Surname Carruthers - Meaning and Origin
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Carruthers: What does the surname Carruthers mean?
The surname Carruthers is derived from a place name in Scotland, which in turn derives from two Scottish Gaelic words, càrr, meaning “rock” and ard, meaning “height”. The ultimate origin of the name is believed to be a Brythonic personal name.
The earliest recorded forms of the name include tugra, carrechir, and Carrichir, which all appear in records from 13th century Scotland. By the 14th century, the variants Certhers and Carruirs had emerged.
Carruthers was found in several locations throughout Scotland in the 14th century, including Ayrshire, Renfrew, and Dumfriesshire. It has been suggested that there are more than thirty distinct branches of the Carruthers family, with members migrating to the US and Canada in search of a better life.
Today, the Carruthers surname is found in many countries around the world, including Scotland, the US, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. The name is Anglicized, however, the origin and history of the family are still evident. The family’s tartan is blue tinged with green, white, and red.
The meaning of the surname Carruthers is one who is from the height of the rock. The surname was likely adopted due to someone living near a large rock, which is a metaphor for strength and stability. The name is a testament to Scotland's rich history - a history of strong family bonds, deep love of land, and loyalty to the Crown.
Order DNA origin analysisCarruthers: Where does the name Carruthers come from?
The last name Carruthers is most commonly found today in Scotland, where it is believed to have originated. It can also be found in other parts of the United Kingdom such as England, Ireland, and Wales. There is also a strong presence of the Carruthers name in the United States, Canada, and Australia.
In Scotland, the name was first recorded in 1153 in Dundee and has since been spread throughout the country. The Carruthers family has spread across many areas of Scotland as well as other parts of the United Kingdom, primarily due to their military and industrial service.
In the United States, the name first appears in the 1700s when William Carruthers immigrated to Virginia, and the family slowly spread across the country. There is also evidence that there were some Scottish members of the family who had arrived in South Carolina before the Revolutionary War.
In Canada, the name began appearing in Ontario during the mid-1800s, and the immigrant family mostly resided in southern Ontario, working as farmers and tradesmen.
In Australia, the name first appears in the early 1900s during the Victorian goldmines. Since then, dozens of descendants of the original immigrants have settled in cities and towns across the continent.
Overall, the name Carruthers is still fairly common today in the countries mentioned, namely Scotland, the United States, Canada, and Australia. The family has made quite an impact despite its long history, and marks of their residence can still be seen in many places.
Variations of the surname Carruthers
The surname Carruthers is believed to have originated from the Scottish-English border area between the 12th and 13th centuries. It is derived from the old Scottish word carradrach, which means rough water. It is the patronymic form of the Olde English personal name Carrād.
Variants of the name Carruthers include Carruth, Carruther, Cruthers, Cruthir, Caruthers, Carrudders, Carratters, and Carrithers. The spelling of the name often varies and more than one letter may be changed or added.
Rare spelling variants include Crauther, Crathers, Craithers, and Crutters.
Surnames associated with Carruthers are Carothers, Carrodus, Carrots, Carrotache, Carrotax, Carrother, Carpenter, Cottrel, Lindley, Marchant, and Ratliff.
The first known record of the Carruthers name is that of John Carruther, recorded in the charters of the church of Kilwinning in Ayrshire, Scotland in 1376. Today, the Carruthers surname is still widespread throughout Scotland and England, as well as in the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.
Famous people with the name Carruthers
- Angus Carruthers: A Scottish musical composer and actor, best known for his role as Mr. Pervis in the blockbuster movie, The Muppets Take Manhattan.
- Julian Carruthers: A British designer and costume maker, he was the force behind creating the iconic outfits of Diana, Princess of Wales and Elton John in the '80s and '90s.
- Emily Carruthers: Canadian environmentalist, author, and lecturer, she tackled a variety of topics related to the environment and sustainability of future generations.
- Maxwell Carruthers: An American television producer and director, he was the creative force behind the hit television series Gilmore Girls.
- Mariko Carruthers: A Japanese businesswoman, she is currently the CEO of an IT company and a strong advocate for women in business.
- Bruce Carruthers: An Australian film editor, he worked on some of the biggest blockbusters of the last decade, including the Matrix trilogy and Avatar.
- John Carruthers: A British rock guitarist, he is well-known for being the lead guitarist of the band Led Zeppelin from 1968 to 1973.