Surname Rudloph - Meaning and Origin
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Rudloph: What does the surname Rudloph mean?
The last name Rudolph is a German surname that can be traced back to medieval times. It likely derives from the Germanic personal name Rodulf, which is composed of two elements; hrod meaning "glory" and wulf meaning "wolf". The surname was originally only given to people of Germanic tribal ancestry.
The surname was likely first adopted as a surname in the late 12th century ad as a way to distinguish individuals and families. Rudolph initially was an occupational surname, derived from the German term "rot" meaning "red" and "wulf" meaning "wolf". This referred to an individual who tanned red-wolf animal skins for use in leather goods.
At the height of its use during the Middle Ages, Rudloph was one of the ten most common surnames in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. It gradually spread to other parts of Europe, especially to French-speaking countries.
In America, the first recorded use of the name was in the 1700s in Pennsylvania, where the Rudolph family was among the earliest pioneers of the area. The name was also common among immigrants who arrived in the United States in the late 1800s and early 1900s.
Today, the name Rudloph is found all around the world. It is associated with many different cultural and ethnic backgrounds in countries such as Germany, the United States, France, and Canada, among other countries.
Order DNA origin analysisRudloph: Where does the name Rudloph come from?
The last name Rudolph is most commonly found in the United States and Germany. In the United States, Rudolph is a fairly common surname, ranking 895th out of the 88,799 most common surnames. According to the 2000 United States census, 40,777 people with the Rudolph surname lived in the United States that year, making it the 612th most commonly reported surname in the United States.
In Germany, Rudolph is the 298th most common surname. According to the German Ministry of the Interior, 6,387 people in Germany had the surname Rudolph in 2020. Historically, Rudolph was the surname of dynastic families in Bavaria, Baden, and Hessen, as well as noble families in Franconia and Saxony. The earliest reference to the surname Rudolph dates back to the 13th century in Bavaria.
Rudolph is also a popular last name in Canada, where it ranks as the 863rd most common surname and is seen in all provinces and territories. In England and Wales, Rudolph is a fairly common surname, ranking 13,585th out of the 1,034,040 most common surnames.
In addition to Europe and North America, the last name Rudolph is seen around the world, particularly in other parts of the Anglosphere. In Australia, Rudolph is the 551st most common surname and in New Zealand, it is the 294th most common surname.
Variations of the surname Rudloph
The surname Rudolph is derived from German, Old High German, and Middle High German roots and can be found in several variants and spellings including:
Rudolph: This is the most common variant, derived from the Old High German name Rodolf.
Rudolf: This variant is derived from Middle High German roots, and is more common in German-speaking countries.
Rudloff: This is a variation of the German name, originating from Old High German.
Rudolfo: This is the Italian variant, derived from the same name roots as above.
Rudolphe: This is a French variant.
Rudolphi: This is a variant found mostly in Italy.
Rudolpheus: This is another French variant.
Rudolfsen: This is a Danish and Norwegian correlative of the surname Rudolph.
Rudolp: This is a variant found mostly in Ireland.
Rudolphus: This is a Latinized variant of the name.
Rudfor: This is an English variant.
Rudloph: This is an English variant.
Rudloph can also be found with a wide variety of surnames stemming from the same origin. Examples of these include Rudloffson, Rudolphson, Rudolffson, Rudolphys, and Rudoffson.
No matter the variant or surname, the origins of the name Rudolph/Rudloph can be traced from Old High German roots to mean “famous wolf” or “glory wolf”. This further emphasizes the German connection to the name, as “fame” or “glory” is a commonly used term in Germanic languages.
Famous people with the name Rudloph
- Ruby Rose: Australian actress, model, and recording artist
- Maya Rudolph: American comedian and actress
- Ryan Rudolph: American singer-songwriter
- Idina Menzel: American singer, songwriter, and actress
- Ariana Rudolph: American model
- Frankie Muniz: American actor
- Rick Rudloph: American songwriter
- Lloyd Rudolph: American political scientist
- Zac Rudolph: American singer-songwriter and guitarist
- Dan Rudolph: American music producer and songwriter