Boruff History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Germany

The Boruff surname first began to be used in the German state of Bavaria, some time after the 12th century, when hereditary surnames were adopted according to fairly general rules, and names that were derived from locations became particularly common. The family name Boruff is a local surname. Originally denoting the proprietorship of an estate or influence within a village, the German preposition von, which means from or of, used with local names, was taken as a mark of aristocracy. The surname Boruff was given to someone who lived in Bavaria. The family name Boruff can be traced back to the Middle Ages, when Bavaria was a region characterized by court intrigue and heroic battles over power and prestige. The Boruff family was involved in the ancient feuds between noble families, who competed for domination of the territory. In this era of rapidly changing political allegiances, the Boruff family aligned itself with many different noble families and their support was sought by many leaders in their search for power.

Early Origins of the Boruff family

The surname Boruff was first found in Bavaria, where the name Beruff was anciently associated with the tribal conflicts of the area. They declared allegiances to many nobles and princes of early history, lending their influence in struggles for power and status within the region. They branched into many houses, and their contributions were sought by several leaders in their quest to maximize their power.

Early History of the Boruff family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Boruff research. Another 117 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1787 and 1792 are included under the topic Early Boruff History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Boruff Spelling Variations

One can encounter great variation in the spelling of surnames: in early times, spelling in general, and thus the spelling of names was not yet standardized; and later, spellings would change with branching and movement of families. Variations of the name Boruff include Beruff, Berueff, Berueffe, Berufe, Beruffe, Beruth, Beruthe, Beruthe, Berrufe, Berruffe, Berruth, Berruthe, Baruff and many more.

Early Notables of the Boruff family

More information is included under the topic Early Boruff Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Boruff migration to the United States +

The great European flow of migration to North America, which began in the middle of the 17th century and continued into the 20th century, was particularly attractive to those from Bavaria who wished to escape either poverty or religious persecution. For many Bavarian tenant farmers, the chance to own their own land was a major incentive. So the widespread colonization of the United States began in 1650, when many immigrants from Germany settled in pockets in Pennsylvania, Texas, New York, Illinois, and California. In Canada, German settlement centered in Ontario and the prairie provinces. Among those of this surname listed in various historical records were:

Boruff Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Anna Boruff, aged 32, who settled in Bedford, Ind., in 1913
Kate C. Boruff, aged 62, who immigrated to Los Angeles, Calif., in 1924

Contemporary Notables of the name Boruff (post 1700) +

Paul Boruff, American actor, known for The Book Club (2012), Redemption: For Robbing the Dead (2011) and Adventures of Power (2008)
John Boruff (1910-1993), American actor and writer from Mount Vernon, New York, known for Lights Out (1946), The Defenders (1961) and Matinee Theatre (1955)
Alexander "Alex" Boruff, American Garden State Film Festival Award nominated actor, known for his work on That Other Rusty and Masquerade Movie (2007), Out of Focus (2010) and Ever Last (2012)