Surname Rofe - Meaning and Origin
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Rofe: What does the surname Rofe mean?
The surname Rofe is of Anglo-Saxon origin, derived from an old personal name. It is believed to come from the Old Norse word 'Hrólf', a cognate of the Old English 'Hrōðwulf' which means 'renowned wolf.' In many cases, it was likely used as a baptismal name 'the son of Ralph', as Ralph is the modernized form of the Old Norse name 'Rofe'. Over the years, the name transformed and developed multiple variations, including Rolfe, Roffe, and Rofe. It is important to note that surnames at this period served a practical purpose, such as distinguishing individuals with the same first name or identifying someone’s occupation, place of origin, or lineage. The distribution of the Rofe surname is widespread and can be found not only in England but also in different parts of the world due to immigration and colonization patterns.
Order DNA origin analysisRofe: Where does the name Rofe come from?
The last name Rofe is most common in Israel today. In 2019, there were over 6,000 people living in Israel with this surname. The majority of the Rofe family is concentrated in Central Israel, with Tel Aviv, Tel Aviv District, Jerusalem, and Central District being the primary locations.
The last name Rofe is also fairly common in Russia, with around 2,000 people having the name in 2019. Most of those people live in the Central region of the country or its neighboring Moscow region.
The origin of Rofe is not known for certain, but it likely stems from Eastern European or Middle Eastern countries around Moldova, Belarus, or Russia.
A majority of people who share this name tend to work in day-to-day business, such as service jobs, financial markets, and construction.
Overall, the last name Rofe is most commonly found in Israel and Russia, though it represents an international majority, encompassing Moldova, Belarus, and other neighboring countries.
Variations of the surname Rofe
Rofe is a transliteration of an English surname, which can also be spelled as Roffe, Roff, Roffey, Roffy, Roffee and Ruff.
Originating from the Middle English word ‘rofe’ meaning ‘rough’, Rofe is a habitational name for someone who lived in a ‘rough’ area of land or near a particular landmark with this designation. Its variant spellings of Roff, Roffe, Roffey, Roffy, Ruff, and Roff may also be derived from the Old English word ‘rofe’ meaning ‘reed’, denoting a person who lived near a body of water or marshland with a significant amount of reeds.
The surname is most common in England and can be traced as far back as the 12th century when it first appears in the Cambridge Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. It can also be found in south-western parts of Europe, particularly in Spain, Portugal, and France. Some variants of the surname are still used today in Sweden, for example, where it is spelled as Rof and Roff.
In the United States, Rofe has become anglicized over time and can now be seen as Ruffe, Roff, Roffe, Roffey, Roffy, and Ruff. Surnames such as Hrof and Hrofe have been reported in German records. The name Rofe is also found among Jewish families and it is believed to be an anglicized form of the Hebrew name Rofeh or Ropha.
Overall, the spelling and variants of Rofe remain relatively the same throughout the English-speaking world. Some of the spellings may be slightly different in particular countries, but they all date back to the same Middle English original.
Famous people with the name Rofe
- Jeff Rofe: Television and film director, screenwriter, and producer
- Stephen Rofe: Former Australian Politician
- Gavriel Rofe: Chief Executive Officer of the Jewish National Fund in Israel
- Meir Rofe: Israeli entrepreneur and investor
- Izzy Rofe: Israel-based musician and songwriter
- Yishai Rofe: Israeli actor
- Jamie Rofe: British theatre actor
- Nathan Rofe: American professional hockey player
- Mark Rofe: Creative director and podcast host from Manchester, UK
- Artur Rofe: Belarusian sprint canoeist