Surname Gerulf - Meaning and Origin
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Gerulf: What does the surname Gerulf mean?
The last name Gerulf is of German origin. It was derived from the given name Gero, which was a short form of the Germanic names beginning with the element "ger" meaning "spear." The suffix -ulf means "wolf," so together the name means "the spear wolf."
Gerulf is an uncommonly used name, which is likely due to its namesake – being a type of wolf. During the Middle Ages, wolves were considered to be dangerous predators that posed a threat to livestock and people. This likely caused a decline in popularity for names associated with the wolf, such as Gerulf.
Despite its frightening origin, Gerulf also has a history of being a protective force. It is derived from the old Germanic god Gerulf, who was believed to be a defender of the home. This meaning is similar to the German name Gerulf—shield wolf—which is indicative of protection and strength.
The name Gerulf is also associated with an old Germanic mythology about a wolf that appeared to be a dangerous beast, but in fact, was actually guarding the peace and harmony of the land. This story of the wolf and shield might have been the source of the name Gerulf, with its connotations of protection and strength.
Overall, the last name Gerulf is a unique last name with an interesting and complex history. It’s a combination of protection, strength, and a mysterious element that is only found in the depths of history.
Order DNA origin analysisGerulf: Where does the name Gerulf come from?
The last name Gerulf is most commonly found today in Germany and Scandinavian countries such as Denmark, Sweden, and Norway. Variations of the name include Gerull, Gerolt, Gerult, Geroltz, and Gerold.
The earliest uses of Gerulf can be found in Germanic records from the 7th century. One such recording is the Royal Frankish Annals, which documented the travels of a Lord Rickard Gerulf who visited Rome in the year 790.
In the centuries since then, Gerulf spread to other parts of Europe. It is suggestioned that the name could be of Frankish origin, and that it arrived in the Netherlands and England with the Norman conquest of 1066.
Today, Gerulf is found mainly in Germany and other northern European countries. In Germany, the name is most common in the regions of the former East Germany: Saxony-Anhalt, Thuringia, and Brandenburg.
In the United Kingdom, the name is quite rare, though it can still be found in some parts of England and Scotland.
In the US, the surname is not especially common, but there are a few families with this name living in parts of Pennsylvania, Ohio, Utah, and New York. They are probably descended from German and Dutch immigrants who came to the US in the 19th century.
Variations of the surname Gerulf
The surname Gerulf is of German origin, and it has various spellings, variants, and surnames of the same origin.
In its original form, the name is spelled as Gerulf. The variant spellings for this surname include: Garulf, Garulph, Gerolff, Geroul, Gerould, Geroult, and Gierulf.
The surnames of the same origin are Geroulf, Gerrault, Gerrold, Gerrell, Gerroll, Gerrolles, Geruls, Gerolls, and Giroul. Variants of the name also exist in other European countries, including: Girault, Giraulo, Girard, Giraldo, Giraulti, Giraulta, Giorgi, and Giorgis.
Gerulf is most generally associated with the Germanic languages, specifically German, Dutch, and Scandinavian languages such as Danish and Norwegian. It is believed that the name arose as a diminutive form of the name Gerulf, a personal name of Germanic origin, which is composed of two elements: ger, meaning “spear” and wulf, meaning “wolf.”
Most of the variants of the surname are found in France and the Low Countries. The prevalence of the surname is highest in France, followed by the United States, Belgium, Germany, and the Netherlands. While it is quite rare, a small number of families with the surname have emigrated to other areas of the world, such as the United Kingdom and Australia.
Famous people with the name Gerulf
- Clemens Gerulf: German-Finnish modern pentathlete and entrepreneur
- Jens Gerulf: Swedish football player
- Karl Gerulf: Norwegian distance runner
- Hans Gerulf: Danish surveyor and landowner
- Balthasar Gerulf: German painter from Strasbourg
- Aleksander Gerulf: Norwegian alpine skier
- Baldur Gerulf: Icelandic football player
- Sigurd Gerulf: Danish architect
- Peter Gerulf: Swedish singer-songwriter
- Olof Gerulf: Swedish cross-country skier
- Jens Gerulf: German-Danish philosopher and poet
- Sven Gerulf: Dutch painter, engraver, and book illustrator
- Karl Gerulf: German sprinter during the early 20th century
- Hans Gale Gerulf: Swedish painter and illustrator
- Gert Gerulf: Danish contemporary visual artist
- Christian Gerulf: German composer and music teacher
- Tom Gerulf: Belgian footballer
- Wilhelm Gerulf: Prussian diplomat and lawyer
- Herman Gerulf: Danish sea captain and merchant
- Herman Janecky Gerulf: Czech modernist metal sculptor