Ruby History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

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Germany

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Bavaria, Germany is the ancestral home of the Ruby family. The Ruby surname evolved as a local name. It is a name for a family that lived in Bavaria, where the family gained a significant reputation for its contributions to the emerging medieval society.

Early Origins of the Ruby family

The surname Ruby was first found in Bavaria, where the family gained a significant reputation for its contributions to the emerging mediaeval society. The name became prominent as many branches of the family founded separate houses and acquired estates in various regions, always elevating their social status by their great contributions to society. In the Middle Ages, the word "Rubin" referred to a type of gem. Individual bearers of the name first mentioned in ancient chronicles include Richter Rubynus of Bruenn in 1240 and Nicolas Rubein (Rubin) of Munich in 1343. Also, a popular medieval minstrel of Tyrol bore the name Rubin. He was of the minor nobility, had his home in Merano, wrote 22 songs, and participated in the crusade of 1228.

Early History of the Ruby family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Ruby research. Another 166 words (12 lines of text) covering the years 1752 and 1760 are included under the topic Early Ruby History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ruby Spelling Variations

In the medieval era, many different cultural groups lived in the German states. There are thus many regional variations of German surnames from that era. Westphalians spoke Low German, which is similar to modern Dutch. Many German names carry suffixes that identify where they came from. Others have phrases attached that identify something about the original bearer. Other variations in German names resulted from the fact that medieval scribes worked without the aid of any spelling rules. The spelling variations of the name Ruby include Rubin, Rubein, Rubinus, Ruben, Ruebin, Rubinich, Rubinig, Rubinick and many more.

Early Notables of the Ruby family

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

Ruby Ranking

In the United States, the name Ruby is the 3,478^th most popular surname with an estimated 9,948 people with that name. 1 However, in France, the name Ruby is ranked the 4,213^rd most popular surname with an estimated 1,500 - 2,000 people with that name. 2

Ruby migration to the United States +

Thousands of German settlers came to North America between the mid-17th and mid-20th centuries. The hardships of the long voyage were balanced by the opportunity to escape poverty and religious persecution. The descendents of these settlers still populate the states of Pennsylvania, Texas, New York, Illinois, and California. Many also live in Ontario and the prairie provinces of Canada. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families has revealed a number of immigrants bearing the name Ruby or a variant listed above:

Ruby Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Peter Ruby, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1738 3
Casper Ruby, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1748 3

Ruby Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Michael Ruby, who arrived in Somerset County, Pennsylvania in 1833 3
Anthelme Ruby, who landed in New York, NY in 1834 3
Mr. Josiah Ruby, (b. 1828), aged 23, Cornish miner departing from Penzance aboard the ship "Mountaineer" arriving in the United States on 30 April 1851 4
Franz Ruby, who arrived in Kentucky in 1890 3

Ruby migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Ruby Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Ann Ruby, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1750
Barta Ruby, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1750

Ruby Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

John Ruby, who landed in Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1843

Ruby migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Ruby Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Miss Mary Ruby, (b. 1798), aged 16, English convict who was convicted in Middlesex, England for 7 years for larceny, transported aboard the "Broxbournebury" in January 1814, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 5
James Ruby, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Constance" in 1848 6

Ruby migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Ruby Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Mrs. Jane Ruby, (b. 1844), aged 30, Cornish settler departing on 16th November 1874 aboard the ship "Rakaia" arriving in Lyttelton, Canterbury, New Zealand on 7th February 1875 7
Mr. John C. Ruby, (b. 1846), aged 28, Cornish farm labourer departing on 16th November 1874 aboard the ship "Rakaia" arriving in Lyttelton, Canterbury, New Zealand on 7th February 1875 7

Contemporary Notables of the name Ruby (post 1700) +

Joseph Clemens "Joe" Ruby (1933-2020), American animator, television editor, writer, and producer
Lloyd Ruby (1928-2009), American racecar driver, inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America (2015)
Jack Leon Ruby (1911-1967), born Jacob Leon Rubenstein, American nightclub operator who shot and killed Lee Harvey Oswald, convicted of the murder but died died of a pulmonary embolism in prison
Harry Ruby (1895-1974), Jewish-American composer and screenwriter, a good friend of Groucho Marx, inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1970, remembered for his songs Who's Sorry Now? (1923), I Wanna Be Loved by You (1928), Nevertheless (1931) and many more
Clayton Charles Ruby CM (1942-2022), Canadian lawyer and activist, 60th Treasurer of the Law Society of Upper Canada in 2006
Sébastien Ruby, French Brigadier General during the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars from 1789 to 1815 8
Karine Ruby (1978-2009), French seven-time gold medalist snowboarder, killed while on the descent of Mont Blanc
Ruby Dagnall (b. 2000), Norwegian actress who has won two Amanda Awards
Ruby May Stokes (b. 2000), English actress, known for her roles in Una (2016), Rocks (2019), and A Banquet (2021)
Ruby Stutts Lyells (1908-1994), born Ruby Elizabeth Stutts, an American librarian and the first African-American professional librarian in Mississippi