Is the Dutch surname Ruys a legacy of Spanish influence in the region from 1581-1714?

by Hakim_Slackin

It sounds so much like Ruiz that I have to ask. Is there evidence of people named Ruys in the low countries before its personal union with Spain?

ArjanB

Short answer, yes

Dutch surnames usually have a lot of variants because before teh french occupation by Napoleon, surnames were not used by most of the regular people. However variants of Ruys have been found as far back as 1271.