Ruch History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Germany

The ancestral home of the Ruch family is in the German province of Bavaria. Ruch is a German nickname surname. Such names came from eke-names, or added names, that described their initial bearer through reference to a physical characteristic or other attribute. It is a name for a shaggy or unkempt person, stemming from the German word "rauch," meaning "rough, hairy." As with many early names such as this, the reference was often in jest. More likely, the origin is in reference to the smoke generated by smithies and thereby would be a trade name. The name was translated to English when the first settlers immigrated to North America, giving rise to such variations as "Smoak" or "Smoke."

Early Origins of the Ruch family

The surname Ruch was first found in Bavaria, where the name was anciently associated with the tribal conflicts of the area. Literally, the name refers to the smoke generated by smithies. For instance, a smith in Zurich was known as "Meister Roeuchli," literally "Mister Smoke," around 1468. The various branches of the Rauch and Raeuchlin families declared allegiances to many nobles and princes of early history, lending their influence in struggles for power and status within the region.

Early History of the Ruch family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Ruch research. Another 137 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1455, 1522, 1740, 1743, 1745, 1808 and 1814 are included under the topic Early Ruch History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ruch 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 Ruch include Raucher, Rauche, Raeuchlin, Reuchlin, Raeuchle, Rauck, Raucker, Raucke, Rauk, Rauker, Rauke, Smoak, Smoke, Ruch and many more.

Early Notables of the Ruch family

Prominent among members of the name Ruch in this period include Johannes Reuchlin (1455-1522), who was, together with his friend Erasmus, the driving force behind the German Renaissance. He began as a lawyer in the service of the Duke of Wuerttemberg, became a judge of...
Another 45 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Ruch Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ruch Ranking

In the United States, the name Ruch is the 6,892^nd most popular surname with an estimated 4,974 people with that name. 1

Ruch 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 Ruch or a variant listed above:

Ruch Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

George Ruch, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1664 2

Ruch Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Jacob Ruch, who arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1746 2
Catherine Ruch, who landed in New York, NY in 1752 2

Ruch Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Frederick Ruch, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1836 2
C Ruch, aged 21, who arrived in New York, NY in 1850 2
Christian Ruch, who arrived in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1854 2
Francisco Ruch, who landed in Puerto Rico in 1858 2
Fritz Ruch, who arrived in Kentucky in 1885 2
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Ruch (post 1700) +

Loren Ruch, American producer and writer, known for HGTV Dream Home Giveaway 2007 (2007), HGTV Dream Home 2006 (2006) and Rose Parade 2007 (2007)
Chassidy Ruch, American assistant art director, known for her work on Ghost Trek: The Kinsey Report (2011), Back in the Saddle (2010) and The Promise Jar (2010)
Daniel Ruch (b. 1983), American assistant coach with Virginia Wesleyan
Hans Ruch (1898-1947), German international footballer who played for the Germany National Team from 1925 to 1929

Citations +

"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)