Show ContentsRuger History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Ruger family

The surname Ruger was first found in Hessen, where the name became noted for its many branches within the region, each house acquiring a status and influence which was envied and enrolled by the princes of the region. In their later history the branches became a power unto themselves and were elevated to the ranks of nobility as they grew into this most influential family. Chronicles first mention Betz Ruecker of Schweinfurt in 1388 and Peschklle Ruecker of Glatz in 1343. The variation Rueckert is the more recent, and Rueckhardt first appears in the 16th century.

Early History of the Ruger family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Ruger research. Another 219 words (16 lines of text) covering the years 1545, 1550, 1594, 1631, 1667, 1689, 1788, 1834 and 1866 are included under the topic Early Ruger History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ruger Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Rucker, Ruecker, Ruckers (northern Germany), Ruckert (Franconia, Silesia), Rueckert, Rueckhardt, Ruckhardt, Rueckhart, Ruckhart, Ruckers, Rueckers, Rukker, Rucker, Ruck, Rucke and many more.

Early Notables of the Ruger family

Another 44 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Ruger Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Ruger migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Ruger Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Johann Philipp Ruger, who landed in New York, NY in 1710 1
  • Antoni Ruger, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1737 1
  • Burckhart Ruger, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1737 1
  • Jurg Ruger, aged 22, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1741 1
  • Leonhardt Michael Ruger, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1742 1
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Ruger Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • George Ruger, who landed in America in 1832 1
  • Fredrick Ruger, who arrived in Arkansas in 1896 1

Contemporary Notables of the name Ruger (post 1700) +

  • William Ruger (d. 1843), American lawyer and politician from New York
  • William Batterman Ruger (1916-2002), American gunsmith, co-founder of Sturm, Ruger & Company in 1949, eponym of the Ruger pistols and revolvers
  • Thomas Howard Ruger (1833-1907), American soldier and lawyer who served as a Union Major General in the American Civil War
  • Werner Rüger, German silver medalist luger at the 1938 European luge championships


  1. Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)


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