Find out how popular the first name Ruiz has been for the last 1 years (from 2003 to 2003) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Ruiz by gender

Based on the last 1 years of data, Ruiz is exclusively a male name.

For the most recent data in 2003, there were 5 male babies and 0 female babies born with the name Ruiz.

The history of the first name Ruiz

The name Ruiz is derived from the Spanish language and has its origins in the Iberian Peninsula, specifically in regions that were once part of the medieval Kingdom of Castile and León. The name is a patronymic surname that evolved from the given name Ruy, which itself is a hypocoristic form of the name Rodrigo.

Rodrigo is a Germanic name that was popularized in the Iberian Peninsula during the Visigothic period, which lasted from the 5th to the 8th centuries. The name is derived from the Germanic elements "hrod" meaning "fame" and "ric" meaning "powerful" or "ruler". It was borne by several notable figures in early medieval Iberian history, including the legendary Visigothic King Rodrigo, who ruled during the Muslim conquest of the Iberian Peninsula in the 8th century.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Ruiz can be found in the 11th century, when it appears in the Codex Calixtinus, a medieval manuscript that served as a guide for pilgrims traveling along the Camino de Santiago. The name is mentioned in connection with a nobleman named Ruiz Díaz, who is said to have been a vassal of the famous El Cid Campeador.

Throughout the medieval and early modern periods, the name Ruiz was borne by several notable figures in Spanish history. One of the most famous was Ruy López de Villalobos (c. 1500-1544), a Spanish explorer and navigator who led an expedition to the Philippines and is credited with naming several islands in the Pacific Ocean.

Another well-known bearer of the name was Ruy Gómez de Silva (1516-1573), a Spanish nobleman and diplomat who served as a close advisor to King Philip II of Spain. He played a crucial role in the Spanish court during the Renaissance period and was known for his political acumen and influence.

In the realm of literature, the name Ruiz is associated with the 17th-century Spanish poet and playwright Ruy Díaz de Vivar (c. 1600-1670), who was renowned for his works in the baroque style and his contributions to the development of the Spanish Golden Age theater.

Moving into more recent times, one of the most notable figures to bear the name Ruiz was the Cuban revolutionary Ruy López Vallejo (1907-1987), who was a close associate of Fidel Castro and played a significant role in the Cuban Revolution of the 1950s.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Ruiz was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Ruiz, please contact us.

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