Rubin
A surname that can come from the word for “ruby” or, in some cases, from a Jewish name built on that gemstone image.
The #1,553 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 13,328 Americans shares it.
Etymology
In many cases, Rubin is a name connected with the word for a ruby. The root goes back to Latin rubinus/ruber, meaning “red” or “ruby,” and similar forms passed into German and other European languages. In Jewish naming, it may also be a surname adopted from the attractive, symbolic meaning of “ruby” rather than from a place or occupation.
History
The surname appears in several European naming traditions, especially German-speaking and Jewish contexts. Historical surname writers also link related forms such as Rubinstein to the same “ruby” root. In the United States, Rubin has been carried by both Jewish immigrant families and non-Jewish families of European origin.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
The name is ultimately tied to the same color-and-gem family as “ruby,” so it carries a built-in sense of red brilliance.
From the historical record
“RUBINSTEIN /Jewish nickname) [Ger. rubitt, L.Lat. rubin-us, a ruby ; Lat. rube-US, red -|- Ger. O.H.Ger. iteiB, a stone] SACHS”
— Surnames of the United Kingdom: a concise etymological dictionary (2 vols in 1)