Rudder History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Early Origins of the Rudder family

The surname Rudder was first found in Cheshire where it "is the name of an ancient and influential family of Kingsley, where they owned considerable estates from the 13th to the 17th century (O.). The name of Rutter is now best represented amongst the farmers around Tarporley, which is only some seven or eight miles from Kingsley, so that we may repeat the remark made by Ormerod about 70 years ago "that the descendants are still living (as yeomen) and day labourers within the precincts of the feudal power of their ancestors." The name is also established in the counties of Northumberland, Durham, and Lincoln, and in the North and East Ridings of Yorkshire. " 1

As far as the etymology of the name, there is much debate. Most sources claim the name is from the German word for "ritter, a rider, i.e. a trooper." 2 3 2 4 Halliwell goes on the note that "the term was usually applied to a fine, dashing, boasting gallant; one so fashionable as to speak much in foreign languages." 3

However, one source claims the name was in fact, a Norman French name from "Roter" as the Magni Rotuli Scaccarii Normanniae lists Fulco des Rotors, Normandy 1180-1195; and Fulco de Rotor, 1198 and then notes that Richard and Thomas Rotor or Rotour, were both listed in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273. 5

The famed English composer, conductor, editor, arranger, and record producer, John Milford Rutter CBE (b. 1945) was born in London.

Early History of the Rudder family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Rudder research. Another 79 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1635, 1687, 1697, 1698, 1719, 1720, 1723, 1724, 1727, 1730 and 1775 are included under the topic Early Rudder History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Rudder Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Rutter, Ruttery, Rutty and others.

Early Notables of the Rudder family

Distinguished members of the family include John Rutty (1697-1775) a Dublin Quaker physician and naturalist born in Melksham, Wiltshire; and his cousin, William Rutty M.D. (1687-1730) was an English physician, elected a Fellow of the Royal Society 30 June 1720 and later became second secretary 30 November 1727.John Rutter (fl. 1635), was an English poet who belonged to Ben Jonson's latest circle of friends...
Another 64 words (5 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Rudder Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Rudder Ranking

In the United States, the name Rudder is the 11,459^th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 6

Rudder migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Rudder Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

James Rudder, who arrived in Virginia in 1663 7

Rudder Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

George Rudder, who landed in Virginia in 1702 7

Rudder Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

John Rudder, who landed in New York, NY in 1811 7
Patrick Rudder, who arrived in New York, NY in 1811 7
Bridget Rudder, aged 22, who landed in America, in 1892
Emma Rudder, aged 15, who landed in America, in 1896
Sarah E. Rudder, aged 43, who immigrated to the United States, in 1896

Rudder Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Thomas Rudder, aged 2, who landed in America from Cavan, in 1904
Edith Jane Rudder, aged 44, who immigrated to the United States from Barbados, in 1905
Joseph Rudder, aged 44, who immigrated to the United States from Hazzardstown, Ireland, in 1907
Edith Rudder, aged 21, who settled in America, in 1908
Alfred Rudder, aged 32, who settled in America from Barbados, in 1909
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Rudder (post 1700) +

Scott Rudder (b. 1969), American Republican politician in the New Jersey General Assembly (2008) 8
James Earl Rudder (1910-1970), United States Army Major General, Texas Land Commissioner, President of Texas A&M University
Samuel Rudder (d. 1801), English topographer, born at Cirencester, Gloucestershire, where he carried on business as a printer
Michael Rudder (b. 1950), Canadian Genie nominated film, television, theatre and voice actor
David Michael Rudder (b. 1953), Trinidad musician
Lynne Rudder Baker (1944-2017), American philosopher and author

The Rudder Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Melitae amor
Motto Translation: Love of Malta.

Citations +

Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.
Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
Halliwell, James Orchard. A Dictionary of Archaic and Provincial WordsLondon: John Russel Smith, Old Compton Street, Soho, 1848, Digital, 2 Vols
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)
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
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)
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2011, November 24) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html