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

cognomen A ''cognomen'' (; : ''cognomina''; from ''co-'' "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 hereditar ...

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 spoken by the Latins (Italic tribe), Latins in Latium (now known as Lazio), the lower Tiber area aroun ...

rufus Rufus is a masculine given name, a surname, an Ancient Roman cognomen and a nickname (from Latin ''wikt:rufus, rufus'', "red"). Notable people with the name include: Given name Politicians * Marcus Caelius Rufus, (28 May 82 BC – after 48 ...

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

Given name

Politicians

Marcus Caelius Rufus Marcus Caelius Rufus (died 48 BC) was an orator and politician in the late Roman Republic. He was born into a wealthy equestrian family from Interamnia Praetuttiorum, on the central east coast of Italy. He is best known for his prosecut ...

, (28 May 82 BC – after 48 BC),

orator An orator, or oratist, is a public speaker, especially one who is eloquent or skilled. Etymology Recorded in English c. 1374, with a meaning of "one who pleads or argues for a cause", from Anglo-French ''oratour'', Old French ''orateur'' (14 ...

and

politician A politician is a person who participates in Public policy, policy-making processes, usually holding an elective position in government. Politicians represent the people, make decisions, and influence the formulation of public policy. The roles ...

in the late

Roman Republic The Roman Republic ( ) was the era of Ancient Rome, classical Roman civilisation beginning with Overthrow of the Roman monarchy, the overthrow of the Roman Kingdom (traditionally dated to 509 BC) and ending in 27 BC with the establis ...

* Rufus Ada George (born 1940), Nigerian politician * Rufus Aladesanmi III (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 (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 (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 Edmisten (born 1941), American politician and lawyer * Rufus Elefante (1903–1994), American politician from Utica, New York * Rufus Nelson England (1851–1911), Canadian merchant and political figure * Rufus S. Frost (1826–1894), American politician *

Rufus King Garland Jr. Rufus King Garland Jr. (May 22, 1830 – December 12, 1886) was a farmer, lawyer, and politician in Arkansas. He represented Hempstead County, Arkansas in the Arkansas House of Representatives before the American Civil War. He represented H ...

(1830–1886), American politician * Rufus K. Goodenow (1790–1863), American politician * Rufus Hardy (representative) (1855–1943), American politician * Rufus Erastus Hart (1812–1891), American politician and lawyer * Rufus Henderson (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), known as the Earl of Reading from 1917 to 1926, was a British Liberal politician and judge, who served as Lord Chief Justice of England, Viceroy of India, and S ...

(1860–1935), English politician and jurist *

Rufus King Rufus King (March 24, 1755April 29, 1827) was an American Founding Fathers of the United States, Founding Father, lawyer, politician, and diplomat. He was a delegate from Massachusetts to the Continental Congress and the Constitutional Convent ...

(1755–1827), pre-Civil War US politician *

Rufus H. King Rufus H. King (January 20, 1820 – September 13, 1890) was a United States House of Representatives, U.S. Representative from New York (state), New York. Biography Born in Rensselaerville, New York, King completed preparatory studies and was g ...

(1820–1890), American politician * Rufus E. Lester (1837–1906), American politician * Rufus Anderson Lyman (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 Rufus Ferrand Pelletier (29 March 1824, in Carteret County, North Carolina – ?), was an early resident and principal founder of Jacksonville, North Carolina. Rufus was a grandson of the powerful Carteret County landowner and Revolutionary War ...

(1824–?), American postmaster and politician * Rufus Pettibone (1784–1825), justice of the Supreme Court of Missouri * Rufus Phillips (1929–2021), American intelligence officer * Rufus Henry Pope (1857–1944), Canadian politician * Rufus K. Polk (1866–1902), American politician *

Rufus Pollock Rufus Pollock (born 1980) is a British economist, activist and social entrepreneur. He has been a leading figure in the global open knowledge and open data movements, starting with his founding in 2004 of the non-profit Open Knowledge Foundatio ...

(born 1980), English economist * Rufus P. Ranney (1813–1891), American politician * Rufus Rodriguez (born 1953), Filipino politician * Rufus Smith (1766–1844), Canadian physician and politician * Rufus P. Spalding (1798–1886), American politician, lawyer and judge * Rufus P. Tapley (1823–1893), justice of the Maine Supreme Judicial Court

Religious figures

Rufus (biblical figure) Rufus ("Red") was a first-century Christian mentioned in with his brother Alexander, whose father " Simon a Cyrenian" was compelled to help carry the cross on which Jesus Christ Jesus (AD 30 or 33), also referred to as Jesus Christ, ...

, 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, in 1796. His father, also named Rufus Anderson, ...

(1796–1880), American minister * Rufus Babcock (1798–1895), American clergyman and academic * Rufus Brome (born 1935), Bishop of Barbados *

Rufus Hollis Gause Rufus Hollis Gause, Jr. (July 1, 1925 – September 6, 2015), known as R. Hollis Gause, was an American Pentecostal theologian and pastor. He was affiliated with the Church of God (Cleveland, Tennessee). Gause was the first dean of the Pentecost ...

(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 Rufus T. Bess Jr. (born September 13, 1956) is a former professional American football cornerback in the National Football League (NFL) for the Oakland Raiders, Buffalo Bills, and Minnesota Vikings. He played college football at South Carolina ...

(born 1956), American football player * Rufus Brevett (born 1969), English football player *

Rufus Brown Rufus Brown (born July 18, 1980) is a professional American football wide receiver/defensive back for the Arizona RattlersRufus Crawford (born 1955), Canadian Football League player * Rufus Deal (1917–2005), American football player * Rufus French (born 1978), American football player *

Rufus Gilbert Rufus W. Gilbert (December 8, 1884 – 1962) was an American football, basketball, and baseball player and coach. He served as the head football coach at Kalamazoo College (1905, 1907–1908), Bradley Polytechnic Institute—now known as Bradle ...

(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) (born 1975), English actor, comedian and writer * Rufus "Speedy" Jones (1936–1990), American jazz drummer *

Rufus Payne Rufus "Tee Tot" Payne (February 4, 1883 – March 17, 1939) was an early-20th-century African-American blues musician from Greenville, Alabama, who was more widely known by his nickname Tee Tot. Payne's nickname of "Tee Tot" is an ironic pun f ...

(1883–1939), American blues musician known as Tee Tot * Rufus Reid (born 1944), American jazz bassist, educator, and composer *

Rufus Sewell Rufus Frederik Sewell (; born 29 October 1967) is a British actor. In film, he has appeared in ''Carrington (film), Carrington'' (1995), ''Hamlet (1996 film), Hamlet'' (1996), ''Dangerous Beauty'' (1998), ''Dark City (1998 film), Dark City'' (1 ...

(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 Re ...

(1917–2001), American singer * Rufus P. Turner (1907–1982), American electronics author *

Rufus Wainwright Rufus McGarrigle Wainwright (born July 22, 1973) is a Canadian and American singer, songwriter, and composer. He has recorded eleven studio albums and numerous tracks on compilations and film soundtracks. He has also written two classical opera ...

(born 1973), Canadian-American singer-songwriter * Rufus Waller, better known as Scola, a member of

Dru Hill Dru Hill is an American R&B boy band, whose repertoire included soul, hip hop soul and gospel music. The group was founded in Baltimore in 1992 by Tamir "Nokio the N-Tity" Ruffin, and as of 2023, is still active. Dru Hill recorded seven top 40 ...

, 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 (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 (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 Rufus Dayglo is a British comics artist working in comics, illustration, and storyboards. He is working for '' 2000 AD'' and Titan Books in the United Kingdom, and DC Vertigo, IDW Publishing and Image Comics in the United States. His ''Tank Gir ...

, 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 ...

(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 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) (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. Early life and education Porter descended from an old colonial New England family. The family's first immigr ...

(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 Con ...

(1824–1908), American military general * Rufus Stephenson (1835–1901), Canadian newspaper editor and political figure * Rufus Stokes (1922–1986), American inventor *

Rufus of Thebes Rufus of Thebes () is numbered among the Seventy Disciples in Eastern Orthodox tradition. He was bishop of Thebes in Greece, and according to some traditions is referenced in Romans 16:13. However, according to Easton's Bible Dictionary the Ruf ...

, bishop of Thebes in Greece, referenced in Romans 16:13 *

Rufus Welch Rufus Welch (September 1, 1800 – December 5, 1856) was a circus impresario in the early-19th century. Life and career Welch was born in New Berlin, New York. He initially was a chairmaker. In 1827 he started in the zoo business. By 1829 he was ...

(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 Alexis Rufus (born 28 April 1979) is an English Muay Thai Kickboxing, kickboxer who competes in the bantamweight and featherweight divisions. Having turned professional in 2005, Rufus is a two-time European and five-time world champion. Early ...

(born 1979), English Muay Thai kickboxer * Anneli Rufus, American journalist * Geoffrey Rufus (died 1141), English Bishop and Lord Chancellor * Milan Rúfus (1928–2009), Slovak poet and writer * Richard Rufus (born 1975), English football player

Cognomen or nickname

Rufus Rufus is a masculine given name, a surname, an Ancient Roman cognomen and a nickname (from Latin ''wikt:rufus, rufus'', "red"). Notable people with the name include: Given name Politicians * Marcus Caelius Rufus, (28 May 82 BC – after 48 ...

(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 (; – 2 August 1100) was List of English monarchs, King of England from 26 September 1087 until his death in 1100, with powers over Duchy of Normandy, Normandy and influence in Kingdom of Scotland, Scotland. He was less successfu ...

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

Objects

* the demon core, the plutonium nuclear weapon core that was involved in two deadly nuclear accidents, was originally nicknamed "Rufus"

Fictional characters

* Rufus (''Street Fighter''), one of four new fighters in ''Street Fighter IV'' * Rufus the Bobcat, the mascot for Ohio University *

, a naked mole rat from Disney's TV show ''Kim Possible'' * Rufus McCallister, a character in ''Ninjago'' *Rufus Carlin, a main character in the 2016 NBC show ''Timeless'' (American TV series) *Rufus Emeterio, a character in the novel '' They Both Die at the End'' *Rufus Moffat, title character of the book '' Rufus M.'' by Eleanor Estes *Rufus Ruffcut, from Hanna-Barbera's TV show ''

Wacky Races ''Wacky Races'' is a media franchise containing five animated series, several video games, and a comic book, with most centered on the theme of various Hanna-Barbera cartoon characters primarily engaged in auto racing (although occasionally employ ...

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

Ministry of Magic The Ministry of Magic is the government of the British wizarding community in the fictional universe of ''Fictional universe of Harry Potter, Harry Potter'' for Britain and Ireland. It is led by an official called the Minister for Magic, and is ...

*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 ''A Rubovian Legend'' is a British marionette children's television series created by Gordon Murray. It centres around a fictional kingdom ruled by King Rufus XIV and Queen Caroline, assisted by Albert Weatherspoon and the Lord Chamberlain. The ...

'' *Rufus, from the 1977 animated film ''

The Rescuers ''The Rescuers'' is a 1977 American Animated film, animated adventure film, adventure comedy-drama film produced by Walt Disney Productions and released by Buena Vista Distribution. Bob Newhart and Eva Gabor respectively star as Bernard and B ...

'' *Rufus, the forgotten 13th apostle in the film ''

Dogma Dogma, in its broadest sense, is any belief held definitively and without the possibility of reform. It may be in the form of an official system of principles or doctrines of a religion, such as Judaism, Roman Catholicism, Protestantism, or Islam ...

'', played by Chris Rock *Rufus, protagonist of the children's cartoon series '' The Dreamstone'' *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, an anthropomorphic raccoon skin from the 2017 video game '' Fortnite'' *Rufus Humphrey, a character from the television series ''

Gossip Girl ''Gossip Girl'' is an American teen drama television series created and developed by Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage and based on the series of novels of the same name by Cecily von Ziegesar. It follows a group of students on Manhattan's ...

'' *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