Surname Rübben - Meaning and Origin
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Rübben: What does the surname Rübben mean?
The surname Rübben is a German name suggesting that the original bearer of this name was a person who made a living by farming or growing turnips. The German word for turnip is "Rübe," and the ending "-en" is a typical suffix used to denote an occupation in German names.
This would have been a common profession in medieval Germany since turnips were a key component of the region's diet. In fact, turnips were so important to the German people that the Latin name for the vegetable was often used as a nickname or descriptive term for the German people—ancestors of those who bear the Rübben surname.
The Rübben family is one of many German families that can trace its roots to the Middle Ages. The name is found throughout Germany today and is still widespread in the south and east of the country. It is likely that most bearers of the Rübben surname are descended from the medieval farmers who specialized in growing turnips.
Although the original connection of the Rübben surname to its origin as an occupational name is largely forgotten, the name still serves as a reminder of the noble tradition of farming and agriculture that is often associated with so many German families. While the modern-day relevance of turnips as a staple of the German diet might have diminished, the name Rübben will always live on, reminding us of our collective agricultural history.
Order DNA origin analysisRübben: Where does the name Rübben come from?
The last name Rübben is most commonly found today in Germany. Specifically, records show that the majority of the population with this surname lives in the Lower Saxony region in the northwest of the country.
The Rübben surname likely originated in Germany during the Middle Ages. As with many other names, it is believed to have been derived from a nickname based on a physical characteristic or personality trait of the person who first took on the family name. In the case of the Rubben surname, it is thought to come from the old German word “Rube”, meaning “red-haired”. This suggests that the original bearer of the name was a person with red hair.
Another possible origin of the Rübben name is that it may be derived from the Middle High German word "rûbe", meaning “rough”. This could indicate that the first Rübben family were people known for their crudeness or rudeness.
Today, the vast majority of the people that carry the surname Rübben live in Germany. Records suggest that, of the approximately 4,000 people who bear the name, most live in Lower Saxony, with smaller numbers in Hesse, North Rhine-Westphalia, Saxony-Anhalt, and Berlin. Rübben is less common in other countries, but there are a few cases of people with the surname in the United States, France, and the Netherlands.
Variations of the surname Rübben
The surname Rübben is of Germanic origin, and is sometimes written as Ruebben, Rubben, Rubben, or Rueben. It derives from the Middle High German ruben, meaning "reindeer".
It is possible that the surname developed from a family property named after an animal, such as a ranch, farm, or hunting ground. Alternatively, it may have also been a nickname associated with someone from a family who raised deer. It is possible that people with this surname were also once traders of reindeer.
Other variants of this surname include Ruben, Rubbe, Roebben, Roebel, Roeben, Ruebn, Ruebel, Rohbben, Rooben, Rübel, Rübben, Reuben, and Reubel.
Variants of the surname from other languages may include Rubinowicz (Polish), Rubino (Italian), Rubinstein (Ashkenazi Jewish), Rubini (Italian), Rubinich (Jewish), Rubinov (Jewish), Rubina (Spanish), Rubino (Portuguese), Rubin (Yiddish), Rubinvald (Jewish), and Rubinstein (Russian).
Surnames of similar origin include Rehberger (from reh, meaning deer in German), Playoffs (from bock or buck, a male deer), and Reh (also meaning deer in German).
All of these surnames share the same origin—the Middle High German ruben, meaning "reindeer"—and many of them have variations within different language and cultural groups. The origin of the surname likely points to a family affinity or connection to the animal, such as living on or near a hunting ground, or trading of animals.
Famous people with the name Rübben
- Thorben Rübben: German footballer
- Henrik Rübben: German professional football goalkeeper
- Ivo Rübben: Belgian historian
- Rübben Puangmali: Thai politician
- Harry Rübben: Dutch painter
- Tom Rübben: Belgian comic artist
- Yvonne Rübben-von Schmieder: German businesswoman
- Wolfang Rübben: German philosopher
- Lasse Rübben: German professional racing cyclist
- Jan Rübben: Dutch amateur speed skater