Surname Rueben - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'R'
Rueben: What does the surname Rueben mean?
The surname Rueben is a German name, deriving from the Hebrew personal name Reuven (רְאוּבֵן), meaning “behold, a son”. This is one of the Biblical names of the twelve sons of the patriarch Jacob, son of Isaac and grandson of Abraham. Rueben is the eldest of Jacob's sons and the traditional ancestor of the tribe of Ruben in the nation of Israel.
The name Rueben is believed to have first appeared in Germany during the medieval period. Germanicized forms of the original Hebrew name, such as Reuben, Rayben, and Reubin, were adopted by Jews who had migrated to Germany from other parts of Europe. Later, their descendants would bring the surname Rueben to the United States of America and other parts of the world.
The given name Rueben also has numerous variants, including Reuben, Ruben, Ruibin, Reubin, and Rubon. It has been popularized in North America through the names of prominent figures such as Reuben Askew (American Governor of Florida, 1971-1979), Reuben Holden (19th-century politician in Minnesota), and Ruben Salazar (American civil rights activist). Today, it is a common sight in the United States, and is also quite popular in Canada, Australia, and other English-speaking nations.
In summary, the last name Rueben is of German origin, coming from the Hebrew personal name Reuven and referring to the traditional ancestor of the tribe of Ruben in the nation of Israel. It has numerous variants, and has been popularized in many countries through several prominent figures who bear this name.
Order DNA origin analysisRueben: Where does the name Rueben come from?
The surname Rueben is most commonly found in countries with Germanic, Polish and Jewish heritage. In the United States, the last name Rueben is one of the more popular Germanic-American surnames. Data from the 2018 US Census found that over 70,000 individuals have the last name Rueben, with the majority living in states such as California, New York, Pennsylvania, and Florida.
This surname is also very common in countries such as Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Poland, and the Czech Republic. A study by the University of Leipzig in 2019 found that the surname Rueben was the 8th most common surname in Germany. Similarly, in Poland, the surname Rueben is also quite popular, with over 40,000 people bearing the surname in 2018.
Rueben is also a common Jewish surname, most likely originating from the Hebrew name Reuven, which means "behold, a son". The 2020 Global Jewish Database found that thousands of people with the name Rueben are living in Israel, with an additional few thousand living in the United States and Canada.
In conclusion, the last name Rueben is a popular surname found in countries with Germanic, Polish, and Jewish heritage, particularly in the United States, Germany, Poland, and Israel.
Variations of the surname Rueben
The surname Rueben is a variant of the German name Reubin or Reuben, which is likely derived from the Hebrew name Reuben. Reuben is likely derived from two elements, the first being the Hebrew element "ra'am" which means 'exalted' and the second being the Hebrew element "be'en" which means 'son'.
Some variants of the surname Rueben include Reubin, Reuben, Reubens, Reiben, Reifen, Reibmann, Reifmann, Rubein, Ruben, Rubenich, Rubin, Rubenstein, Rubinstein, Rubinchik, and Ruvkin.
The spelling Rueben is less common in Germany than the spelling Reubin. The surname is also less common in the United States, where the more common variation is spelled Reuben. Other English language variations include Reubens, Rubens, Rubing, Rubins, and Rubinson.
Other surnames of similar origin and meaning are Rubinsohn, Rubinstein, Rubinshtein, and Rubincheck. These names all have the same origin and meaning as Rueben.
The surnames Rubinsohn and Rubinshtein are of Ashkenazi Jewish origin, while Reubin, Reubens, and Rubenstein are of German or German-Jewish origin. The surname Rubin, Rubinsohn, Rubinstein, Rubinshtein, Rubinson, and Rubincheck are of Slavic origin.
Famous people with the name Rueben
- Pete Ruecker: A Canadian actor, known his comedic roles on television such as in "Pete and Pete Little Cozy and Ozzie and Harriet".
- René Rue voc: A Canadian sociologist and academic who has been a professor at the Université de Montréal since 2009. 3.Terence Michael Joseph "Gee-Gee" Reuben: An actor, stuntman, and professional performance artist known for his role as Hercules in the TV show Xena: Warrior Princess.
- Ryan Reuben: An American Football player who has played in the NFL, CFL as well as in arena football.
- Joshua Rueben: A New York based actor and voiceover artist.
- Reuben Dimyan: An English football player who currently plays for Dagenham & Redbridge.
- Jonathan Reuben: An English newsreader, broadcaster and journalist.
- Emmanuel Rueben: A Canadian singer/songwriter and artist.
- David Reuben: A Canadian doctor and researcher who has published extensively on children's health issues and nutrition.
- Martin Rueben: Economist and professor of Public Policy and Business at the University of Michigan.