Ruffo History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Italy

Early Origins of the Ruffo family

The surname Ruffo was first found in Calabria a territorial district of Italy. Ancient Calabria was in Lecce. Modern Calabria is in the southern extremity of Italy coasting the straits of Messina. Reggio and Messina are the cities of note. This beautiful region produces wine. Olive oil and fruit. Reggio was heavily bombed during WWII because of its strategical link with Sicily. In those ancient times only persons of rank, the podesta, clergy, city officials, army officers, artists, landowners were entered into the records. To be recorded at this time, at the beginning of recorded history, was of itself a great distinction and indicative of noble ancestry and of Norman extraction. They were described as a Norman Magna Domus. Serio o Sigerio Ruffo was Marshall of Calabria during the reign of Frederido II of Sicily.

Early History of the Ruffo family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Ruffo research. Another 145 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1233, 1235, 1316, 1406, 1508, 1544, 1563, 1572, 1587, 1663 and 1753 are included under the topic Early Ruffo History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ruffo Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Ruffo, Ruvo, DeRuvo, DeRuffo, De Ruffo, Di Ruffo, Ruffola and many more.

Early Notables of the Ruffo family

By the end of the 15th century, southern Italy was known as the Kingdom of Naples, ruled by the house of Aragon. By the early eighteenth century, the Austrians had gained much of the region, under the rule of the Austrian emperor Kales VI. However, in 1734, Spaniard Don Carlos defeated the Austrians, and the region came under Spanish rule once more. In 1799, the French invaded Naples and in 1806, Napoleon's brother Joseph was made king, but this hold on Italy was not to last. In 1813 the Congress Of Vienna restored pre-Napoleonic rule. Among prominent bearers of this surname in early times were:

Vincenzo Ruffo (c.1508-1587), Italian composer, maestro di cappella at Verona Cathedral (1544), and at Milan Cathedral (1563-1572)

Ruffo migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Ruffo Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Bernard Ruffo, age 28, who arrived in America on July 1, 1880, aboard the "St. Laurent"
Fioravante Ruffo, who arrived in America on March 9, 1887, aboard the "Cheribon"
Rosa Ruffo, age 32, who arrived in America on Aug. 24, 1888
Giuseppe Ruffo, age 34, who arrived in New York on May 28, 1889

Contemporary Notables of the name Ruffo (post 1700) +

Albert J Ruffo (1908-2003), American politician, Mayor of San Jose 1946-1948, philanthropist, educator, lawyer, and football coach
Bruno Ruffo (1920-2007), Italian Grand Prix motorcycle road racer
Titta Ruffo (1877-1953), Italian opera singer
John Patrick Ruffo (1988-2023), Australian singer, songwriter, musician, dancer, actor, and television presenter
Fabrizio Ruffo (1744-1827), Italian Neapolitan general in the French Revolutionary Wars, and a cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church
Stan "Steamin'" Ruffo, blues musician and leader of The Stan Ruffo Band
Ruffo Fabrizio (1744-1827), Italian cardinal and politician