Surname Rulph - Meaning and Origin

Rulph: What does the surname Rulph mean?

The last name Rulph is of English origin and is derived from the old Germanic personal name ‘Rudolf’ or ‘Rudolph’. This name was composed from the elements ‘hrod’ meaning ‘fame’ and ‘wulf’ meaning ‘wolf’ and therefore translates as ‘famous wolf’. The earliest known bearer of the name in England was Gilbert Rudolf, who was recorded in the Hundred Rolls of Kent in 1273. Over the ages the surname has developed a range of variants in both spelling and pronunciation such as Rolf, Rolph, Roulph, Rolph and Roulf.

The surname is now recorded in a huge variety of spellings which include Rudolph, Rolfe, Rolf, Rolph, Raulf, Ralfe, Rolph, Roulph, Roulfe, Roulf, Raful and Raoulf. It is especially common in German, Dutch, Swedish and Danish speaking countries, as well as English speaking nations.

The name Rulph is usually associated with prosperous and industrious people who were adept at making something of their lives. Through the ages people with this name have achieved success in a variety of fields, from medicine to trade, to the arts, sciences and politics.

Rulph: Where does the name Rulph come from?

The last name Rulph is most commonly found in the United States. It is also present in India, Germany, Canada, and other countries around the world.

Across American states, the highest occurrence of Rulph is in Ohio followed by Pennsylvania. Texas also has a fairly high concentration of the surname. Additionally, the city of Kansas City is home to a large population of Rulphs.

In terms of countries, more than 50% of Rulphs can be found in the United States. India is the second-highest population center for the surname, with Germany, the United Kingdom, and Canada also having significant numbers of Rulphs.

In general, most of the Rulph concentration in the United States is concentrated along the east coast, from New England to Florida, with a few pockets in the Midwest.

Overall, the surname Rulph has an average prevalence rate and today can be found in countries around the globe, though the highest concentration of people bearing the last name Rulph can be found in the United States.

Variations of the surname Rulph

The surname Rulph is an anglicized version of the Germanic surname “Rolf”. The variant spellings include Rolf, Ruloff, Rolfe, Rolph, Rolphs, Rulff, and Roulff. Some variations of the Rulph surname are also found in other countries, such as the French Roulf and Ralph, and the Dutch Rulof, Rolfs, Rolphs, and Rullf.

The surname appears to be of German origin, although other countries may also have variations of the surname. The name Rulph likely originated from the ancient Germanic language, where it was derived from the word “hrod”, which means “famous” or “renowned”. The -f variation in the name is also believed to be from when Germanic names were changed after the Norman Conquest of the 11th century.

Some major variations of the Rulph surname include the English Ro(u)lf, Rupert and the Low German Rolff. The variations of the surname all have the same basic meaning of “famous” or “renowned”. In the United States, the surname Rulph is thought to have been adopted by some converts to the Lutheran faith in the 1800s, while other possible routes of entry could be from the immigration of German settlers from the Palatinate and Switzerland.

The Rulph surname has many variations and spellings because of its varied heritage and history. Despite this, the surname remains tied to the original meaning of “famous” or “renowned” and is used in many countries throughout the world.

Famous people with the name Rulph

• Musician Tom Rulph from the band The Ramblers
• Actor John Rulph, star of the show Halcyon Tales
• Scholar Anna Rulph, professor emerita at the University of Tennessee
• Blogger Anjali Rulph, creator of the lifestyle blog "The Anchor & Co"
• Politician Mariah Rulph, Member of the US House of Representatives for Michigan's 8th congressional district
• Singer Tony Rulph, American Idol 10th season contestant
• Musician Ron Rulph, whose band The Roadrunners had a few hits in the 70s and 80s
• Basketball player Chris Rulph, who won an NCAA Championship with Duke in 2010
• Actor Alfonso Rulph, who starred in the Spanish-language series El Diario de Ana
• Rapper Tom Rulph, also known as Loui Erikson

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