The ancient and noble Rutherford family of Scotland, whose powerbase was predominantly in the Scottish Borders, spread far and wide across the globe. For some, the first stepping stone in the diaspora was the emerald isle of Ireland. Just twelve miles of sea separate the coastline of Ulster from the Mull of Kintyre in Scotland. There has been interaction, trade and migration in both directions since before records began.
Scotland & England to Ireland
Rutherfords of Ireland
Tracing Rutherford history across the provinces of Ireland.
1609
Plantation of Ulster
1690
Ulster and Southern provinces
It can probably be said without fear of contradiction that the vast majority of Rutherfords who emigrated to Ireland were from Scotland. And of those that emigrated, the vast majority settled in the province of Ulster — which as mentioned above, was geographically the closest, and has a long history of migration in both directions. But no doubt there were some English Rutherfords who also moved to Ireland both from the Border regions of Northumberland (probably themselves descended from Scottish families) and some from further south. After the 1690s we find Rutherfords in the more southerly provinces of Connacht, Leinster and Munster.
The Provinces
Explore Rutherford settlement across the four provinces of Ireland.
The Rutherfords of Ulster
The heartland of Scots Irish Rutherford settlement — from the Plantation of Ulster to the Battle of the Boyne and beyond.
Read more →The Rutherfords of Connacht
Rutherford families who settled in the western province of Ireland after the 1690s.
Read more →The Rutherfords of Leinster
Rutherford families who made their home in the eastern province of Ireland after the 1690s.
Read more →The Rutherfords of Munster
Rutherford families who settled in the southern province of Ireland after the 1690s.
Read more →