Name Variants --- "The Surnames of Scotland by George F. Black (1946) lists variant spellings of Ruthven as:

Ravin (1438), Ravyn (1485), Riwan (1560), Riuuen (1671), Roduen, Rotheven (1476), Rothiane (1470), Rotheveene (1425), Rothuen (1478), Rothveyn (1489), Rothwen (1461), Ruthen (1646), Ruthuen (1563), Ruthyn (1435), Ruthwein (1624), Rwithtven (1558), Rwthtven (1553).

These variations may give some clue as to how the name was pronounced.

Online Sources:

• The Peerage
• Stirnet
• Ancestry Message Boards --- Ruthaven
• Blog:: Information about the author's 10th Great Grandfather, William Ruthven, 4th Lord of Ruthven and 1st Earl of Gowrie (c. 1541 – 1584)
• Samuel Ruffin Born: 14 June 1814 Greene Co, NC; Died: 7 Jan 1885 Choctaw Co AL
• Papers relating to William, first Earl of Gowrie, and Patrick Ruthven, his fifth and last surviving son