Surname Ranulf - Meaning and Origin

Ranulf: What does the surname Ranulf mean?

The surname Ranulf is of Old Norse origins and is derived from the pre-7th century Old Norse and earlier Old Gaelic personal name 'Rognvaldr'. This compound name breaks down into the elements "regin" meaning 'advice or decision' and "valdr" meaning 'ruler' or 'power'. Therefore, Ranulf is generally understood to mean "wise or powerful ruler". The name also appears in many old Nordic tales and sagas, often associated with powerful warrior kings or leaders. It was adopted by the Normans and brought to England during the Norman Conquest in the 11th century, initially as a personal name and later emerging as a surname. Today, Ranulf is a relatively rare name and can be found in various forms, such as "Ragnald", "Ronald" or "Reynold". Variations of the surname include Reynolds, Runnalls, and Rennell, among others.

Ranulf: Where does the name Ranulf come from?

The last name Ranulf is commonly found in Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Denmark. It is believed that the name finds its roots in Old Norse (Viking) and may even predate Christianity in these areas. The name likely began with the Viking chieftain Rognvaldr, and the name may actually be clue to a slavic-gothic origin.

Today, Ranulf is most commonly found in Northern Europe and Scandinavia, in particular amongst people of the Scandinavian Protestant Church. Studies show that the last name is quite rare and is estimated to have only about 1000 people carrying it worldwide.

Norwegian and Finnish last names are of particular interest to researchers and genealogists due to their complexity. Based on studies it appears Ever since ancient times the last names in this region have gone through a wide variety of changes. Many of these changes involved taking a hyphenated last name. For example, the name Ragnulf became Ranulf-Ragnulf when dividing the surname between a father and his son that both carried the same name.

Ranulf is a popular Viking last name and can be found on many monuments and places throughout Europe. It is still relatively popular in the Scandinavian nations; however, it holds substantially less prestige than it did thousands of years ago. Ranulf continues to be used in literature and on merchandise and is easily searchable online.

Variations of the surname Ranulf

The surname Ranulf can have many variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. These include names such as Rannulf, Ragnulf, Ragnvald, Ragnvaldr, Ragnall, Ragnvaldsson, Rannulfson, Rannolfson, Rainulf, Rinalf, Rennulph, and Renalf.

Ranulf is a Germanic name, derived from the Old Norse language. It began as a personal name with ‘Ragn’ signifying power, rule, or advice, and ‘ulf’ meaning wolf. As such, the surname translates to mean ‘powerful wolf’ or ‘advisor to the wolf’.

The variants of the name are mostly associated with Scandinavian areas due to the conversion to Christianity; however, the surname is common in Germany, England, and France. The variants have come down through generations due to the local pronunciation of the name.

The variants of Ranulf can also often be seen as having the prefix Rand or Ran, which was often used in Germany to identify people of nobility. This was believed to have come from ancient long-forgotten heroes or leaders who had the surname of Ranulf.

For example, Ranulf de Gernon was a Norman nobleman who was born around 1099, and he has been linked to many of the Celtic and Anglo-Saxon charters of 1087 onwards. The variants of the name, such as Ranulf de Gernon, are still seen today in the Rollos, Bruce, and Devereux families of Europe.

The variants of Ranulf are numerous and vary from place to place; these include Rannulf, Ragnulf, Ragnvald, Ragnvaldr, Ragnall, Ragnvaldsson, Rannulfson, Rannolfson, Rainulf, Rinalf, Rennulph, and Renalf. Ultimately, they all derive from the same source – the powerful wolf - and continue to be used in families around the world today.

Famous people with the name Ranulf

• Ranulf de Glanvill: Also known as Ranulph de Glanville, he was an English Chief Justiciar and legal scholar in the 12th century.
• Ranulf Flambard: He was a politician and cleric from the late 11th and early 12th century. Notable for being a treasurer for Henry I of England.
• Ranulf de Gernons: He was a Norman noble of the 11th century. He was created the 1st Earl of Chester by King Stephen in 1121.
• Ranulf Higdon: A 14th-century Norman historian and authour of the Polychronicon.
• Ranulf Mauger: Earl of Norfolk in the mid 11th century, he was also known as Ranulf de Warenne and was the son of William de Warenne.
• Ranulf Waxell: A 13th-century soldier who fought during the Ninth Crusade and was taken captive during the Battle of Grandson.
• Ranulf de Monbeton: The 1st Earl of Chester from around 1119 to 1124.
• Ranulf de Gernon, 4th Earl of Chester: He was the fourth holder of the title from 1172 to 1232.
• Ranulf de Blondeville: The 6th Earl of Chester from 1232 to 1282. Best known for participating in the Crusades and usurping his previous title.
• Ranulph Crewe: A celebrated English Judge from the late 17th century. He was the Chief Justice of Common Pleas from 1680 to 1700.

Other surnames

RanulphRanulphus