Surname Rudolff - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'R'
Rudolff: What does the surname Rudolff mean?
Rudolff is a German surname originating from the Middle Ages and is still used in modern Germany. It is derived from the German personal name Rudolf, which is derived from the Old High German words "hrod" (fame and glory) and "wulf" (wolf).
The meaning of the surname therefore translates to either "famed wolf" or "famous wolf". While a wild wolf has historically been viewed as a symbol of ferocity or destruction, Rudolff was probably chosen by a family long ago to designate a brave ancestor who was strongly regarded as protective and valiant.
Rudolff is a popular surname in Germany, where there are countless provinces, cities, streets, and rivers with the Rudolff surname. It is far less common in other countries, although there are a handful of people around the world who share the surname.
No matter where the Rudolff surname is found, it is associated with bravery and strong protection, coming from a time when such qualities were of the utmost importance. The original meaning of the name is as relevant today as it was centuries ago, making the Rudolff family a proud group of people with a long history.
Order DNA origin analysisRudolff: Where does the name Rudolff come from?
The last name Rudolff is most commonly found in Germany today. It is most commonly associated with the Brandenburg-Prussian family of Rudolff who were active in Central and Eastern Germany during the Middle Ages. Records suggest that the name Rudolff dates back to the 13th century.
The Rudolff family name appears to have originated in the region of Brandenburg, located in the eastern part of Germany. Brandenburg and Prussia eventually merged in 1701, and the Rudolff family is believed to have been part of the Prussian nobility.
The most famous Rudolff was Caspar Rudolff, a Prussian writer and philosopher who was born in 1525 and died in 1588. He was known for his works in mathematics and philosophy, specifically The Speculative Arithmetic (1554) and The Dogma of Composition of Other Animals (1563).
Today, the most concentrated populations of people with the surname Rudolff are in Germany. According to familysearch.org, the most densely populated state in Germany for Rudolff is North Rhine-Westphalia. In North Rhine-Westphalia, the Rudolff family makes up 0.05% of the population. Other Germany states with smaller concentrations are Berlin, Bavaria, and Lower Saxony.
Variations of the surname Rudolff
Rudolff is an uncommon surname of German origin. The variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin include Rudolf, Rudolph, Rudolfo, Rudolpho, Rudo, Rudolfa, Rudolpha, Rudoley, Rudolphi, Rudolie, Rudoleye, Rudoleyse, Ruddloff, Redlove, Redloof, Rodolff, Rudolffs, Rudolfson, Rudolfsen, Rudolphsen, Rodolffsen, Redloff, Redlove, Redlaff, Redloff, Reldlaff and the patronymic surnames Rudolfson, Rodulfson, Ruedolphson and Redloefson.
The name Rudolff is believed to be derived from the German personal name “Rudolf” which is composed of the elements “hrud”, meaning “glory”, and “wulf”, meaning “wolf”. The personal name Rudolf was popular throughout medieval Europe, and it was taken up by many related families as a surname.
Over time, the surname Rudolff has been spelled in a variety of ways, including Rudolf, Rudolph, Rudolfo and Rudolpho. Variants like Rudo, Rudolfa and Rudolpha are mostly found as a female version of the name. Other variants include Rudoley, Rudolphi, Rudolie, and Rudoleye, all of which can be traced back to the same original surname.
Some patronymic forms of the surname Rudolff, such as Rudolphson, Rodulfson, Ruedolphson and Redloefson, have developed over time. Other variant spellings have also developed from mis-hearings or errors, such as Ruddloff, Redlove, Redloof, Rodolff, Rudolffs and Rodolffsen.
In summary, there are many variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for the surname Rudolff, all of which can be traced back to the same German personal name.
Famous people with the name Rudolff
- Ernst Rudolff (1871-1929): German army officer and gambist.
- Ernst Rudolf Christof Friedrich Karl von der Gröben (1783-1850): Prussian Field Marshal and author.
- Gerhard Rudolff (1440-1510): German mathematician, philosopher and theologian.
- Joseph Rudolff (1550-1620): German linguist, historian and theologian.
- Ludwig Rudolff (1510-1560): German mathematician and translator.
- Nikolaus Rudolff (1706-1762): Austrian painter and lithographer.
- Paul Rudolff (1903-1984): Austrian musicologist and music theorist.
- Werner Rudolff (1902-1980): German physicist and professor.
- Werner Rudolff von Holzhausen (1904-1984): German diplomat.
- Carl Rudolf Rudolff (1974- ): German composer and musicologist.