Ruffin
A surname from a French and Latin word for “red” or “red-haired,” originally used as a descriptive nickname.
The #2,231 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 18,914 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Ruffin is commonly explained as a French form of the Latin personal name Rufinus, built on Latin rufus, meaning “red” or “reddish.” In that sense, it began as a descriptive name for someone with a ruddy complexion or red hair. Older surname dictionaries also connect it with French Rufin and related forms such as Rufino and Rufina.
History
The name appears in medieval and later French usage and was carried into English-speaking areas through French influence. Historical surname writers also note it as a diminutive or related form alongside Rufus and Rufin, all tied to the same color-based root. In the United States, Ruffin has been established for generations and is now most familiar as a relatively uncommon surname.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
A Roman general under Theodosius is recorded as Rufinus, showing how old the underlying name tradition is.
From the historical record
“■ell-us] RUFFIN (A..Fr.-Lat.) the French i?Mi?;«, Rufin, Latin Ruf(f)in-us=the Red, Red- Haired [f. Lat. ruf-us, red, with the suff. -in-usl Rujinus was the name of one of Theo- dosius's generals. RUFFORD (Eng.) Bel. to Rufford = the”
— Surnames of the United Kingdom: a concise etymological dictionary (2 vols in 1)