Ruffhead History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

• Origins Available:
• Wales

Etymology of Ruffhead

The origins of the Welsh name Ruffhead go back to the ancient Celtic culture that existed in the hills and Moors of Wales. The forbears that initially held the name Ruffhead once lived in either of the settlements called Rufford in Lancashire and Nottinghamshire, or in the place called Rufforth in the West Riding of Yorkshire. The surname Ruffhead belongs to the category of habitation names, which are derived from pre-existing names for towns, villages, parishes, or farmsteads.

Early Origins of the Ruffhead family

Early History of the Ruffhead family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Ruffhead research. Another 82 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1490 and 1550 are included under the topic Early Ruffhead History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ruffhead Spelling Variations

Although there are comparatively few Welsh surnames, they have a great many spelling variations. Variations of Welsh names began almost immediately after their acceptance within Welsh society. In the Middle Ages, it was up to priests and the few other people that recorded names in official documents to decide how to spell the names that they heard. Variations that occurred because of improper recording increased dramatically as the names were later transliterated into English. The Brythonic Celtic language of Wales, known by natives as Cymraeg, featured many highly inflected sounds that could not be properly captured by the English language. Spelling variations were, however, also carried out according to an individual's design: a branch loyalty within the family, a religious adherence, or even patriotic affiliations were all indicated by the particular variation of one's name. The spelling variations of the name Ruffhead have included Rufforde, Rufford and others.

Early Notables of the Ruffhead family

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

Migration of the Ruffhead family

The Welsh began to emigrate to North America in the late 1800s and early 1900s in search of land, work, and freedom. Those that arrived helped shape the industry, commerce, and the cultural heritage of both Canada and the United States. The records regarding immigration and passenger show a number of people bearing the name Ruffhead: John Rufford who landed in North America in 1770.