Ruge History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The ancient name Ruge is a Norman name that would have been developed in England after the Norman Conquest of England in 1066. This name was a name given to a person associated with the color red, whether through hair color, clothing, or complexion. Accordingly, the name is derived from the Old French word ruge, meaning red.

Early Origins of the Ruge family

The surname Ruge was first found in Norfolk where they held a family seat as Lords of the Manor of Felmingham. This ancient manor dates back to the Domesday Book, 1 a survey of England taken in 1086 by Duke William of Normandy after his conquest of England at Hastings in 1066 A.D. In the survey, the village, which also included a Mill and Church, was held from the King by Ashford, Roger Bigod, and the Abbot of Holme. Conjecturally the family name Rugg is descended from one of these Norman nobles, although which one is uncertain.

Early History of the Ruge family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Ruge research. Another 90 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1410, 1536, 1549, 1550, 1572, 1573, 1576, 1581, 1610, 1657 and 1672 are included under the topic Early Ruge History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ruge Spelling Variations

Before the last few hundred years the English language had no fixed system of spelling rules. For that reason, spelling variations occurred commonly in Anglo Norman surnames. Over the years, many variations of the name Ruge were recorded, including Rugg, Rug, Rugge and others.

Early Notables of the Ruge family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was Robert Rigge, Rygge or Rugge (died 1410), English Chancellor of the University of Oxford, a native of Devonshire, and possibly a relative of Thomas de Bitton, bishop of Exeter.William Rugg (died 1550), was an English Benedictine theologian, and Bishop of Norwich from 1536 to 1549. Descended from an old Shropshire family, who were large landholders in that county as far back as the thirteenth century, he was the son of William Rugg of North Reppes in Norfolk. The later years...
Another 88 words (6 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Ruge Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ruge migration to the United States +

The unstable environment in England at this time caused numerous families to board ships and leave in search of opportunity and freedom from persecution abroad in places like Ireland, Australia, and particularly the New World. The voyage was extremely difficult, however, and only taken at great expense. The cramped conditions and unsanitary nature of the vessels caused many to arrive diseased and starving, not to mention destitute from the enormous cost. Still opportunity in the emerging nations of Canada and the United States was far greater than at home and many went on to make important contributions to the cultures of their adopted countries. An examination of many early immigration records reveals that people bearing the name Ruge arrived in North America very early:

Ruge Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Ernst Ruge, who arrived in Arkansas in 1891 2

Ruge migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Ruge Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

C F Ruge, who landed in Quebec in 1850

Ruge 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:

Ruge Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Catarina Ruge, aged 22, a servant, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Maraval" in 1879

Contemporary Notables of the name Ruge (post 1700) +

George H. Ruge, American radio personality
Arthur Claude Ruge (1905-2000), American engineer and inventor pf the strain gauge
Gerd Ruge (1928-2021), German journalist, author and filmmaker
Carl Arnold Ruge (1846-1926), German pathologist
Georg Ruge (1852-1919), German anatomist
Friedrich Ruge (1894-1985), German naval officer, recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
Otto Ruge (1882-1961), Norwegian general
Nina Ruge (b. 1956), German journalist
Arnold Ruge (1802-1889), German philosopher
Arnold Ruge (1802-1880), German writer

Citations +

Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
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)