Rufus
/ˈruːfəs/noun
A Latin name and adjective meaning red-haired or reddish.
Did you know?Rufus comes from the same ancient color root behind English *rufous*, the ornithology word for a reddish-brown shade used to describe birds and fur.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*reudh-
“to be red, ruddy”
Latin
Latin
rufus
“red-haired, reddish, tawny”
Classical Latin
Latin
Rufus
“a Roman cognomen originally referring to red hair or a ruddy complexion”
Old French
OF
roux
“reddish, red-haired”
Middle English
English
rufous
“reddish-brown; red-colored”
Modern English
English
Rufus
“a male given name or surname”