Surname Roolfs - Meaning and Origin

Roolfs: What does the surname Roolfs mean?

The last name Roolfs is of Germanic origin, and is derived from the personal name Rudolph, which means “famed wolf.” It is a surname often found in northern Germany and in the Netherlands. The Roolfs family is known to trace its ancestry back to the Middle Ages.

The main branch of the Roolfs family is widely known to come from the Grey Guard, one of the oldest military organizations in Europe. The Grey Guard was founded in the 11th century by members of the Roolfs family and other German knights. After the Fall of Constantinople in 1453, the family took part in various wars, eventually becoming one of the most influential groups in the Low Countries.

The Roolfs family is said to have adopted a coat of arms during the 12th century, with an open crowned golden lion as their personal symbol. These symbols have been found in several variations all across Europe, often with the surname depicted alongside it.

Throughout history, members of the Roolfs family have been known for their courage and loyalty. They were skilled warriors and dedicated their lives to their country and to their faith. Many went on to become prominent figures in their societies. Today, the name Roolfs still stands for courage, loyalty, and a great sense of honour.

Roolfs: Where does the name Roolfs come from?

The last name Roolfs is most commonly found in Northwestern Europe. It is most prevalent in The Netherlands, with some occurrences in Germany and Belgium. Roolfs is derived from the Germanic personal name, Rolf, which means "famed wolf."

The Netherlands is home to the highest concentration of Roolfs due to its strong and ongoing connection to Germany. Many people of Dutch and German descent have had the last name Roolfs, and it has remained common in the region for centuries.

German immigrants have also carried the surname to other countries beyond the Netherlands. There are some occurrences of Roolf(s) in the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, but these cases are usually tied to immigrants who brought the name with them from Europe.

Today, there is likely a greater concentration of Roolfs in the United States than in the Netherlands or Germany. This is likely due to the fact that German immigrants came to the United States in large numbers during the 19th century.

For anyone searching for the Roolfs surname, a good place to start is the Dutch and German-based genealogy websites and databases, which include information such as birth and death records, which can offer a glimpse into the family history. The Roolf(s) name is still alive and well in many places today.

Variations of the surname Roolfs

The name Roolfs is most commonly found in the Netherlands and Germany. It is generally thought to be derived from the Germanic personal name Rodolph, which means “famous wolf”.

The variants of the name Roolfs include Rolph, Rolf, Raulf, Rulf, Roelfs, Roulfs, Rulef(s), Roolfe, Roolffe, Rolff, Ralphs, Roles, Roeles, Roel, Ralp, Raulph, Rainolf, Rhoulef, Rolvis, Roelof, Rolvers, Roolef(s), Roor(e)l, Rule, Rolloff, Raulfs, and Rauffe.

The surname also has various Dutch spellings, such as Rolofs, Rolfs, Rolf, Roelofs, Roelf, Rolfe, Rolfes, Roelefs, Roeloffs, and Roelofssen.

In the United States, the surname Roolfs may be found spelled as Roland, Rolands, or Rolandsen.

In Germany, the to form of the name Roolfs is Roloff. It also appears as a surname in the United States in the form of Roland, Rolande, Rolland, Rollands, Rollins, and Rollings.

In the Netherlands and other Dutch-speaking locations, the name may appear as Rool, Ro(o)lf, Rol, Roelof, Roel, Roelf, Rolf, Rolfen, Roelen, Roelofs, Rolfs, Roelofsen, Roelof, Roeloffs, Roelofssen, Roelfs, Roelfsen, Roelfssen, and Roelen.

In France, the name is spelled as Rolland, Rollands, Rollande, Rollandon, Rollau, Rollaude, Rollauf, and Rollaus.

In the United Kingdom, the surname appears as Rolfe, Rolfes, Rolfs, Roliffe, Rolles, Rollis, and Rolliss.

In Scandinavia, the surname appears as Rolff, Rolfs, Rule, Rulef, Roolf, and Rolloffs.

Famous people with the name Roolfs

• John Roolfs: John Roolfs is an award-winning American actor best known for his array of comedic roles in films such as Knocked Up, Pineapple Express, and The Hangover Part III.
• Brigitte Roolfs: German mathematician who is one of the leading researchers in the field of applied mathematics.
• Kasey Roolfs: Fashion designer from California who has been featured in Vogue, GQ, and WWD.
• Jim Roolfs: A former professional American football player who played offensive line for seven different teams and was named to the NFL 1980s All-Decade Team.
• Robert Roolfs: Austrian actor and director who has directed films such as The Miracle of Bern, Klimt, and Die Mommie Die.
• Anthony Roolfs: Retired Australian rules footballer who played for the Geelong Cats in the Victorian Football League from 1969 to 1981.
• Max Roolfs: Naturalist and conservationist who works with the Smithsonian Institution to uncover the secrets of endemic or nearly extinct species such as the titi monkey, the green-headed tanager, and the thick-billed murre.
• Amelie Roolfs: Berlin-based artist whose work combines the visual arts with literature and music to create immersive 3-dimensional environments.
• Hans Roolfs: Swiss-born independent filmmaker who began his career in the 1980s with his award-winning documentary Don't Follow Me, I'm Lost.
• Jürgen Roolfs: Former German Olympic middle-distance runner who won gold medals at the 1968 Summer Olympics and 1972 Summer Olympics.

Other surnames

RoolfRoolfing