Ruger

Ruger is an English-letter form associated with German Rüger or Rueger. One surname route comes from a shortened form of Rüdiger, whose older elements concern fame and a spear. Another explanation connects the surname with a historical word for an accuser or complainant. “Famous spear” therefore does not describe every family’s surname history.

In the United States, Ruger also has a strong association with the firearm manufacturer. That modern brand connection is separate from the older German surname and may or may not be a family’s reason for using it. The spelling without an umlaut is common in English records, while Rüger and Rueger show more clearly how the surname is written in German contexts.