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RUTHERFORD Family History

This ancient surname is usually regarded as being of Scottish origin, but can be English. The Clan Rutherford were once a powerful family in the Border Country, and they held an estate known as The lands of Rutherford in Roxburgh. There are a number of spellings including: Rutherford, Rutherfoord, Rutherforde, Rudderford, Riddiford, Ruddiford, Rotherforth, Ruddiforth and probably others as yet undiscovered. The derivation is from the Olde English pre 7th Century words "hryther" meaning cattle, and "forda", a shallow river crossing. However although the surname is principally recorded in the Scottish border country, some modern nameholders at least have no Scottish connections...

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Michele M Rutherford

John Rutherford is my great grandfather who emigrated from County Armagh, Ireland and ultimately settled in Michigan in the lower Peninsula. My grandfather Harry, son of John Rutherford settled in Flint, MI where his three sons, Elwood, Frank, and James, worked as public servants, respectively in the Fire Dept. and Civil Defense (Al), Flint Police Dept. (Frank) and Flint Police Department, City Government (Asst. City Manager and Mayor), and Redevelopment (James W. Rutherford - my father)