Show ContentsRuthvyn History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The Ruthvyn surname is a Scottish habitation name. That is, the surname is derived from a place name. Some suggest the name is derived from the lands in Perthshire long held by this family.

Early Origins of the Ruthvyn family

The surname Ruthvyn was first found in Angus (Gaelic: Aonghas), at Ruthven, a parish in the Tayside region of northeastern Scotland, and present day Council Area of Angus, formerly known as Forfar or Forfarshire. This noble Scottish family claims to trace its ancestry to Thor, the Scandinavian, who settled in Scotland in the reign of David I (12th C.) 1 It is thought that they held the Barony of Ruthven in Angus about 1050, and then branched into Perthshire.

Early History of the Ruthvyn family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Ruthvyn research. Another 227 words (16 lines of text) covering the years 1296, 1488, 1520, 1528, 1541, 1552, 1566, 1577, 1582, 1584, 1600, 1641, 1651, 1671, 1673, 1701, 1769, 1772, 1800, 1816, 1819, 1833, 1835, 1836, 1838, 1840, 1919 and 1921 are included under the topic Early Ruthvyn History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ruthvyn Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Ruthven, Ruthen, Ruthin, Wruthven, Wruthen, Rutheven, Rotheven, Rothveyn and many more.

Early Notables of the Ruthvyn family

Notable amongst the Clan from early times was William Ruthven, 1st Lord Ruthven (died c. 1528), a Scottish nobleman, Privy Counsellor of Scotland; William Ruthven, 2nd Lord Ruthven (died 1552), a Scottish nobleman, Extraordinary Lord of Session and Keeper of the Privy Seal; Patrick Ruthven (ca.1520-1566) 3rd Lord of Ruthven, Privy Councillor to Mary Queen of Scots; William Ruthven (1541-1584) 4th Lord Ruthven, Earl of Gowrie; John Ruthven, 3rd Earl of Gowrie (c.1577-1600), a Scottish nobleman who was killed while...
Another 79 words (6 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Ruthvyn Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ireland Migration of the Ruthvyn family to Ireland

Some of the Ruthvyn family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 86 words (6 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Ruthvyn family

Some of the first settlers of this family name or some of its variants were: James Ruthven, who arrived in America in 1785; Neil Ruthven, who was on record in Ontario in 1815; Colin Ruthven, who arrived in Ontario in 1818; Hugh Ruthven, who settled in Ontario in 1818.



  1. 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)


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