Rullo History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland
Scotland

The Rullo surname evolved from two sources. In some instances, it came from the medieval personal name Roul. It was also a habitational name derived from "the lands of Rule, now included in the parish of Hobkirk, Roxburghshire. The territory in turn derives its name from the Water of Rule, an affluent of the Teviot. Retween 1214 and 1249 (REG., 148), we find Alan de Rule, Richard de Rule, and Thomas de Rule appearing as witnesses to charters. Adam de Roule and Thomas de Roule, both of the county of Rokesburk, rendered homage in 1296." 1

Other sources postulate the name could have been from "St. Regulus, who brought the relics of St. Andrew to Scotland" 2 or from Rule in Staffordshire, England and included the early spellings: Rewel(e), Rewell, Rewyl, Ruwel and in the 12th century, Ruwell. 3

Two other sources note that it was more likely derived from the "Norman personal name Raoul." 4 5

Early Origins of the Rullo family

The surname Rullo was first found in the Domesday Book of 1086 which records the name Rolf in Northumberland and Norfolk, Routf in Leicestershire and Turstinus filius Rolf, Rou, Roffi. 6 7

Saint Rule or Regulus (fl. 8th century?), was the legendary founder of the see of St. Andrews. "He is a leading character in the story of the journeyings of the relics of St. Andrew. Accordingly to ancient writings, "after some wandering, Regulus reached Scotland, and on a hill called Rigmond (Kil-rymont, or St. Andrews) met the king of the Picts at the head of an army. The king was Ungus, son of Urguist, who had already been warned in a vision to offer the tenth part of his inheritance to St. Andrew in order that he might be victorious in the war he was waging against the Britannic nations. The king then dedicated that place to St. Andrew, to be head of all the Pictish churches." 8

Back in Scotland, we found "Adam de Roule, c. 1300, made a grant of four acres of land in Molle to the monks of Kelso which is witnessed by Hugh de Roule and William de Roule. John de Roule witnessed a quitclaim by Robert de Colleuyll in 1328, and Walter de Roule. precentor in Glasgow, is mentioned between 1321 and 1333. In 1348 Thomas Ruwell was witness in a Justiciary Court case in Dundee, another Thomas de Rowle was a tenant of the Douglas in Dalfubill in 1376. William of Roule or Roulle witnessed the grant of the Forest of Eteryk to John Kerre in 1358, and was juror on an inquisition at Roxburgh in 1361." 1

Early History of the Rullo family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Rullo research. Another 330 words (24 lines of text) covering the years 1214, 1249, 1296, 1335, 1429, 1479, 1507, 1526, 1567, 1570, 1629, 1650, 1651, 1656, 1660, 1662, 1665, 1671, 1679, 1685, 1690, 1701, 1802, 1822, 1826, 1827, 1831, 1839, 1842, 1878 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Rullo History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Rullo Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Rule, Wrule, Roul, Rulle, Roulle, Roull and others.

Early Notables of the Rullo family

Notable amongst the family name during their early history was Dr Gilbert Rule (1629-1701), Scottish nonconformist divine, Principal of Edinburgh University (1690 to 1701.) He was "born about 1629, probably in Edinburgh, where his brother Archibald was a merchant and magistrate. He was educated at Glasgow University, where he gained repute as a regent, and in 1651 he was promoted to be sub-principal of King's College, Aberdeen. About 1656 he became perpetual curate of Alnwick, Northumberland. At the Restoration Major Orde, one of the churchwardens, provided a prayer-book. Rule, however, preached against its use, whereupon Orde indicted him (August 1660) at...
Another 117 words (8 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Rullo Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Rullo family to Ireland

Some of the Rullo family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. More information about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Rullo family

Some of the first settlers of this family name or some of its variants were: William Rule, who settled in St. Christopher in 1635; Dorothy Rule and her husband came to Virginia in 1639; Anthony Rule, who came to Virginia sometime between 1671 and 1672.

Contemporary Notables of the name Rullo (post 1700) +

Generoso Charles "Jerry" Rullo (1923-2016), American professional basketball player
Alfredo Rullo Rizzotti (1909-1972), Brazilian artist, that worked with painting, drawing and interior design

Citations +

Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
Charnock, Richard, Stephen, Ludus Patronymicus of The Etymology of Curious Surnames. London: Trubner & Co., 60 Paternoster Row, 1868. Print.
Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
The Norman People and Their Existing Descendants in the British Dominions and the United States Of America. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1975. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0636-X)
Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print