Home

Ruyter

Ruyter is a Dutch surname, a variant of Ruijter, derived from the occupation term ruiter meaning rider or horseman. It is borne by several people of Dutch origin and in emigrant communities. The most widely known bearer is Michiel Adriaenszoon de Ruyter (1607–1676), a Dutch admiral who played a leading role in the Netherlands’ naval history during the 17th century. Born in Vlissingen, he joined the navy as a teenager and rose to command the Dutch fleet in the Anglo-Dutch Wars, achieving notable victories such as the Battle of Scheveningen (1653) and the Raid on the Medway (1667). His strategic skill and bold leadership helped secure Dutch naval supremacy in much of the period. He died in 1676 in Syracuse, Sicily, while on a Mediterranean mission.

The name Ruyter also refers to places and naval honors. Ruyter, New York, is a small town

in
Madison
County.
In
the
Royal
Netherlands
Navy,
ships
have
borne
the
name
De
Ruyter
in
honor
of
Michiel
de
Ruyter,
including
a
20th-century
light
cruiser.
The
surname
appears
in
various
spellings,
notably
Ruijter,
and
is
carried
by
individuals
across
fields
such
as
politics,
science,
and
the
arts.