The surname Rutherford, also Rutherfurd, is a Scottish and Northern English

habitational surname A toponymic surname or topographic surname is a surname derived from a place name.

deriving from a place in the Scottish borders region near Roxburgh. It is also a given name.

Origin

Rutherford is a Scottish border clan name. The name comes from a place-name in Roxburghshire on the south bank of the river Tweed, midway between Melrose and Kelso. A village there, then called Rothersfurth, was burnt and razed by an English army in 1545 and has disappeared from the map. The origin of the Rutherford name is thought to have been the Old English "rother" meaning “cattle” and "ford", “a river crossing.” Or according to another theory, the name can be traced back to the

West Flemish West Flemish (''West-Vlams'' or ''West-Vloams'' or ''Vlaemsch'' (in French-Flanders), nl, West-Vlaams, french: link=no, flamand occidental) is a collection of Dutch dialects spoken in western Belgium and the neighbouring areas of France and t ...

name

Ruddervoorde Oostkamp (; vls, Ôostkamp) is a municipality located in the Belgian province of West Flanders. The municipality comprises the villages of Hertsberge, Oostkamp proper, Ruddervoorde and Waardamme. On January 1, 2019, Oostkamp had a total populat ...

, a community now part of

Oostkamp Oostkamp (; vls, Ôostkamp) is a municipality located in the Belgian province of West Flanders. The municipality comprises the villages of Hertsberge, Oostkamp proper, Ruddervoorde and Waardamme. On January 1, 2019, Oostkamp had a total population ...

. Another theory of the origin of the name states that a man by the name Ruther carried an ancient king of Scots over the

River Tweed The River Tweed, or Tweed Water ( gd, Abhainn Thuaidh, sco, Watter o Tweid, cy, Tuedd), is a river long that flows east across the Border region in Scotland and northern England. Tweed cloth derives its name from its association with the R ...

. Eventually, a descendant of the king gave land to the family that carried his forefather over the river and when surnames were adopted, Rutherford came into being. The motto of the Rutherfords of one of the clans is ''Nec sorte nec fato'', represented as "Nor by fate nor by chance."

Surname

Notable people with the surname include: *

Adam Rutherford Adam David Rutherford (born 1975) is a British geneticist and science populariser. He was an audio-visual content editor for the journal ''Nature'' for a decade, and is a frequent contributor to the newspaper ''The Guardian''. He hosts the BBC R ...

, British geneticist, author, and broadcaster *

Alexander Cameron Rutherford Alexander Cameron Rutherford (February 2, 1857 – June 11, 1941) was a Canadian lawyer and politician who served as the first premier of Alberta from 1905 to 1910. Born in Ormond, Canada West, he studied and practiced law in Ottawa before ...

, Canadian politician, first Premier of Alberta (1905–1910) *

Ann Rutherford Therese Ann Rutherford (November 2, 1917 – June 11, 2012) was a Canadian-born American actress in film, radio, and television. She had a long career starring and co-starring in films, playing Polly Benedict during the 1930s and 1940s in the An ...

(1917–2012), Canadian-American actress, best known as Polly Benedict of

Andy Hardy Andrew "Andy" Hardy is a fictional character best known for the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer series of 16 films in which he was played by Mickey Rooney. The films were released from 1937 to 1946, except for a final one made in 1958 in an unsuccessful att ...

film series *

Anna Rutherford Anna Rutherford (27 November 1932 – 21 February 2001) was an Australian-born academic and publisher, who helped to establish the field of post-colonial literature in Europe. Biography Rutherford was born in Australia in Mayfield, Newcastle, New ...

(1932–2001), Australian-born academic and publisher *

Boyd Rutherford Boyd Kevin Rutherford (born April 1, 1957) is an American politician, businessman and attorney serving as the ninth lieutenant governor of Maryland since 2015. A member of the Republican Party, Rutherford was nominated by President George W. Bu ...

(born 1957), Lieutenant Governor of the U.S. state of Maryland *

Carl Rutherford Carl Rutherford (April 25, 1929 – January 28, 2006) was an American Piedmont blues, country blues, and Appalachian music guitarist, singer and songwriter. Life and career Rutherford was born in War, McDowell County, West Virginia, United Stat ...

(1929–2006), American Piedmont blues musician *

Clancy Rudeforth Clancy Alexander Rudeforth (born 1 February 1983) is a former Australian rules footballer who played for the Claremont Football Club in the West Australian Football League (WAFL), captaining the side from 2009 to 2011. He was previously rookie ...

, former Australian rules footballer *

Daniel Rutherford Daniel Rutherford (3 November 1749 – 15 December 1819) was a Scottish physician, chemist and botanist who is known for the isolation of nitrogen in 1772. Life Rutherford was born on 3 November 1749, the son of Anne Mackay and Professor John ...

, a Scottish chemist and physician who is most famous for the discovery of nitrogen *

Daniel Edwin Rutherford Daniel Edwin Rutherford FRSE (4 January 1906, in Stirling – 9 November 1966, in St Andrews) was a Scottish mathematician, known for his work on the representation theory of symmetric groups. Biography Rutherford completed his secondary educatio ...

, Scottish mathematician *

Don Rutherford Donald Rutherford (22 September 1937 – 12/13 November 2016) was an international rugby union player and administrator. He was the first ever Technical Director of the Rugby Football Union at Twickenham, becoming Director of Rugby where he s ...

(1937–2016), English international rugby union player *

Ernest Rutherford Ernest Rutherford, 1st Baron Rutherford of Nelson, (30 August 1871 – 19 October 1937) was a New Zealand physicist who came to be known as the father of nuclear physics. ''Encyclopædia Britannica'' considers him to be the greatest ...

, 1st Baron Rutherford of Nelson, known as the "father of nuclear physics" *

Frances Rutherford Frances Rutherford (29 April 1912 – 22 November 2006) was a New Zealand artist and occupational therapist. Early life A daughter of Alethea Mary Robinson and her husband Charles William Rutherford, a cousin of nuclear physicist Ernest Ruthe ...

(1912–2006), New Zealand artist and occupational therapist *

Friend Smith Rutherford Friend Smith Rutherford (September 25, 1820 – June 20, 1864) was a colonel in the Union Army during the American Civil War. He commanded the 97th Illinois Infantry Regiment during the Vicksburg campaign. On June 18, 1864, President Abraham Li ...

(1820-1864), United States Army office and lawyer * Gilbert Rutherford, American politician *

Greg Rutherford Gregory James Rutherford MBE (born 17 November 1986) is a retired British track and field athlete who specialised in the long jump. He represented Great Britain at the Olympics, World and European Championships, and England at the Commonwealth ...

(born 1986), British athlete (specifically long jumper) *

Griffith Rutherford Griffith Rutherford (c. 1721 – August 10, 1805) was an American military officer in the Revolutionary War, a political leader in North Carolina, and an important figure in the early history of the Southwest Territory and the state of Ten ...

(1721-1805) American Revolutionary War General *

Jack Rutherford (cricketer) John Walter Rutherford (25 September 1929 – 21 April 2022) was an Australian cricketer who played in one Test match in 1956. Although Ernest Bromley was the first Western Australian to play Test cricket, Rutherford was the first player from th ...

, Australian Test cricketer *

Jack Rutherford (footballer, born 1892) John Rutherford (1892 – 1930) was an English professional footballer. He played for Brighton & Hove Albion, Bristol Rovers Bristol Rovers Football Club are a professional football club in Bristol, England. They compete in League One, the ...

(1892–1930), English footballer for Brighton & Hove Albion, Bristol Rovers and Gillingham *

Jack Rutherford (footballer, born 1908) John Rutherford (born 6 November 1908) was an English professional footballer of the 1920s and 1930s. Born in Nenthead, he joined Gillingham in 1927 and went on to make 44 appearances for the club in The Football League. He left to join Watford ...

, English footballer for Gillingham and Watford *

James Rutherford (disambiguation) James Rutherford may refer to: *James Rutherford (Australian pioneer) (1827–1911), transit pioneer in Australia *James Todd Rutherford (born 1970), American politician; state representative for South Carolina *James Rutherford (New Zealand polit ...

, several people *

Jim Rutherford James Earl Rutherford (born February 17, 1949) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey goaltender and front office executive. He is the president of hockey operations of the Vancouver Canucks. Prior to his position with the Canucks, Rutherf ...

, former

NHL The National Hockey League (NHL; french: Ligue nationale de hockey—LNH, ) is a professional ice hockey league in North America comprising 32 teams—25 in the United States and 7 in Canada. It is considered to be the top ranked professional ...

goaltender and current general manager of the

Pittsburgh Penguins The Pittsburgh Penguins (colloquially known as the Pens) are a professional ice hockey team based in Pittsburgh. They compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division of the Eastern Conference, and have playe ...

. *

Joe Rutherford Joe Rutherford (20 September 1920 – 27 December 1994) was a footballer who played as a goalkeeper in the Football League for Southport and Aston Villa. Born in Fatfield, County Durham, Rutherford played as a youth for Chester-le-Street School ...

, an Aston Villa F.C. goalkeeper of the mid-20th-century *

John Rutherford (disambiguation) John Rutherford may refer to: Sports * Jock Rutherford (1884–1963), English footballer * John Rutherford (footballer) (1907–unknown), English footballer * John Rutherford (rugby union) (born 1955), Scottish international rugby player * John Rut ...

, multiple people *

Joseph Franklin Rutherford Joseph Franklin Rutherford (November 8, 1869 – January 8, 1942), also known as Judge Rutherford, was the second president of the incorporated Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania. He played a primary role in the organization ...

, also known as "Judge Rutherford", 2nd president of the Watch Tower Society corporation *

Kelly Rutherford Kelly Rutherford (born November 6, 1968) is an American actress. She is known for her television roles as Stephanie "Sam" Whitmore on the NBC daytime soap opera ''Generations'' (1989–1991), as Megan Lewis on the Fox primetime soap opera ''Melr ...

, American actress, most famous for her role as

Lily van der Woodsen The following is a list of characters for The CW teen television drama series, ''Gossip Girl'' (2007–2012) and its standalone sequel series of the same name (2021–present). The series is based on the popular book series of the same name writt ...

in the CW teen drama ''

Gossip Girl ''Gossip Girl'' is an American teen drama television series based on the novel series of the same name written by Cecily von Ziegesar. The series, developed for television by Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage, ran on The CW network for six sea ...

'' *

Ken Rutherford (cricketer) Kenneth Robert Rutherford (born 26 October 1965) is a former New Zealand cricketer who enjoyed a ten-year career with the national team, and was captain for a period in the 1990s. He is the 50th ODI cap for New Zealand. Family Rutherford's eld ...

, New Zealand batsman and captain *

Margaret Rutherford Dame Margaret Taylor Rutherford, (11 May 1892 – 22 May 1972) was an English actress of stage, television and film. She came to national attention following World War II in the film adaptations of Noël Coward's '' Blithe Spirit'', and Osca ...

, British actress *

Mike Rutherford Michael John Cloete Crawford Rutherford (born 2 October 1950) is an English guitarist, bassist and songwriter, co-founder of the rock band Genesis. Rutherford and keyboardist Tony Banks are the group's two continuous members. Initially servin ...

(born 1950), English musician famous for being the bassist and guitarist of the rock band

Genesis Genesis may refer to: Bible * Book of Genesis, the first book of the biblical scriptures of both Judaism and Christianity, describing the creation of the Earth and of mankind * Genesis creation narrative, the first several chapters of the Book of ...

Rachel Rutherford Rachel Rutherford (born Rachel Rutherford Englund Knapp) is a former soloist with New York City Ballet. Rutherford was born in New York City, the daughter of dancer and ballet teacher Gage Bush Englund. She began her training at age eight at the ...

, New York City Ballet soloist * Robert William Rutherford (1857-1933), military and artist * Rosemary Rutherford (1912–1972), English artist *

Samuel Rutherford Samuel Rutherford (also Rutherfurd or Rutherfoord; – 29 March 1661) was a Scottish Presbyterian pastor and theologian who wrote widely read letters, sermons, devotional and scholastic works. As a political theorist, he is known for "L ...

(–1661), Scottish theologian, minister and political theorist *

Samuel Rutherford (Georgia politician) Samuel Rutherford (March 15, 1870 – February 4, 1932) was an American politician, businessman, jurist and lawyer. Rutherford was born near Culloden, Georgia in 1870, attended Washington and Lee University in Lexington, Virginia and graduate ...

(1870-1932), American politician, businessman, jurist and lawyer * Samuel Wilson Rutherford (1866-1952), African American pioneer in insurance *

Skip Rutherford James Luin "Skip" Rutherford III (born January 28, 1950) is an American non-profit executive and academic administrator. He served as the first president of the Clinton Foundation, and is the Dean of the University of Arkansas Clinton School of Pu ...

(born 1950), academic administrator * Theodora Fonteneau Rutherford (1904-after 1982), American accountant, clubwoman, and college instructor * Walter Rutherford (1857–1913), Scottish golfer (Olympic silver medallist) * Walter Rutherford (footballer) (1891–1944), Scottish footballer with Kilmarnock, Ayr United, Johnstone * William Rutherford (disambiguation), several people *

Zara Rutherford Zara Rutherford (born 5 July 2002) is a Belgian-British aviator. At age 19, she became the youngest female pilot to fly solo around the world and the first person to complete a circumnavigation in a microlight aircraft after a five-month journ ...

(born 2003), Belgian-British aviator

Given name

Notable people with the given name include: *

Rutherford H. Adkins Rutherford Hamlet "Lubby" Adkins (November 21, 1924 – February 6, 1998) was an American military aviator and university administrator who served with the Tuskegee Airmen during World War II. He flew fourteen combat missions with the Tuskegee A ...

(1924–1998), World War II pilot with the Tuskegee Airmen *

Rutherford Alcock Sir John Rutherford Alcock, KCB (25 May 1809''London, England, Church of England Baptisms, Marriages and Burials, 1538–1812''2 November 1897) was the first British diplomatic representative to live in Japan. Early life Alcock was born in St J ...

(1809–1897), British diplomatic representative *

Rutherford Aris Rutherford "Gus" Aris (September 15, 1929 – November 2, 2005) was a chemical engineer, control theorist, applied mathematician, and a Regents Professor Emeritus of Chemical Engineering at the University of Minnesota (1958–2005). Early ...

(1929–2005), chemical engineer, control theorist, mathematician, professor *

Rutherford Boyd John Rutherford Boyd (1882–1951) was a 20th-century American sculptor, painter and illustrator. Life Boyd was born in 1882 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and attended the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, where he studied under Thoma ...

(1882–1951), American sculptor, painter and illustrator * Rutherford Cravens, American actor *

Rutherford Decker Rutherford Losey Decker (May 27, 1904 – September 21, 1972) was an American politician who was a longtime member and a Presidential nominee of Prohibition Party in 1960, and the president of the National Association of Evangelicals from 1946 to ...

(1904–1972), American politician *

Rutherford John Gettens Rutherford John Gettens (January 17, 1900 – June 17, 1974) was a chemist and pioneering conservation scientist. Born to Daniel and Clara (Rutherford) Gettens, Rutherford John Gettens grew up in Mooers, New York, where he became valedictorian of h ...

(1900–1974), chemist and conservation scientist * Rutherford Guthrie (1899–1990), Australian politician *

Rutherford B. Hayes Rutherford Birchard Hayes (; October 4, 1822 – January 17, 1893) was an American lawyer and politician who served as the 19th president of the United States from 1877 to 1881, after serving in the U.S. House of Representatives and as governor ...

(1822–1893), 19th president of the United States (1877–1881) **

Rutherford P. Hayes Rutherford Platt Hayes (June 24, 1858 – July 31, 1927) was an American librarian. Hayes was the third son of Rutherford B. Hayes, president of the United States from 1877 to 1881. He attended Michigan State University and Cornell University, ...

(1858–1927), American librarian; son of the president * Rutherford Irones (1877–1948), American physician and politician *

Rutherford Latham Rutherford Latham (born 7 October 1954) is a Spanish equestrian. He competed at the 1984 Summer Olympics, the 1996 Summer Olympics and the 2000 Summer Olympics The 2000 Summer Olympics, officially the Games of the XXVII Olympiad and also ...

(born 1954), Spanish equestrian * Rutherford George Montgomery (1894–1985), American writer of children's books * Rutherford Page (1887–1912), early American aviator who died in an airplane crash *

Rutherford Platt Rutherford Hayes Platt, Jr. (11 August 1894, Columbus, Ohio – 28 May 1975, Boston) was an American nature writer, photographer, and advertising executive. Biography Platt served in WW I as a lieutenant in Battery F, Three Hundred Twenty-Third F ...

(1894–1975), American nature writer, photographer, and advertising executive *

Rutherford "Rud" Rennie Cecil Rutherford "Rud" Rennie (1897–1956), newspaperman, was a sportswriter for the ''New York Herald Tribune'', chiefly assigned to the New York Yankees baseball team and the New York Giants football team, for some 36 years. He was a friend and ...

(1897–1956), newspaperman and sportswriter * Rutherford Ness Robertson (1913–2001), Australian botanist and biologist *

Rutherford Waddell Rutherford Waddell (1850–1932) was a notable New Zealand Presbyterian minister, social reformer and writer. He was born in Ireland and after failing to finding a position as a missionary or a minister Waddell and his wife migrated to New Zeal ...

(1850–1932), New Zealand Presbyterian minister, social reformer and writer *

Rutherford Lester Whiting Rutherford "Rud" Lester Whiting (July 30, 1930 – February 13, 2014) was a Canadian politician, who was the Liberal Member of Parliament for the riding of Halton from 1968 until 1972. Political career When Harry Harley, Halton's incumbent MP, ...

(1930–2014), Canadian politician

References

{{given name, Rutherford, type=both Surnames of Lowland Scottish origin English-language surnames

Origin

Surname

Given name

See also

References