Surname Rutlidge - Meaning and Origin
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Rutlidge: What does the surname Rutlidge mean?
The surname Rutlidge is not very common and does not have a widely acknowledged meaning. It appears to have British origin, but the exact historical significance is hard to trace. Sometimes, last names are derived from a profession, a place, or a personal characteristic. Rutlidge may be a geographical surname referring to someone who lived by a ridge, where "ridge" refers to a long raised land formation, and "rut" might refer to a path or track. This is merely speculative and the actual derivation could be from a different source. It's also possible that the name has been altered over centuries, often through immigration, which further complicates the identification of its original meaning. Therefore, without specific genealogical research associated with the family lineage that carries this surname, the precise meaning of Rutlidge remains unclear.
Order DNA origin analysisRutlidge: Where does the name Rutlidge come from?
The last name Rutlidge is most commonly found in the United States today. According to the census of 2020, the most populous states with the surname Rutlidge are Georgia, Virginia, and North Carolina.
In Georgia, the Rutlidge surname is spread across metro Atlanta, including Atlanta, Fayetteville, and Gainesville. In Virginia, the Rutlidge surname is most concentrated in the Hampton Roads region, particularly in the counties of Southampton, Isle of Wight, King William, and York. In North Carolina, the Rutlidge surname is most concentrated in Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill and the surrounding counties.
Outside of the United States, the Rutlidge surname can be found in England and Wales, where it is concentrated primarily in the counties of Greater London, Kent, Surrey, and Greater Manchester. It is also found in various other countries, including Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.
The Rutlidge surname is believed to have originated from Old English words that meant "wood clearing," although some sources also believe it could have originated from a personal name. This surname is thought to have been first found in the counties of Norfolk, Suffolk, and Cambridgeshire in eastern England during the Middle Ages.
Variations of the surname Rutlidge
The surname Rutlidge is derived from the Anglo-Saxon name Rutlice and can be spelt in many different ways. Variations of the name include Rutledge, Rutledg, Rutlidge, Rutlidge, Rutlidge, Rutlag, Rutledge, Rutlej, Rutlez, Ruttlidge and Rutleige.
In some cases, the surname can be traced to the origin of the Anglo-Saxon name Rutlice. There is some evidence that traces this name back to an Old English first name from the pre 7th century, being formed of elements from two different words. The first element, ‘hroth’, means fame, and the second element, ‘lice’, means likeness.
Variations of the surname Rutlidge can also be seen from other cultures. For example, the German spelling of the name is Rutleger; the Dutch spelling is Ruttelage; whilst the Polish version is Rutlego. Alternatively, the Gaelic spelling of the name is Rutlag and the Hungarian spelling is Rutlegi.
Surnames of similar origin to Rutlidge include Ruttiger, Rutlage, Rutleger, Ruttelage, Rutelage, Rutlege, Rutleg, Rutleger, Rutlej, Ruttelage, Rutlegi, Rutleige and Rutlag. Traceable to the Anglo-Saxon lands, there have been recorded instances of these names being used throughout the Low Countries of Europe. All of these variants also share the same meanings of ‘fame’ and ‘likeness’, making them a striking similarity to the Rutlidge surname.
Famous people with the name Rutlidge
- Thomas Rutledge: former president and chief executive officer of Comcast Cable
- John Rutledge: former Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court and delegate to the Constitutional Convention
- Elizabeth Ann Rutledge: earliest known female variant of the surname Rutledge recorded in the US and ancestor of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt
- Edward Rutledge: signer of the Declaration of Independence and youngest delegate to the Continental Congress
- Benjamin Rutledge: former president of the Baptist World Alliance and pastor of churches in Georgia and South Carolina
- David Rutledge: former Chairman of the House of Representatives of the US Congress (Illinois)
- Frances M. Rutledge: former president of the Los Angeles City Board of Education
- Frank D. Rutledge: former US Undersecretary of Defense and Director of the National Security Council
- Thomas L. Rutledge: former chief executive officer of Charter Communications
- Warren Rutledge: American actor