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 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 ...

(born 1945), Yoruban king *

Rufus Applegarth Rufus W. Applegarth (August 2, 1844 – June 17, 1921) was an American lawyer and politician, a member of the Maryland House of Delegates. Biography Born at Baltimore, Maryland, Applegarth attended public schools. Politically, he was a Republican ...

(1844–1921), American lawyer and politician *

Rufus A. Ayers Rufus Adolphus Ayers (May 20, 1849 – May 14, 1926) was a Virginia lawyer, businessman, and politician, who served as Attorney General of Virginia. Ayers was born in Bedford County, Virginia. His family set out for Texas, but passed through Goo ...

(1849–1926), American lawyer, businessman, and politician *

Rufus Barringer Rufus Clay Barringer (December 2, 1821 – February 3, 1895) was an American lawyer, politician, and Confederate brigadier general during the American Civil War. Early life Barringer was born in Cabarrus County, North Carolina, the ninth of ...

(1821–1895), American lawyer, politician, and military general * Rufus Blodgett (1834–1910), American politician and railroad superintendent *

Rufus Bousquet Rufus George Bousquet (born 28 November 1958) is a Saint Lucian politician who formerly represented the constituency of Choiseul for the United Workers Party. Bousquet last won the seat at the general election held on 11 December 2006 but lost it ...

(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 an American politician and businessman from Georgia. A Republican, he served as the state's governor during the Reconstruction Era. He called for equal economic opportunity and political ...

(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 Rufus Curry (31 August 1859 – 18 August 1934) was a manufacturer and painter in Nova Scotia. He was appointed to the Senate of Canada in 1903, but declined the appointment and never actually took his seat. Notwithstanding this, he is of ...

(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. Rufus B. Dodge Jr. (November 24, 1861 – December 13, 1935) was an American lawyer and politician who served as the mayor of Worcester, Massachusetts. Early life Dodge was born in Charlton, Massachusetts on November 24, 1861. Education Dodg ...

(1861–1935), American lawyer and politician * Rufus A. Doughton (1857–1946), American politician *

Rufus Easton Rufus Easton (May 4, 1774 – July 5, 1834) was an American attorney, politician, and postmaster. He served as a non-voting delegate to the United States House of Representatives from the Missouri Territory prior to statehood. After statehood he ...

(1774–1834), American lawyer and politician *

Rufus Edmisten Rufus Lige Edmisten (born July 12, 1941) is an American attorney who served as North Carolina Secretary of State, Attorney General, and was the Democratic nominee for Governor in 1984. He is currently a lawyer in private practice. Life and car ...

(born 1941), American politician and lawyer *

Rufus Elefante Rufus Pasquale "Rufie" Elefante (April 11, 1903 – November 15, 1994) was an American political boss from Utica, New York. Originally a Republican, who worked as a trucker, Elefante rose to power during the late 1920s. Though he never held pu ...

(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. 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) 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) Hard ...

(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 (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 Rufus Ezekiel Lester (December 12, 1837 – June 16, 1906) was a U.S. Representative from Georgia. Born near Waynesboro, Georgia, Lester graduated from Mercer University, Macon, Georgia, in 1857. He studied law. He was admitted to the bar in Sa ...

(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 Rufus Mallory (January or June 10, 1831 – April 30, 1914) was an American educator, lawyer, and politician in the state of Oregon. A native of New York, he was a teacher in Iowa before moving to Oregon where he became an attorney. He was a dis ...

(1831–1914), American educator, lawyer, and politician *

Rufus P. Manson Rufus P. Manson was a member of the Wisconsin State Assembly. Biography Manson was born on February 15, 1830, in Eaton, New Hampshire. In 1854, he married Catherine Nicolls. They would have twelve children. Manson died on February 19, 1897. ...

(1830–1897), American politician * Rufus McIntire (1784–1866), American lawyer, military officer, congressman, and land surveyor *

Rufus Wheeler Peckham (1809–1873) Rufus Wheeler Peckham (December 20, 1809 – November 22, 1873) was an American jurist and politician who served in the United States House of Representatives for New York's 14th congressional district from 1853 to 1855. Aside from his time in ...

, American judge and congressman *

Rufus W. Peckham Rufus W. Peckham (November 8, 1838 – October 24, 1909) was an American lawyer and jurist who served as an Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court from 1896 to 1909, and is the most recent Democratic nominee approved by a Republican-majorit ...

(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 Rufus Pettibone (May 26, 1784 – July 31, 1825) was a justice of the Supreme Court of Missouri from 1823 to 1825, appointed from St. Louis County. Early life, education, and career Born in Litchfield County, Connecticut to Giles and Margaret Ho ...

(1784–1825), justice of the Supreme Court of Missouri *

Rufus Phillips Rufus Colfax Phillips III (August 10, 1929 – December 29, 2021) was an American writer, businessman, politician, and Central Intelligence Agency and United States Agency for International Development employee. Life Phillips was born in Middle ...

(1929–2021), American intelligence officer *

Rufus Henry Pope Rufus Henry Pope (September 13, 1857 – May 16, 1944) was a Canadian politician. Born in Cookshire, Canada East, the son of John Henry Pope, Pope was educated at the Cookshire Academy, Sherbrooke High School and McGill College Law School. He ...

(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 Rufus Putnam Ranney (October 30, 1813 – December 6, 1891) was a Democratic politician in the U.S. State of Ohio who helped write the second Ohio Constitution, and was a judge on the Ohio Supreme Court in 1851–1856 and 1863–1865. Early lif ...

(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 (Doctor of Medicine, MD) (November 19, 1766 – November 15, 1844) was a physician and politician in the British Empire, British colonial New Brunswick, Province of New Brunswick, Canada. Born in Stamford, Connecticut, Stamford in t ...

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

Rufus P. Tapley Rufus P. Tapley (January 2, 1823 – April 10, 1893),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 Rufus T. Babcock (September 18, 1798 – May 4, 1875) was an American clergyman and the second president of Colby College in Waterville, Maine. Life Babcock was born at North Colebrook, Connecticut. His father was Rufus Babcock, who had bee ...

(1798–1895), American clergyman and academic *

Rufus Brome Rufus Theophilus Brome was the 12th Bishop of Barbados. Biography Born the son of Leon Brome (1893–1958) and his wife Constance Griffith (1898–1985) in 1935 and educated at Codrington College, he was ordained Deacon in 1961 and Priest ...

(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 Rufus Halley (1944 - 28 August 2001) was a Roman Catholic priest of the Missionary Society of St. Columban who spent more than 20 years promoting ecumenical dialogue between Christians and Muslims in Asia. A native of County Waterford, Killoteran ...

(c. 1944–2001), Roman Catholic missionary in the Philippines *

Rufus K. Hardy Rufus Kay Hardy (May 28, 1878 – March 7, 1945) was an American Mormon missionary, missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in New Zealand and was a general authority of the LDS Church from 1935 until his death. Hardy was b ...

(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 Rufus Alexander (born April 12, 1983) is an American former professional football linebacker. He was selected by the Minnesota Vikings in the sixth round of the 2007 NFL draft. He was also a member of the Indianapolis Colts and Detroit Lions. He ...

(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 (born 1955), Canadian Football League player * Rufus Deal (1917–2005), American football player * Rufus French (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 (actor), 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 (rapper), Bizarre, American rapper * Rufus Jones (actor) (born 1975), English actor, comedian and writer * Rufus "Speedy" Jones (1936–1990), American jazz drummer * Rufus Payne (1883–1939), American blues musician known as Tee Tot * Rufus Reid (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 (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 (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, 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 (1815–1857), American anthologist, editor, poet, and critic * Rufus Hannah (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) (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 (1824–1908), American military general * Rufus Stephenson (1835–1901), Canadian newspaper editor and political figure * Rufus Stokes (1922–1986), American inventor * 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 (1928–2009), Slovak poet and writer * Richard Rufus (born 1975), English football player

Cognomen or nickname

* Rufus (actor), Rufus (born 1942), stage name of Italian-French actor Jacques Narcy * Rufus (Roman cognomen) (disambiguation), Rufus (Roman cognomen), list of people who had one of the most common of the ancient Roman ''cognomina'' * King William II of England (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), Rufus (''Street Fighter''), one of four new fighters in ''Street Fighter IV'' *Rufus the Bobcat, the mascot for Ohio University *Rufus (Kim Possible), Rufus, 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), ''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 (1968 TV series), Wacky Races'' *Rufus Scrimgeour, from the Harry Potter universe; see Ministry_of_Magic#Rufus_Scrimgeour, Ministry of Magic *Rufus Shinra, from the ''Final Fantasy VII'' video games; see Characters_of_the_Final_Fantasy_VII_series#Rufus_Shinra, Characters of the ''Final Fantasy VII'' series *Rufus Turner, from the American television drama ''Supernatural''; see List_of_Supernatural_characters#Rufus_Turner, List of ''Supernatural'' characters *Rufus XIV, King of Rubovia, in the 1955 British children's television series ''A Rubovian Legend'' *Rufus, from the 1977 animated film ''The Rescuers'' *Rufus, the forgotten 13th apostle in the film ''Dogma (film), Dogma'', 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), ''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'' *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 (1933 film), ''Duck Soup'', played by Groucho Marx