The Rutherfurd Name
Origins of the Rutherfurd–Rutherford surname in Scotland and beyond.
The earliest accounts of the name Rutherfurd – Rutherford in Scotland come from the 12th century. Robertus dominus de Rodyrforde witnessed a charter by David I to Gervase de Rydal, in or about 1140.
In Scotland the Rutherfurds – Rutherfords are a large extended family or in the true meaning of the word, “a clan” or group of “near kin” or “children”. Our great fortune as a family is that we have such an old and relatively well documented family history.
The Rutherfurd – Rutherford name has been in written use for over 800 years in Scotland and predates that by two centuries in West Flanders. The Flemish origins of the name must surely account for the great number of Rutherfurd – Rutherford spelling variations. In his book, The Rutherfords of Britain, a history and guide, Kenneth Rutherford Davis lists over 300 spellings for our surname. Today Rutherford, Rutherfurd and Rutherfoord are the three most common permutations.