rüde ‘hound.’ Habitational name from places named Rühen, Rüden, Rhüden in northern Germany.
Ruhr GermanName given to a person who lived near the Ruhr River in Germany.
Ruibal GalicianIt indicates familial origin within the eponymous neighborhood of the council of Moraña.
Ruisard French (Rare, ?)Originated as a result of trade between France and the Persian Empires before the Iranian Revolution, probably during the Safavid Dynasty. The surname has its roots in the Persian
Riahi surname and the Arabic word رِيح (rīḥ) meaning "wind" and the Persian word “sered” before it was altered to fit French spelling rules.... [
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Ruiter DutchDerived from the Dutch noun
ruiter meaning "rider, horseman, knight".
Rukki EstonianRukki is an Estonian surname derived from "rukis", meaning "rye"
Rule Scottish, EnglishScottish name from the lands of Rule in the parish of Hobkirk, Roxburghshire. The derivation is from the River Rule which flows through the area, and is so called from the ancient Welsh word "rhull" meaning "hasty or rushing".... [
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Rull EstonianRull is an Estonian surname meaning "spool" and "roll".
Rumbelow EnglishMeans "person from Rumbelow", the name of various locations in England ("three mounds").
Rumble EnglishDescended from the personal name Rumbald/Rombold, which is composed of the Germanic elements
hrom "fame, glory" and
bald "bold, brave".
Rumfelt German, DutchAltered spelling of German
Romfeld, derived from Middle Low German
rüm- meaning "to clear (land)" and
feld meaning "open country, field", hence a topographic name or possibly a metonymic occupational name for a person engaged in clearing woodland, or in some cases a habitational name for someone from
Romfelt in the Ardennes... [
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Rumford EnglishFrom the parish of Romford in Essex, England. The name means "the wide ford" from Old English
rúm "wide".
Rummel GermanDerived from a short form of names containing the element
hruom "fame, glory". Alternatively, could be a nickname for a noisemaker, from Middle High German
rummeln "to make noise, to move impetuously"... [
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Rummenigge GermanMeaning uncertain. It could possibly be an occupational name for a viticulturist who grew grapes to make wine, a seller or producer of Romanian wine, or a nickname for a person who preferred to drink Romanian wine... [
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Rummo EstonianRummo is an Estonian surname, derived from "rumm" ("rum").
Rump EstonianRump is an Estonian surname meaning "dugout" and "punt".
Rumple GermanIt is derived from Rumbald, an Old German personal name.
Rumpole EnglishA different form of
Rumbold (from the Norman personal name
Rumbald, of Germanic origin and probably meaning literally "fame-bold"). A fictional bearer of the surname is Horace Rumpole, the eccentric QC created by John Mortimer (originally for a 1975 television play).
Rumschlag GermanThis name is possibly a derivative of the
German word for "envelope" which is spelled 'Umschlag'.
Rumsfeld GermanVariant spelling of
Rumfelt. A notable bearer was the American politician, businessman and Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld (1932-2021).
Runcie English, ScottishDerived from Latin runcinus, and related to the Old French "roncin", for a horse of little value. Middle English, Rouncy, as in Chaucer's Cantebury Tales.... [
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Rundell EnglishNickname derived from a diminutive of Middle English and Old French
rond,
rund meaning "fat, round" (see
Rounds), or derived from
Rundale, a local place in the village and civil parish of Shoreham in Kent, England, named with Old English
rum(ig) meaning "roomy, spacious" and
dæl meaning "valley".
Rundgren SwedishSwedish surname with somewhat unclear etymology. The first element is possibly taken from a place named with either of the elements
rund and/or
run.
Rund coincides with the Swedish word for "round", but it is not clear if the element used in this name is derived from that word... [
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Rundqvist SwedishCombination of Swedish
rund "round" and
qvist, an archaic spelling of
kvist, "twig".