# Rufus

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This article is about the masculine name. For the color, see [Rufous](/source/Rufous). For other uses, see [Rufus (disambiguation)](/source/Rufus_(disambiguation)).

**Rufus** is a masculine given name, a surname, an Ancient Roman [cognomen](/source/Cognomen) and a nickname (from [Latin](/source/Latin) *[rufus](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/rufus)*, "red"). Notable people with the name include:

## Given name

### Politicians

- [Marcus Caelius Rufus](/source/Marcus_Caelius_Rufus), (28 May 82 BC – after 48 BC), [orator](/source/Orator) and [politician](/source/Politician) in the late [Roman Republic](/source/Roman_Republic)
- [Rufus Ada George](/source/Rufus_Ada_George) (born 1940), Nigerian politician
- [Rufus Aladesanmi III](/source/Rufus_Aladesanmi_III) (born 1945), Yoruban king
- [Rufus Applegarth](/source/Rufus_Applegarth) (1844–1921), American lawyer and politician
- [Rufus A. Ayers](/source/Rufus_A._Ayers) (1849–1926), American lawyer, businessman, and politician
- [Rufus Barringer](/source/Rufus_Barringer) (1821–1895), American lawyer, politician, and military general
- [Rufus Blodgett](/source/Rufus_Blodgett) (1834–1910), American politician and railroad superintendent
- [Rufus Bousquet](/source/Rufus_Bousquet) (born 1958), Saint Lucian politician
- [Rufus E. Brown](/source/Rufus_E._Brown) (1854–1920), Vermont attorney, farmer, and politician
- [Rufus Bullock](/source/Rufus_Bullock) (1834–1907), American politician
- [Rufus Carter](/source/Rufus_Carter) (1866–1932), Canadian farmer and political figure
- [Rufus Cheney Jr.](/source/Rufus_Cheney_Jr.), member of the Wisconsin State Assembly during the 1850 session
- [Rufus W. Cobb](/source/Rufus_W._Cobb) (1829–1913), American politician
- [Rufus Curry](/source/Rufus_Curry) (1859–1934), Canadian manufacturer and politician
- [Rufus Davis](/source/Rufus_Davis) (born 1964), mayor of Camilla, Georgia
- [Rufus B. Dodge Jr.](/source/Rufus_B._Dodge_Jr.) (1861–1935), American lawyer and politician
- [Rufus A. Doughton](/source/Rufus_A._Doughton) (1857–1946), American politician
- [Rufus Easton](/source/Rufus_Easton) (1774–1834), American lawyer and politician
- [Rufus Edmisten](/source/Rufus_Edmisten) (born 1941), American politician and lawyer
- [Rufus Elefante](/source/Rufus_Elefante) (1903–1994), American politician from Utica, New York
- [Rufus Nelson England](/source/Rufus_Nelson_England) (1851–1911), Canadian merchant and political figure
- [Rufus S. Frost](/source/Rufus_S._Frost) (1826–1894), American politician
- [Rufus King Garland Jr.](/source/Rufus_King_Garland_Jr.) (1830–1886), American politician
- [Rufus K. Goodenow](/source/Rufus_K._Goodenow) (1790–1863), American politician
- [Rufus Hardy (representative)](/source/Rufus_Hardy_(representative)) (1855–1943), American politician
- [Rufus Erastus Hart](/source/Rufus_Erastus_Hart) (1812–1891), American politician and lawyer
- [Rufus Henderson](/source/Rufus_Henderson) (1779–1847), Canadian physician, merchant and political figure
- [Rufus Isaacs, 1st Marquess of Reading](/source/Rufus_Isaacs,_1st_Marquess_of_Reading) (1860–1935), English politician and jurist
- [Rufus King](/source/Rufus_King) (1755–1827), pre-Civil War US politician
- [Rufus H. King](/source/Rufus_H._King) (1820–1890), American politician
- [Rufus E. Lester](/source/Rufus_E._Lester) (1837–1906), American politician
- [Rufus Anderson Lyman](/source/Rufus_Anderson_Lyman) (1842–1910), lawyer and politician in the Kingdom of Hawaii
- [Rufus Mallory](/source/Rufus_Mallory) (1831–1914), American educator, lawyer, and politician
- [Rufus P. Manson](/source/Rufus_P._Manson) (1830–1897), American politician
- [Rufus McIntire](/source/Rufus_McIntire) (1784–1866), American lawyer, military officer, congressman, and land surveyor
- [Rufus Wheeler Peckham (1809–1873)](/source/Rufus_Wheeler_Peckham_(1809%E2%80%931873)), American judge and congressman
- [Rufus W. Peckham](/source/Rufus_W._Peckham) (1838–1909), American jurist
- [Rufus Ferrand Pelletier](/source/Rufus_Ferrand_Pelletier) (1824–?), American postmaster and politician
- [Rufus Pettibone](/source/Rufus_Pettibone) (1784–1825), justice of the Supreme Court of Missouri
- [Rufus Phillips](/source/Rufus_Phillips) (1929–2021), American intelligence officer
- [Rufus Henry Pope](/source/Rufus_Henry_Pope) (1857–1944), Canadian politician
- [Rufus K. Polk](/source/Rufus_K._Polk) (1866–1902), American politician
- [Rufus Pollock](/source/Rufus_Pollock) (born 1980), English economist
- [Rufus P. Ranney](/source/Rufus_P._Ranney) (1813–1891), American politician
- [Rufus Rodriguez](/source/Rufus_Rodriguez) (born 1953), Filipino politician
- [Rufus Smith](/source/Rufus_Smith) (1766–1844), Canadian physician and politician
- [Rufus P. Spalding](/source/Rufus_P._Spalding) (1798–1886), American politician, lawyer and judge
- [Rufus P. Tapley](/source/Rufus_P._Tapley) (1823–1893), justice of the Maine Supreme Judicial Court

### Religious figures

- [Rufus (biblical figure)](/source/Rufus_(biblical_figure)), a first-century Christian mentioned in Mark 15:21
- [Rufus Anderson](/source/Rufus_Anderson) (1796–1880), American minister
- [Rufus Babcock](/source/Rufus_Babcock) (1798–1895), American clergyman and academic
- [Rufus Brome](/source/Rufus_Brome) (born 1935), Bishop of Barbados
- [Rufus Hollis Gause](/source/Rufus_Hollis_Gause) (1925–2015), American theologian
- [Rufus Halley](/source/Rufus_Halley) (c. 1944–2001), Roman Catholic missionary in the Philippines
- [Rufus K. Hardy](/source/Rufus_K._Hardy) (1878–1945), leader and missionary in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
- [Rufus L. Perry](/source/Rufus_L._Perry) (1834–1895), American educator, journalist, and minister
- [Rufus Phineas Stebbins](/source/Rufus_Phineas_Stebbins) (1810–1885), American clergyman

### Sportsmen

- [Rufus Alexander](/source/Rufus_Alexander) (born 1983), American football player
- [Rufus Bess](/source/Rufus_Bess) (born 1956), American football player
- [Rufus Brevett](/source/Rufus_Brevett) (born 1969), English football player
- [Rufus Brown](/source/Rufus_Brown) (born 1980), American football player
- [Rufus Crawford](/source/Rufus_Crawford) (born 1955), Canadian Football League player
- [Rufus Deal](/source/Rufus_Deal) (1917–2005), American football player
- [Rufus French](/source/Rufus_French) (born 1978), American football player
- [Rufus Gilbert](/source/Rufus_Gilbert) (1885–1962), American football, basketball, and baseball player and coach
- [Rufus Granderson](/source/Rufus_Granderson) (1936–2015), American football player
- [Rufus Guthrie](/source/Rufus_Guthrie) (1942–2000), American football player
- [Rufus Mayes](/source/Rufus_Mayes) (1947–1990), American football player
- [Rufus Meadows](/source/Rufus_Meadows) (1907–1970), American baseball player
- [Rufus B. Nalley](/source/Rufus_B._Nalley) (1870–1902), football, baseball, and track and field player
- [Rufus Porter (American football)](/source/Rufus_Porter_(American_football)) (born 1965), American football player
- [Rufus Sisson](/source/Rufus_Sisson) (1890–1977), American basketball player
- [Rufus Skillern](/source/Rufus_Skillern) (born 1982), Canadian football player
- [Rufus Smith (baseball)](/source/Rufus_Smith_(baseball)) (1905–1984), American baseball player

### Performers

- [Rufus Beck](/source/Rufus_Beck) (born 1957), German theater, film, and voice actor
- [Rufus Cappadocia](/source/Rufus_Cappadocia), Canadian-American cellist
- Rufus Carl Gordon, Jr. (1932-2010), commonly known as [Carl Gordon](/source/Carl_Gordon_(actor)), American actor
- [Rufus Harley](/source/Rufus_Harley) (1936–2006), American jazz musician
- [Rufus Hound](/source/Rufus_Hound) (born 1979), British comedian
- Rufus Arthur Johnson (born 1976), better known as [Bizarre](/source/Bizarre_(rapper)), American rapper
- [Rufus Jones (actor)](/source/Rufus_Jones_(actor)) (born 1975), English actor, comedian and writer
- [Rufus "Speedy" Jones](/source/Rufus_%22Speedy%22_Jones) (1936–1990), American jazz drummer
- [Rufus Payne](/source/Rufus_Payne) (1883–1939), American blues musician known as Tee Tot
- [Rufus Reid](/source/Rufus_Reid) (born 1944), American jazz bassist, educator, and composer
- [Rufus Sewell](/source/Rufus_Sewell) (born 1967), British actor
- [Rufus C. Somerby](/source/Rufus_C._Somerby) (1832–1903), American entertainer, showman, and panoramist
- [Rufus Tiger Taylor](/source/Rufus_Tiger_Taylor) (born 1991), English musician
- [Rufus Thibodeaux](/source/Rufus_Thibodeaux) (1934–2005), American Cajun fiddler
- [Rufus Thomas](/source/Rufus_Thomas) (1917–2001), American singer
- [Rufus P. Turner](/source/Rufus_P._Turner) (1907–1982), American electronics author
- [Rufus Wainwright](/source/Rufus_Wainwright) (born 1973), Canadian-American singer-songwriter
- Rufus Waller, better known as Scola, a member of [Dru Hill](/source/Dru_Hill), American singer and musician

### Others

- [Rufus Travis Amis](/source/Rufus_Travis_Amis) (1912–2007), American entrepreneur
- [Rufus William Bailey](/source/Rufus_William_Bailey) (1793–1863), American academic
- [Rufus Black](/source/Rufus_Black) (born 1969), Vice-Chancellor of the University of Tasmania
- [Rufus Bowen](/source/Rufus_Bowen) (1947–1978), American professor of mathematics
- [Rufus S. Bratton](/source/Rufus_S._Bratton) (1892–1958), American intelligence officer
- [Rufus Columbus Burleson](/source/Rufus_Columbus_Burleson) (1823–1901), American academic
- [Rufus T. Bush](/source/Rufus_T._Bush) (1840–1890), American businessman, oil refining industrialist, and yachtsman
- [Rufus Choate](/source/Rufus_Choate) (1799–1859), American lawyer and orator
- [Rufus Early Clement](/source/Rufus_Early_Clement) (1900–1967), American academic
- [Rufus Cole](/source/Rufus_Cole) (1872–1966), American medical doctor
- [Rufus Cowles Crampton](/source/Rufus_Cowles_Crampton) (1828–1888), American educator
- [Rufus Dawes](/source/Rufus_Dawes) (1838–1899), American military officer
- [Rufus C. Dawes](/source/Rufus_C._Dawes) (1867–1940), American businessman
- [Rufus Dayglo](/source/Rufus_Dayglo), English comics artist
- [Rufus of Ephesus](/source/Rufus_of_Ephesus), 1st-century Greco-Roman physician and anatomist
- [Rufus Estes](/source/Rufus_Estes) (b. 1857 - d.1939), an American chef aboard luxury railway Pullman Company
- [J. Rufus Fears](/source/J._Rufus_Fears) (1945–2012), American historian, scholar, teacher and author
- [Rufus Fitzgerald](/source/Rufus_Fitzgerald) (1890–1966), American academic at the University of Pittsburgh
- [Rufus Flint](/source/Rufus_Flint) (c. 1865 – c. 1895), American Nicaraguan professor of English and mathematics
- [Rufus Edward Foster](/source/Rufus_Edward_Foster) (1871–1942), American jurist
- [Rufus Franklin](/source/Rufus_Franklin) (1916–1975), American criminal
- [Rufus Henry Gilbert](/source/Rufus_Henry_Gilbert) (1832–1885), American surgeon and inventor
- [Rufus Wilmot Griswold](/source/Rufus_Wilmot_Griswold) (1815–1857), American anthologist, editor, poet, and critic
- [Rufus Hannah](/source/Rufus_Hannah) (1954–2017), aka "Rufus the Stunt Bum", of *Bumfights* fame
- [Rufus Carrollton Harris](/source/Rufus_Carrollton_Harris) (1897–1988), American academic
- [Rufus G. Herring](/source/Rufus_G._Herring) (1921–1996), American military officer and Medal of Honor winner
- [Rufus Hessberg](/source/Rufus_Hessberg), American doctor and aeromedical scientist
- [Rufus C. Holman](/source/Rufus_C._Holman) (1877–1959), American politician and businessman
- [Rufus K. Howell](/source/Rufus_K._Howell) (1820–1890), Justice of the Louisiana Supreme Court
- [Rufus Hussey](/source/Rufus_Hussey) (1919–1994), American slingshot marksman
- [Rufus Ingalls](/source/Rufus_Ingalls) (1818–1893), American military general
- [Rufus Henry Ingram](/source/Rufus_Henry_Ingram) (1834–?), American bushwhacker
- [Rufus Isaacs (game theorist)](/source/Rufus_Isaacs_(game_theorist)) (1914–1981), American mathematician
- [Rufus Zenas Johnston](/source/Rufus_Zenas_Johnston) (1874–1959), American military officer and Medal of Honor winner
- [Rufus Jones (writer)](/source/Rufus_Jones_(writer)) (1863–1948), American writer, philosopher and Quaker
- [Rufus R. Jones](/source/Rufus_R._Jones) (1933–1993), American wrestler
- [Rufus Keppel, 10th Earl of Albemarle](/source/Rufus_Keppel,_10th_Earl_of_Albemarle) (born 1965), product designer and founder of a men's-shirt company
- [Rufus King (general)](/source/Rufus_King_(general)) (1814–1876), American newspaper editor, educator, diplomat, and military general
- [Rufus King (writer)](/source/Rufus_King_(writer)) (1893–1966), American author of crime novels
- [Rufus King Jr.](/source/Rufus_King_Jr.) (1838–1900), American military officer
- [Rufus B. von KleinSmid](/source/Rufus_B._von_KleinSmid) (1875–1964), American academic
- [Rufus Osgood Mason](/source/Rufus_Osgood_Mason) (1830–1903), American physician, teacher, and researcher in parapsychology and hypnotherapy
- [Rufus May](/source/Rufus_May) (born 1968?), British clinical psychologist
- [Rufus McCain](/source/Rufus_McCain) (1903–1940), American prisoner at Alcatraz
- [Rufus Naylor](/source/Rufus_Naylor) (1882–1939), Australian sporting entrepreneur and gambler
- [Rufus Norris](/source/Rufus_Norris) (born 1965), British theatre director
- [Rufus Palmer](/source/Rufus_Palmer) (1828–1873), Canadian physician and political figure
- [Rufus Porter (painter)](/source/Rufus_Porter_(painter)) (1792–1884), American painter, inventor, and founder of *Scientific American* magazine
- [Rufus Putnam](/source/Rufus_Putnam) (1738–1824), American military officer
- [Rufus N. Rhodes](/source/Rufus_N._Rhodes) (1856–1910), American newspaper editor
- [Rufus G. Russell](/source/Rufus_G._Russell) (1823–1896), American architect
- [Rufus Sage](/source/Rufus_Sage) (1817–1893), American writer, journalist and mountain man
- [Rufus Saxton](/source/Rufus_Saxton) (1824–1908), American military general
- [Rufus Stephenson](/source/Rufus_Stephenson) (1835–1901), Canadian newspaper editor and political figure
- [Rufus Stokes](/source/Rufus_Stokes) (1922–1986), American inventor
- [Rufus of Thebes](/source/Rufus_of_Thebes), bishop of Thebes in Greece, referenced in Romans 16:13
- [Rufus Welch](/source/Rufus_Welch) (1800–1856), American circus impresario
- [Rufus Corbin Wood](/source/Rufus_Corbin_Wood) (1818–1885), sheriff of Norfolk County, Massachusetts
- [Rufus Yerxa](/source/Rufus_Yerxa) (born 1951), American Deputy Director-General of the World Trade Organization
- [Rufus Fairchild Zogbaum](/source/Rufus_Fairchild_Zogbaum) (1849–1925), American illustrator, journalist and author

## Surname

- [Alexis Rufus](/source/Alexis_Rufus) (born 1979), English Muay Thai kickboxer
- [Anneli Rufus](/source/Anneli_Rufus), American journalist
- [Geoffrey Rufus](/source/Geoffrey_Rufus) (died 1141), English Bishop and Lord Chancellor
- [Milan Rúfus](/source/Milan_R%C3%BAfus) (1928–2009), Slovak poet and writer
- [Richard Rufus](/source/Richard_Rufus) (born 1975), English football player

## Cognomen or nickname

- [Rufus](/source/Rufus_(actor)) (born 1942), stage name of Italian-French actor Jacques Narcy
- [Rufus (Roman cognomen)](/source/Rufus_(Roman_cognomen)_(disambiguation)), list of people who had one of the most common of the ancient Roman *cognomina*
- King [William II of England](/source/William_II_of_England) (1050s–1100), called "William Rufus"
- [Alan Rufus](/source/Alan_Rufus) (c. 1040–1089), companion of William the Conqueror
- [Richard Rufus of Cornwall](/source/Richard_Rufus_of_Cornwall) (died 1260), English scholastic philosopher and theologian
- [Roger Squires](/source/Roger_Squires), crossword compiler nicknamed Rufus

## Animals

- [Rufus the Hawk](/source/Rufus_the_Hawk), a bird used to keep pigeons away from the tennis grass courts at Wimbledon

## Objects

- the [demon core](/source/Demon_core), the plutonium nuclear weapon core that was involved in two deadly nuclear accidents, was originally nicknamed "Rufus"

## Fictional characters

- [Rufus (*Street Fighter*)](/source/Rufus_(Street_Fighter)), one of four new fighters in *Street Fighter IV*
- [Rufus the Bobcat](/source/Rufus_the_Bobcat), the mascot for Ohio University
- [Rufus](/source/Rufus_(Kim_Possible)), a naked mole rat from Disney's TV show *Kim Possible*
- [Rufus McCallister](/source/Rufus_McCallister), a character in *Ninjago*
- Rufus Carlin, a main character in the 2016 NBC show [*Timeless* (American TV series)](/source/Timeless_(American_TV_series))
- Rufus Emeterio, a character in the novel *[They Both Die at the End](/source/They_Both_Die_at_the_End)*
- Rufus Moffat, title character of the book *[Rufus M.](/source/Rufus_M.)* by Eleanor Estes
- Rufus Ruffcut, from Hanna-Barbera's TV show *[Wacky Races](/source/Wacky_Races_(1968_TV_series))*
- Rufus Scrimgeour, from the Harry Potter universe; see [Ministry of Magic](/source/Ministry_of_Magic#Rufus_Scrimgeour)
- Rufus Shinra, from the *Final Fantasy VII* video games; see [Characters of the *Final Fantasy VII* series](/source/Characters_of_the_Final_Fantasy_VII_series#Rufus_Shinra)
- Rufus Turner, from the American television drama *Supernatural*; see [List of *Supernatural* characters](/source/List_of_Supernatural_characters#Rufus_Turner)
- Rufus XIV, King of Rubovia, in the 1955 British children's television series *[A Rubovian Legend](/source/A_Rubovian_Legend)*
- Rufus, from the 1977 animated film *[The Rescuers](/source/The_Rescuers)*
- Rufus, the forgotten 13th apostle in the film *[Dogma](/source/Dogma_(film))*, played by Chris Rock
- Rufus, protagonist of the children's cartoon series *[The Dreamstone](/source/The_Dreamstone)*
- Rufus, time traveler in the films *[Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure](/source/Bill_%26_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)](/source/Bill_%26_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](/source/Fortnite)*
- Rufus Humphrey, a character from the television series *[Gossip Girl](/source/Gossip_Girl)*
- Rufus, a character in the movie *[Kill Bill: Volume 2](/source/Kill_Bill:_Volume_2)*, played by Samuel L. Jackson
- Rufus T. Firefly, a character in the 1933 film [*Duck Soup*](/source/Duck_Soup_(1933_film)), played by Groucho Marx

## See also

- [Rufus (software)](/source/Rufus_(software))
- Rufus, the shopping AI chatbot for [Amazon (company)](/source/Amazon_(company))
- [Saint Rufus (disambiguation)](/source/Saint_Rufus_(disambiguation))

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Rufus](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rufus) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rufus?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.