Surname Rolfe - Meaning and Origin

Rolfe: What does the surname Rolfe mean?

The surname Rolfe is of Anglo-Saxon origin. It is derived from the Old Norse pre-7th century personal name "Hrothwulf", which is composed of the elements "hroth", meaning fame, and "wulf", a wolf. The Normans later introduced the name to England in the form of "Roulf" after the Conquest in 1066. Over time, it has gone through various spellings such as Rolfe, Rolph, Rolles, Rolf, Rollef, and even Relf. With the tradition of names carrying significant meanings in many ancient cultures, the meaning of “Hrothwulf” or Rolfe as “fame wolf” could be understood as someone who is as famous or distinguished as a wolf, symbolizing their strength, courage, intelligence, and leadership. As a surname, it could also denote that the person is a descendant or relative of someone named Rolfe. Surnames were often used that way in ancient times to signify lineage.

Rolfe: Where does the name Rolfe come from?

The last name Rolfe is most commonly seen in England today; however, other areas of Europe and the United States also have high concentrations of the Rolfe surname.

Historically, the Rolfe name originated in the 12th century and is known to have been used as a given name, but later became a surname in England. It was initially used as a personal name for people who were of noble lineage. The surname was used to distinguish between members of the same family, likely based on similar physical features or close facial characteristics.

In England, the last name Rolfe tends to be highly concentrated in the London and East Anglia regions. Around 22,500 individuals carry the last name in the United Kingdom, primarily originating from London and Norfolk. In the United States, 12,000 people are recorded to have Rolfe as their surname, primarily residing in the Washington D.C. area and California.

Throughout history, the Rolfe family have actively participated in the governance of England under royal orders; by the 19th century they were already known to be of royalty. Today, various celebrated people, such as author Sarah Rolfe and brigadier Harry Rolfe, have the Rolfe surname.

By the early 21st century, the last name Rolfe had become ubiquitous across different regions and can today be found in other countries, including Germany, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, and the Netherlands.

Variations of the surname Rolfe

The surname Rolfe is of Anglo-Saxon origin and was first used in Britain. It is derived from the Old Norse personal name Rolf, which in turn is from hrod, a compound of hrod (renown) and wulf (wolf). Variants of the name include Rolf, Rolph, Rolff, Raoul, Roul, Ruilf and Rohlfs. Spelling variants of the name in Britain can include Ralph, Rauf, Raufe, Rauphe and Rouf.

In Scandinavia this surname may have different spellings, such as Ralff, Rölff, Rolfs, Rolvs, Rovff and Rolvsen. Corsican variants of the surname include Rolufo, Rulufu and Roulfo. In the Netherlands it was used as Rolt, and in Germany it was spelled Rölff, Rolf, Rohlf, Rollf and Rolloph.

Surnames of the same origin as Rolfe include dice Sorensen, Rollason, Rollings, Rollinson, Rollins, Rollo, Rollock, Rolluck and Rollyson.

Rolfe is a surname that has multiple variants and spellings depending on geography, making it a rather unique and interesting surname. Its variants and spellings, however, all trace back to the same origin—the Old Norse hrod and wulf—making it a great way to honor a unique ancestry. Whether written as Rolfe or Rohlfs, it is a name widely used throughout Europe as a reflection of its rich history of nobility.

Famous people with the name Rolfe

• Laura Rolfe: a British actor and presenter who starred in various BBC One and BBC Two shows, and was awarded the 2015 International Achievement Award for radio drama.
• Thomas Rolfe: an American colonist and son of Pocahontas and John Rolfe.
• John Rolfe: an English colonist in Virginia, most famous for his 1614 marriage to Pocahontas.
• Nicholas Rolfe: a former British Bishop of London who was involved in the patronage of the arts and sciences.
• Hugh Rolfe: a British World War I fighter ace credited with 27 aerial victories.
• Arthur Rolfe: a British World War II ace credited with 13 kills.
• Tom Rolfe: an American Thoroughbred racehorse who was the 1965 U.S. Filly Triple Crown Champion.
• Barney Rolfe: a British water-colour landscape artist.
• Kate Rolfe: an Australian contemporary realist painter who is known for her oil and graphite portraits of the people of the Kimberley.
• Walter Rolfe: an American baseball player who played in the National Association in 1871-1872.
• Arnold Rolfe: a British poet who was part of the British Poetry Revival in the 1950s and 60s.
• T ego Rolfe: a mixed-media artist best known for her Haiku watercolor paintings.
• Dorothy Rolfe: a British writer, broadcaster and producer who wrote for TV and theatre.
• Alice Rolfe: a stand-up comic, improviser and actor from the UK.
• David Rolfe: an American former assistant basketball coach of Northwestern University and head basketball coach of Providence College.

Other surnames

RolfRölfRölferRolfersRolfesRolffRolffsRolffsenRolfingRölfingRolfinkRolfmeierRolfmeyerRolfsRölfsemaRolfsenRolfsmeierRolfsmeyer