Rufus is a masculine given name, a surname, an Ancient Roman

cognomen A ''cognomen'' (; plural ''cognomina''; from ''con-'' "together with" and ''(g)nomen'' "name") was the third name of a citizen of ancient Rome, under Roman naming conventions. Initially, it was a nickname, but lost that purpose when it became here ...

and a nickname (from

Latin Latin (, or , ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic languages, Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally a dialect spoken in the lower Tiber area (then known as Latium) around present-day Rome, but through ...

'' rufus'', "red"). Notable people with the name include:

Given name

Politicians

* Rufus Ada George (born 1940), Nigerian politician *

Rufus Aladesanmi III Rufus Adeyemo Adejugbe Aladesanmi III CON (born 1945) is a Yoruba Oba and the current Ewi of Ado Ekiti. Reign Aladesanmi succeeded Adelabu I as the Ewi of Ado Ekiti in 1990. He serves as the chancellor of Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University a ...

(born 1945), Yoruban king * Rufus Applegarth (1844–1921), American lawyer and politician * Rufus A. Ayers (1849–1926), American lawyer, businessman, and politician * Rufus Barringer (1821–1895), American lawyer, politician, and military general * Rufus Blodgett (1834–1910), American politician and railroad superintendent * Rufus Bousquet (born 1958), Saint Lucian politician * Rufus E. Brown (1854–1920), Vermont attorney, farmer, and politician *

Rufus Bullock Rufus Brown Bullock (March 28, 1834 – April 27, 1907) was a Republican Party politician and businessman in Georgia. During the Reconstruction Era he served as the state's governor and called for equal economic opportunity and political rights f ...

(1834–1907), American politician * Rufus Carter (1866–1932), Canadian farmer and political figure * Rufus Cheney Jr., member of the Wisconsin State Assembly during the 1850 session * Rufus W. Cobb (1829–1913), American politician * Rufus Curry (1859–1934), Canadian manufacturer and politician *

Rufus Davis Rufus Davis (born March 6, 1964) is an American social and political activist, business executive and former Mayor of Camilla, Georgia. He was elected as the first African American male to hold the position in November 2015. Davis is a political ...

(born 1964), mayor of Camilla, Georgia * Rufus B. Dodge Jr. (1861–1935), American lawyer and politician * Rufus A. Doughton (1857–1946), American politician * Rufus Easton (1774–1834), American lawyer and politician * Rufus L. Edmisten (born 1941), American politician and lawyer * Rufus Elefante (1903–1994), American politician from Utica, New York *

Rufus Nelson England Rufus Nelson England (May 4, 1851 – November 28, 1911) was a merchant and political figure in Quebec. He represented Brome in the Legislative Assembly of Quebec from 1889 to 1897 as a Conservative. He was born in Knowlton, Canada East, ...

(1851–1911), Canadian merchant and political figure * Rufus S. Frost (1826–1894), American politician * Rufus King Garland Jr. (1830–1886), American politician * Rufus K. Goodenow (1790–1863), American politician *

Rufus Hardy (representative) Rufus Hardy (December 16, 1855 – March 13, 1943) was a United States representative of the Democratic Party from the state of Texas. Early years Hardy was born Monroe County, Mississippi to George Washington and Pauline J. (Whittaker) Hardy ...

(1855–1943), American politician *

Rufus Erastus Hart Rufus Erastus Hart (September 10, 1812 – December 24, 1891) was an American politician and lawyer. Hart, the son of Joseph and Anna (Hotchkiss) Hart, was born in Middlebury, Ohio, on September 10, 1812. He graduated from Yale College in 183 ...

(1812–1891), American politician and lawyer *

Rufus Henderson Rufus C. Henderson (1779 – April 5, 1847) was a physician, merchant and political figure in Upper Canada. He represented Grenville in the Legislative Assembly of Upper Canada from 1828 to 1830 as a Conservative. Henderson married Ann Jone ...

(1779–1847), Canadian physician, merchant and political figure *

Rufus Isaacs, 1st Marquess of Reading Rufus Daniel Isaacs, 1st Marquess of Reading, (10 October 1860 – 30 December 1935) was a British Liberal politician and judge, who served as Lord Chief Justice of England, Viceroy of India, and Foreign Secretary, the last Liberal to hold that ...

(1860–1935), English politician and jurist *

Rufus King Rufus King (March 24, 1755April 29, 1827) was an American Founding Father, lawyer, politician, and diplomat. He was a delegate for Massachusetts to the Continental Congress and the Philadelphia Convention and was one of the signers of the Uni ...

(1755–1827), pre-Civil War US politician * Rufus H. King (1820–1890), American politician * Rufus E. Lester (1837–1906), American politician *

Rufus Anderson Lyman Rufus Anderson Lyman (June 23, 1842 – July 4, 1910) was a son of a missionary who became a lawyer and politician in the Kingdom of Hawaii, founded the Paauhau Sugar Plantation Company, and had many notable descendants. Life He was born on Jun ...

(1842–1910), lawyer and politician in the Kingdom of Hawaii * Rufus Mallory (1831–1914), American educator, lawyer, and politician * Rufus P. Manson (1830–1897), American politician * Rufus McIntire (1784–1866), American lawyer, military officer, congressman, and land surveyor * Rufus Wheeler Peckham (1809–1873), American judge and congressman * Rufus W. Peckham (1838–1909), American jurist * Rufus Ferrand Pelletier (1824–?), American postmaster and politician * Rufus Phillips (born 1929), American intelligence officer * Rufus Henry Pope (1857–1944), Canadian politician * Rufus King Polk (1866–1902), American politician * Rufus Pollock (born 1980), English economist * Rufus P. Ranney (1813–1891), American politician *

Rufus Rodriguez Rufus Bautista Rodriguez (born September 13, 1953) is a Filipino lawyer and politician. He is the president of the Centrist Democratic Party and has been a member of the House of Representatives representing the Cagayan de Oro's 2nd district ...

(born 1953), Filipino politician *

Rufus Smith Rufus Smith ( MD) (November 19, 1766 – November 15, 1844) was a physician and politician in the British colonial Province of New Brunswick, Canada. Born in Stamford in the Colony of Connecticut, after the American Revolutionary War his L ...

(1766–1844), Canadian physician and politician * Rufus P. Spalding (1798–1886), American politician, lawyer and judge

Religious figures

* Rufus (biblical figure), a first-century Christian mentioned in Mark 15:21 *

Rufus Anderson Rufus Anderson (August 17, 1796 – May 23, 1880) was an American minister who spent several decades organizing overseas missions. Personal life Rufus Anderson was born in North Yarmouth, Maine, on August 17, 1796. His father, also named Rufus ...

(1796–1880), American minister * Rufus Babcock (1798–1895), American clergyman and academic *

Rufus Brome Rufus is a masculine given name, a surname, an Ancient Roman cognomen and a nickname (from Latin '' rufus'', "red"). Notable people with the name include: Given name Politicians * Rufus Ada George (born 1940), Nigerian politician * Rufus ...

(born 1935), Bishop of Barbados * Rufus Hollis Gause (1925–2015), American theologian * Rufus Halley (c. 1944–2001), Roman Catholic missionary in the Philippines * Rufus K. Hardy (1878–1945), leader and missionary in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints * Rufus Phineas Stebbins (1810–1885), American clergyman

Sportsmen

* Rufus Alexander (born 1983), American football player * Rufus Bess (born 1956), American football player * Rufus Brevett (born 1969), English football player * Rufus Brown (born 1980), American football player *

Rufus Crawford Rufus Crawford is an American actor and retired football player who was a running back for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats from 1979 through 1985. He broke the Canadian Football League yardage record which had stood for 28 years. He started his career in ...

(born 1955), Canadian Football League player * Rufus Deal (1917–2005), American football player *

Rufus French Rufus French (born March 15, 1978) is a former American football tight end who played college football at the University of Mississippi and attended Amory High School in Amory, Mississippi. He was a consensus All-American in 1998. He was also a ...

(born 1978), American football player * Rufus Gilbert (1885–1962), American football, basketball, and baseball player and coach * Rufus Granderson (1936–2015), American football player * Rufus Guthrie (1942–2000), American football player * Rufus Mayes (1947–1990), American football player * Rufus Meadows (1907–1970), American baseball player * Rufus B. Nalley (1870–1902), football, baseball, and track and field player * Rufus Porter (American football) (born 1965), American football player * Rufus Sisson (1890–1977), American basketball player * Rufus Skillern (born 1982), Canadian football player * Rufus Smith (baseball) (1905–1984), American baseball player

Performers

* Rufus Beck (born 1957), German theater, film, and voice actor * Rufus Cappadocia, Canadian-American cellist * Rufus Carl Gordon, Jr. (1932-2010), commonly known as Carl Gordon, American actor * Rufus Harley (1936–2006), American jazz musician * Rufus Hound (born 1979), British comedian * Rufus Arthur Johnson (born 1976), better known as Bizarre, American rapper *

Rufus Jones (actor) Rufus Jones (born 17 May 1975) is an English actor. Early life Jones was born in London, and educated at Latymer Upper School and the University of Cambridge, where he studied English. Career Jones began his career as one fifth of the comedy ...

(born 1975), English actor, comedian and writer *

Rufus "Speedy" Jones Rufus "Speedy" Jones (May 27, 1936 – April 25, 1990) was an American jazz drummer from Charleston, South Carolina. Starting out on trumpet, Jones switched to drums at the age of 13. He worked with Lionel Hampton in 1954 before being drafted. ...

(1936–1990), American jazz drummer * Rufus Payne (1883–1939), American blues musician known as Tee Tot *

Rufus Reid Rufus Reid (born February 10, 1944, in Atlanta, Georgia) is an American jazz bassist, educator, and composer. Biography Reid was raised in Sacramento, California, where he played the trumpet through junior high and high school. Upon graduation ...

(born 1944), American jazz bassist, educator, and composer * Rufus Sewell (born 1967), British actor * Rufus C. Somerby (1832–1903), American entertainer, showman, and panoramist * Rufus Tiger Taylor (born 1991), English musician * Rufus Thibodeaux (1934–2005), American Cajun fiddler *

Rufus Thomas Rufus C. Thomas, Jr. (March 26, 1917 – December 15, 2001) was an American rhythm-and-blues, funk, soul and blues singer, songwriter, dancer, DJ and comic entertainer from Memphis, Tennessee. He recorded for several labels, including Chess R ...

(1917–2001), American singer * Rufus P. Turner (1907–1982), American electronics author * Rufus Wainwright (born 1973), Canadian-American singer-songwriter * Rufus Waller, better known as Scola, a member of Dru Hill, American singer and musician

Others

* Rufus Travis Amis (1912–2007), American entrepreneur * Rufus William Bailey (1793–1863), American academic * Rufus Black (born 1969), Vice-Chancellor of the University of Tasmania *

Rufus Bowen Robert Edward "Rufus" Bowen (23 February 1947 – 30 July 1978) was an internationally known professor in the Department of Mathematics at the University of California, Berkeley, who specialized in dynamical systems theory. Bowen's work dealt p ...

(1947–1978), American professor of mathematics * Rufus S. Bratton (1892–1958), American intelligence officer * Rufus Columbus Burleson (1823–1901), American academic * Rufus T. Bush (1840–1890), American businessman, oil refining industrialist, and yachtsman *

Rufus Choate Rufus Choate (October 1, 1799July 13, 1859) was an American lawyer, orator, and Senator who represented Massachusetts as a member of the Whig Party. He is regarded as one of the greatest American lawyers of the 19th century, arguing over a th ...

(1799–1859), American lawyer and orator * Rufus Early Clement (1900–1967), American academic * Rufus Cole (1872–1966), American medical doctor * Rufus Cowles Crampton (1828–1888), American educator * Rufus Dawes (1838–1899), American military officer * Rufus C. Dawes (1867–1940), American businessman * Rufus Dayglo, English comics artist * Rufus of Ephesus, 1st-century Greco-Roman physician and anatomist * Rufus Estes (b. 1857 - d.1939), an American chef aboard luxury railway Pullman Company * J. Rufus Fears (1945–2012), American historian, scholar, teacher and author * Rufus Fitzgerald (1890–1966), American academic at the University of Pittsburgh * Rufus Flint (c. 1865 – c. 1895), American Nicaraguan professor of English and mathematics * Rufus Edward Foster (1871–1942), American jurist * Rufus Franklin (1916–1975), American criminal * Rufus Henry Gilbert (1832–1885), American surgeon and inventor *

Rufus Wilmot Griswold Rufus Wilmot Griswold (February 13, 1815 – August 27, 1857) was an American anthologist, editor, poet, and critic. Born in Vermont, Griswold left home when he was 15 years old. He worked as a journalist, editor, and critic in Philadelphia, New Y ...

(1815–1857), American anthologist, editor, poet, and critic *

Rufus Hannah Rufus Hannah (November 27, 1954 – October 4, 2017), also known as Roofus the Stunt Bum, was an American advocate for homeless rights who became known for his role in the early ''Bumfights'' videos: in 2000, while himself a homeless alcoholic, h ...

(1954–2017), aka "Rufus the Stunt Bum", of ''Bumfights'' fame * Rufus Carrollton Harris (1897–1988), American academic * Rufus D. Hayes (1913–2002), American attorney, judge, and businessman * Rufus G. Herring (1921–1996), American military officer and Medal of Honor winner * Rufus Hessberg, American doctor and aeromedical scientist * Rufus C. Holman (1877–1959), American politician and businessman * Rufus K. Howell (1820–1890), Justice of the Louisiana Supreme Court * Rufus Hussey (1919–1994), American slingshot marksman * Rufus Ingalls (1818–1893), American military general * Rufus Henry Ingram (1834–?), American bushwhacker * Rufus Isaacs (game theorist) (1914–1981), American mathematician * Rufus Zenas Johnston (1874–1959), American military officer and Medal of Honor winner *

Rufus Jones (writer) Rufus Matthew Jones (January 25, 1863 – June 16, 1948) was an American religious leader, writer, magazine editor, philosopher, and college professor. He was instrumental in the establishment of the Haverford Emergency Unit (a precursor to ...

(1863–1948), American writer, philosopher and Quaker * Rufus R. Jones (1933–1993), American wrestler * Rufus Keppel, 10th Earl of Albemarle (born 1965), product designer and founder of a men's-shirt company * Rufus King (general) (1814–1876), American newspaper editor, educator, diplomat, and military general * Rufus King (writer) (1893–1966), American author of crime novels * Rufus King Jr. (1838–1900), American military officer * Rufus B. von KleinSmid (1875–1964), American academic * Rufus Osgood Mason (1830–1903), American physician, teacher, and researcher in parapsychology and hypnotherapy * Rufus May (born 1968?), British clinical psychologist * Rufus McCain (1903–1940), American prisoner at Alcatraz * Rufus Naylor (1882–1939), Australian sporting entrepreneur and gambler * Rufus Norris (born 1965), British theatre director * Rufus Palmer (1828–1873), Canadian physician and political figure *

Rufus Porter (painter) Rufus Porter (May 1, 1792 – August 13, 1884) was an American painter, inventor, and founder of '' Scientific American'' magazine. Famous family Rufus Porter descended from an old colonial New England family. The family's first immigrant ...

(1792–1884), American painter, inventor, and founder of ''Scientific American'' magazine * Rufus Putnam (1738–1824), American military officer * Rufus N. Rhodes (1856–1910), American newspaper editor * Rufus G. Russell (1823–1896), American architect * Rufus Sage (1817–1893), American writer, journalist and mountain man *

Rufus Saxton Rufus Saxton (October 19, 1824 – February 23, 1908) was a Union Army brigadier general during the American Civil War who received America's highest military decoration, the Medal of Honor, for his actions defending Harpers Ferry during Conf ...

(1824–1908), American military general * Rufus Stephenson (1835–1901), Canadian newspaper editor and political figure * Rufus Stokes (1922–1986), American inventor * Rufus B. Tebbetts (1828–?), American settler * Rufus of Thebes, bishop of Thebes in Greece, referenced in Romans 16:13 * Rufus Welch (1800–1856), American circus impresario * Rufus Corbin Wood (1818–1885), sheriff of Norfolk County, Massachusetts * Rufus Yerxa (born 1951), American Deputy Director-General of the World Trade Organization * Rufus Fairchild Zogbaum (1849–1925), American illustrator, journalist and author

Surname

* Alexis Rufus (born 1979), English Muay Thai kickboxer * Anneli Rufus, American journalist * Geoffrey Rufus (died 1141), English Bishop and Lord Chancellor *

Milan Rúfus Milan Rúfus (December 10, 1928 – January 11, 2009) was a Slovak poet, essayist, translator, children's writer and academic. Rúfus is the most translated Slovak poet into other languages. Life Milan Rúfus was born to a family of brickl ...

(1928–2009), Slovak poet and writer * Richard Rufus (born 1975), English football player

Cognomen or nickname

* Rufus (born 1942), stage name of Italian-French actor Jacques Narcy * Rufus (Roman cognomen), list of people who had one of the most common of the ancient Roman ''cognomina'' * King

William II of England William II ( xno, Williame; – 2 August 1100) was King of England from 26 September 1087 until his death in 1100, with powers over Normandy and influence in Scotland. He was less successful in extending control into Wales. The third so ...

(1050s–1100), called "William Rufus" *

Alan Rufus Alan Rufus, alternatively Alanus Rufus ( Latin), Alan ar Rouz ( Breton), Alain le Roux ( French) or Alan the Red (c. 1040 – 1093), 1st Lord of Richmond, was a Breton nobleman, kinsman and companion of William the Conqueror (Duke William II o ...

(c. 1040–1089), companion of William the Conqueror * Richard Rufus of Cornwall (died 1260), English scholastic philosopher and theologian * Roger Squires, crossword compiler nicknamed Rufus

Animals

* Rufus the Hawk, a bird used to keep pigeons away from the tennis grass courts at Wimbledon

Fictional characters

* Rufus (''Street Fighter''), one of four new fighters in ''Street Fighter IV'' * Rufus the Bobcat, the mascot for Ohio University * Rufus, a naked mole rat from Disney's TV show ''Kim Possible''; see List of ''Kim Possible'' characters *Rufus Carlin, a main character in the 2016 NBC show ''Timeless'' * Rufus Moffat, title character of the book '' Rufus M.'' by Eleanor Estes * Rufus Ruffcut, from Hanna-Barbera's TV show ''

Wacky Races Eccentricity (also called quirkiness) is an unusual or odd behavior on the part of an individual. This behavior would typically be perceived as unusual or unnecessary, without being demonstrably maladaptive. Eccentricity is contrasted with no ...

'' * Rufus Scrimgeour, from the Harry Potter universe; see

Ministry of Magic The Ministry of Magic is the government of the Magical community of Britain in J. K. Rowling's Wizarding World, headed by an official entitled the Minister for Magic. The magical government in Britain is first mentioned in ''Harry Potter and t ...

* Rufus Shinra, from the Final Fantasy VII video games; see Characters of the ''Final Fantasy VII'' series * Rufus Turner, from the American television drama ''Supernatural''; see List of ''Supernatural'' characters * Rufus XIV, King of Rubovia, in the 1955 British children's television series '' A Rubovian Legend'' * Rufus, from the film '' The Rescuers'' * Rufus, the forgotten 13th apostle in the film ''

Dogma Dogma is a belief or set of beliefs that is accepted by the members of a group without being questioned or doubted. It may be in the form of an official system of principles or doctrines of a religion, such as Roman Catholicism, Judaism, Islam ...

'', played by Chris Rock * Rufus, polar bear character from the animated series ''SantApprentice''; see List of ''Santa's Apprentice'' characters * Rufus, protagonist of the children's cartoon series ''

The Dreamstone ''The Dreamstone'' is a British animated television series that ran for four series, with 13 episodes per series between 1990 and 1995. The original concept and artwork were created by Michael Jupp, and the series was written by Sue Radley ...

'' * Rufus, time traveler in the films '' Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure'' and ''Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey'', played by George Carlin **Rufus, time traveler in the television ''Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventures'' (1992 TV series), an adaptation of the above film, played by Rick Overton * Rufus Humphrey, a character in '' Gossip Girl'' * Rufus, a character in the movie Kill Bill: Volume 2, played by Samuel L. Jackson * Rufus T. Firefly, a character in the 1933 film ''Duck Soup'', played by Groucho Marx