Surname Randle - Meaning and Origin
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read moreRandle: What does the surname Randle mean?
The surname Randle is of English and Germanic origin and is a variant of the name "Randall." This personal name is composed of the Germanic elements "rand" which means shield, and "wulf," which means wolf. Therefore, the surname is often interpreted as "shield wolf," describing a defender or protector. This combination was common in the naming patterns of ancient Germanic cultures which sought to imbue names with aspirational meanings of bravery and strength. Over time, the name has further been Anglicized in various forms including Rand, Randall, Randle, and others. Surnames were often given based on a person's occupation, the place they lived, or their father's name. In this case, the surname Randle more likely pertained to a characteristic or trait that the original bearer had. Like many surnames, different spellings exist due to regional pronunciations and illiteracy in the Middle Ages when names were often recorded as they sounded.
Order DNA origin analysisRandle: Where does the name Randle come from?
The last name Randle is primarily found today in the United Kingdom. It is particularly common in and around the county of Lancashire, where records of the name going back to the 14th century have been found. In addition to the UK, the name is also quite common in Australia, South Africa and the United States. The geographical distribution of the name is scattered, but clusters can be found throughout the entire English-speaking world.
In the UK, Randle is the 332nd most common surname, with an estimated population of around 35,000 individuals bearing the name. It is also a fairly common name in the other countries mentioned above, although its exact frequency is harder to determine.
The origins of the name itself are generating debate amongst experts. The two leading theories suggest the name comes from either a variant of the Germanoff surname or a combination of the English words ‘Rand’ and ‘Le’ (meaning ‘boundary’ and ‘meadow’, respectively).
Overall, the last name Randle is widespread across the English-speaking world today, with a particularly strong presence in the United Kingdom. Its origins remain unknown, but the name is very likely over a thousand years old.
Variations of the surname Randle
The surname Randle is a variant of the surname Randolph which has multiple spellings and variations. Some variants of the surname Randle include Randall, Randal, Randell, Rendall, Randol, Randalph, Randalpho, Randale, and Randahl.
Randall is the most common spelling of the surname from the Norman given name Randolf or Randel, which is of Germanic origin. It means "shield" and "wolf" and was first seen as "Randwulf," or "shield wolf." The surname may have originally referred to someone whose personality or physical characteristics resembled that of a wolf.
Randal or Randell are variants of Randall and are derived from Rendall, which can be found in England and Scotland. Randol is also related to the Norman name Randel and is found mainly in England, while Randale is of English and Scottish origin.
Randalph is derived from the name Randel, a mix of the Germanic words "ran" (shield) and "wulf" (wolf). The spelling Randalpho is an altered form of the Norman French name Randel. Randahl is also related to the Norman name Randel and is a variant found mainly in the United States.
Many of the spellings and variants of the surname Randle are used interchangeably by families around the world. The many forms of the surname help to identify people of similar origin, and trace their history back to the original Norman given name Randel, meaning "shield" and "wolf."
Famous people with the name Randle
- Ryen Randle: American former professional football player
- Brian Randle: American professional basketball player for Maccabi Ashdod of the Israeli Premier League
- Morris Randle: American baseball player
- Larry Randle: American basketball player
- Alfred Randle: Jamaican track and field athlete
- Ella Randle: British actress
- Patrice Randle: American professional dancer and choreographer
- Fred Randle: British actor and playwright
- Rocky Randle: American lacrosse player
- Wallie Randle: American basketball player