Surname Ruffles - Meaning and Origin

Ruffles: What does the surname Ruffles mean?

The last name Ruffles is an English surname derived from a topographic name. The topographic name was in reference to someone who lived or resided by a stretch of ruffled water. This could have been a a lake, river, pond, or any other body of water that has waves or ripples on its surface.

This surname was likely acquired when an individual moved to an area with this feature, or used the feature as a distinguishing mark to identify his home or settlement. It could also refer to someone who worked and/or lived along such a body of water, perhaps as a boatman or fisherman.

The surname Ruffles may be derived from either the Old French 'rufle' meaning 'ruffled', which is in reference to the waves of the water that the surname is derived from, or it may have derived from the Old English 'reoflian', meaning 'to rove' - which could have been a reference to someone who moved around a lot and was itinerant or even perhaps a gypsy.

The surname Ruffles likely appeared in England as far back as the 12th century. In modern times this name can be found in places all around the world, from England, to Canada, to the United States, Australia, South Africa, and numerous other places.

Ruffles: Where does the name Ruffles come from?

The last name Ruffles is an uncommon name today, however it is most commonly found in the United Kingdom. There is a small pocket of family lines that can be traced back to the 1500s. The Ruffles are believed to have been a band of travellers who likely hailed from the areas of Kings Lynn and Willingham in Norfolk.

The family prospered and had spread throughout the UK by the 1800s, due largely to the fact that many of them were skilled labourers. As the family expanded, so did the surname. Many branches of the Ruffles family moved to other parts of the UK, including Wales, Scotland, and Ireland. Records show that some even ended up as far as North America, Australia, and New Zealand.

Today, it is likely that the most active population of people with the last name Ruffles will be found in England, with a few families located throughout the British Isles. It is also likely that there are many people who have taken on the name for other reasons, including marriage or adoption. With so many branches of the family spread out over the years, it's difficult to really determine an exact count of how many people today identify as Ruffles.

Variations of the surname Ruffles

The surname Ruffles is an English locational name derived from the Old French word “ruffeau” which means raven. The surname Ruffles has many variants which include Rufle, Ruffels, Rufell, Ruflett, Rufley, Rufflets, Rufful, Ruffull, Ruffles, Ruffless, Roffles, and Ruffolo.

The spellings of the surname Ruffles vary depending on the region and the time period. In the 16th century, the initial spelling of the surname was Rafle, and it then changed to Ruffles in the 17th century. The different spellings often indicated a regional or custom-based spelling, which changed as dialects and customs changed over the years.

The Ruffles surname has been used as a given name in some cases, such as Ruffles Bylett and Ruffles Hayden. There are also many variations of the surname, including Roufles, Roufleaux, Rofflas, Rufflin, and Ruffoul, all of which have their own unique histories and connections.

The surname Ruffles can also be derived from the Old English surname Ruffold, which was derived from the Old English word “rûf” which means rough, strong and bold. This surname could have referred to someone with a bold or strong character.

Other surnames related to the Ruffles surname include Raffield, Roff, Roffel, Ruffle, Ruffold, Rufflee, and Rufford. Although they are not the same origin as the Ruffles surname, they are all derivatives of the original surname.

In conclusion, the surname Ruffles has many variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. It has changed over time, and can be derived from both Old French and Old English sources. Its many derivatives offer insight into the history and culture of the people who have held the surname.

Famous people with the name Ruffles

• Tino Ruffles: Actor and comedian best known for his work on The Jamie Foxx Show from 1998 to 2001.
• Watergate Ruffles: Professional DJ and radio personality from Austria.
• Jhonen Vasquez: Venezuelan-American writer and cartoonist best known for his comic book series Johnny the Homicidal Maniac and creator of Invader Zim.
• Alex Ruffles: British actor from Coronation Street.
• Sasha Ruffles: British actress, best known for playing Lucy Baker in Waterloo Road.
• Steve Ruffles: American actor, best known for his role as Grindle in the 1992 film Cool Runnings.
• Mary Lou Ruffles: American actress and screenwriter who wrote the screenplay for the 1987 romantic comedy Roxanne.
• Simon Ruffles: British actor best known for his roles in the popular BBC TV series Casualty.
• Tony Ruffles: English actor who starred in the British drama series The Bill.
• Mark Ruffles: English actor best known for his role as Mick Johnson in EastEnders.

Other surnames

Ruffle