Surname Rohlf - Meaning and Origin

Rohlf: What does the surname Rohlf mean?

The last name Rohlf is of German origin and is a variation of the more common name “Rolf”, which translates to “fame” or “renown”. It is a habitational name derived from the city of Rolf Ridge, situated in the Rhineland-Palatinate region of Germany. The name Rohlf may be common in certain parts of Europe as the area near the Rhineland-Palatinate has historically seen a close-knit community formed by generations of Rohlfs.

As far as character traits associated with the name, a Rohlf is typically seen as being an independent, hard-working and reliable individual. He or she is also likely to be loyal, determined and family-oriented. A Rohlf is an individual who enjoys living life to the fullest and always puts in the effort to succeed.

In modern society today, the Rohlf name is found all over the world, as those bearing the name have since spread to other continents, thanks to large-scale migrations over the last few centuries. Despite the diverse cultures in which the Rohlfs have now found themselves in, the surname continues to be associated with traits mentioned earlier. Therefore the Rohlf family name continues to bring with it a sense of reliability and trustworthiness.

Rohlf: Where does the name Rohlf come from?

The last name Rohlf is primarily found in some areas of Germany today. However, it is also found in other countries in Europe and beyond. It is most common in the Northwest of Germany, particularly in the states of Lower Saxony, North Rhine-Westphalia, and Schleswig-Holstein. The Rohlf family lineage can also be traced to areas of Austria and the Czech Republic, along with regions of Eastern Europe including modern-day Slovakia and Ukraine, as well as Lithuania and Belarus. The last name can also be found in the United States among American immigrants originating from the aforementioned regions of Europe as well as from other parts of the world such as Mexico, South Africa, and India. Today, the US is home to numerous individuals with the Rohlf surname. In addition to the United States, countries with large concentrations of Rohlfs include Germany, England, Canada, Australia, and Sweden. Globally, the Rohlf family can be found in multiple countries across the world, with estimates of the population growing each year.

Variations of the surname Rohlf

The surname Rohlf is ultimately derived from the German personal name “Hrodulf”, which is composed of the elements hrod, for glory, or famous, and wulf, for wolf. The Rohlf surname is commonly found in Germany and other countries with German immigration. Variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for the surname Rohlf include Rolf, Rudolph, Rudolff, Raoul, RRule, Rahlf, Rahle, Rausch, Rauld, Roald, Rollof, and Roul.

In the United States, the Rohlf surname has experienced many spelling variations, including Rolf, Rolph, Ralph and Roolf. Some of these spellings have been preserved in the records of the Sect. of the Interior, for example, a Lary Roolf who arrived in Baltimore in 1783. Additionally, some of the spelling variations of Rohlf have been found in New York and Pennsylvania Dutch records, where it was spelled Rähl and Rahlle. The modern spelling of Rohlf is currently found mainly on the West Coast of the United States.

Rohlf has many variants in other languages, for example in French the Rohlf surname is written as Roux or Rouffe. Similarly, in Spanish and Portuguese variations of the Rohlf surname include Rojas and Rufo.

In Germany, Sweden, and Finland, the Rohlf surname is typically spelled Röhl. Similarly, in the Netherlands and other countries of the Low Countries, variations of the Rohlf surname include Reul, Reule, and Reulx.

Overall, the Rohlf surname is found in many countries with German immigration and its spelling has been subject to numerous variations in its lengthy heritage.

Famous people with the name Rohlf

• Frank Rohlf, German professional table tennis player
• Leonard Rohlf, American aviator from Texas
• Mathias Rohlf, German professional rally driver
• John Rohlf, Major League Baseball Player
• Katrina Röhlfs, German Art Historian
• Ludwig Rohlfs, German Astronomer and Geographer
• Peter Rohlf, German actor and voice actor
• Sylvia Rohlf, German flutist and conductor
• Johan Rohlf, Dutch politician
• Heinz Rohlf, German civil engineer and teacher

Other surnames

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