From the old barony of the name in Angus. The early pedigree of the old family is proved mainly from the chartulary of the Abbey of Scone. Four generations are evidenced in a single deed (Scon, 78, p. 47-48). Thor, son of Swein, witness to royal charters between 1127-50 (Lawrie, ESC., p. 72,186), held the lands of Trauement (Tranent), the church of which he granted to the monks of Holyrood (LSC., p. 11). Swan, son of Thor, held land in Perthshire, and between 1211 and 1214 he granted to the monks of Scone the lands of Ahednepobbel by the same limits as Robert the chaplain held them, and also a toft in Tubermore (Scon, 21). Swan, who seems to have been the first to assume the territorial designation of de Ruthven, also held the land of Crawford in Clydesdale with William de Lindsay as his vassal (Neubotle, 102,103). Walter de Rotheuen witnessed a charter by Sir Fergus de Fedal, a. 1244 (LAC., 24) and Sir Gilbert de Rothwin ( Rothewen, Rothewane, or Ruthfen) witnessed charters by Malise, earl of Stratherin, between 1247 and c. 1270 (Inchaffray, p. 68, 77, 85, 88). William de Rotheuen witnessed a charter by Muriel, daughter of Coneval, 1284 (LIM., xxxvi), and in 1291 rendered homage at Stirling (Bain, II, 508)."Their later story comprises in two generations of Earls, more romance and mystory than have fallen to the lot of any other name in the Scotch peerage" (Innes, Sketches of early Scotch history, p. 125). After the failure of the treasonable Ruthven or Gowrie Conspiracy of 1600 Parliament enacted "that the surname of Ruthven sail now and in all tyme cumming be extinguischit and aboleissit for euir," and further ordained that those who bear the said surname and are innocent of the crime of treason shall renounce the surname and take to themselves, their bairns and posterity any other honest and undefamed surname and to use the same in all contracts, etc. (APS., IV, p. 213). In 1641 an Act was passed making it lawful for the Ruthvens of Ballindean (Perthshire), their bairns and posterity "to enjoy and assume to themselves the surname of Ruthven and to use it as if the Act of 1600 had never been made against them" (RPC., VI p. 511). William Riven in Ochtergaven, 1683 (DPD., I, p. 487). John Ruthven, architect, ont of the builders of High Bridge, New York City, and James Alexander Ruthven (1821—1889), scholar, traveller, and author of the batrle-hymn "The flag of the free," were born of Scots parentage. Ravin 1438, Ravyn 1485, Riwan 1560, Riuuen 1671, Roduen (in Froissart), Rotheven 1476, Rothiane 1470, Rothevenne 1425, Rothuen 1478, Rothveyn 1389, Rothwen 1461, Ruthen 1646. Ruthuen 1563, Ruthyn 1435, Ruthwein 1624, Rwithtven 1558, Rwthtven 1553.

(Celtic) belonging to Ruthven (several in English Scotl.), some 12th-13th cent. forms being Ruthaven, -ruotheven, Rotheivan = the Red River [Cym. rhudd (dd as th) = Gaelic ruadh, red + Cym. afon (f as v), O.Cym. (and Breton) avon-Gaelic abhainn, river] The parish of Ruthven, Forfar, e.g., has a light, reddish soil, which would easily influence the colour of the river.

Place name in Angus, Scotland.

Nisbet gives the following account: —

Local: from the Barony of Ruthven, in Perthshire. The family are descended from Swanus de Rnthven, temp. William the Lion.

From the lands and barony of Ruthven, in Perthshire, Scotland; a river of the same name; "Ruithab—hainn," i. e., the rushing or swift stream.