Rutherford (surname)
The surname Rutherford, also Rutherfurd, is a Scottish and Northern English habitational surname deriving from a place in the Scottish borders region near Roxburgh.[1] It may refer to:
- Alexander Cameron Rutherford, Canadian politician, first Premier of Alberta 1905-1910
- Clancy Rudeforth, former Australian rules footballer
- Daniel Rutherford, a Scottish chemist and physician who is most famous for the discovery of nitrogen
- Ernest Rutherford, 1st Baron Rutherford of Nelson, known as the "father of nuclear physics"
- Greg Rutherford, 2008 Olympic Long Jumper, Canadian Athlete
- Joe Rutherford, an Aston Villa F.C. goalkeeper of the mid 20th century
- John Rutherford (disambiguation), multiple people
- Joseph Franklin Rutherford, also known as "Judge Rutherford", 2nd president of the Watch Tower Society corporation
- Ken Rutherford (cricketer), New Zealand batsman and captain
- Margaret Rutherford, a British actress
- Mike Rutherford, English musician
- Rachel Rutherford, New York City Ballet soloist
- Shannon Rutherford, Fictional character on the television show LOST, portrayed by Maggie Grace
- Samuel Rutherford, a Scottish theologian, minister and political theorist
- See also
- Edward Rutherfurd, nom de plume of Francis Edward Wintle, author of historical fiction.
Origin
According to one theory, the name can be traced back to the West Flemish name Ruddervoorde, a community now part of Oostkamp.[2] 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. 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.[3]
References