Surname Adolphus - Meaning and Origin
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Adolphus: What does the surname Adolphus mean?
The last name Adolphus is of Germanic origin and derived from two Germanic elements: “adal”, which means “noble” or “nobility” and “wulf”, which means “wolf”. Thus, the name likely translates to “noble wolf” and may have been given to individuals to denote their noble lineage or brave spirit.
The name is thought to have first become a surname when royals gave esteemed family members last names. This was a common practice among Germanic royalty in the Middle Ages, and Adolphus could have been given to notable or heroic figures of the time. Records of the name have been found in documents from 1350 onwards, and it was common for aristocrats associated with Prussia, Austria and Bavaria to have the name.
In modern times, the name is still found throughout Germany, Austria and Switzerland, although the spelling may be different. Adolphus is primarily a masculine name, but is also seen as a middle name given to both male and female children. It is rarely given to a child as a first name, but it remains a popular last name in many parts of Europe.
Order DNA origin analysisAdolphus: Where does the name Adolphus come from?
The last name Adolphus is primarily found in the German-speaking areas of Europe, particularly in Germany, Austria, Liechtenstein, and Switzerland. It is also very common in North America, especially the United States and Canada, where it can be found in large numbers among recent immigrants from Germany and Austria. People bearing the surname Adolphus are well represented in all parts of the world, though their incidence is greatest in the areas of their origin.
Adolphus is believed to be of Germanic origin, derived from the personal name "Adolf," which can be found in documents from as early as the 12th century. Adal, meaning noble, and wulf, meaning wolf, combine to form the personal name “Adolf,” which was adopted as a surname. The surname Adolphus is most associated with the royal house of Nassau, forebears of the modern nation of Luxembourg.
This surname is also fairly common in English-speaking regions, such as the United States, thanks to the heightened awareness of German culture in the 18th and 19th centuries. The name had both aristocratic and humble origins, and can be found in many areas of the world today, particularly in Germany, Austria, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Canada, and the United States.
Variations of the surname Adolphus
The surname Adolphus, sometimes spelled as Adolpus, is a German-language name derived from the medieval given name Adalolfus which is derived from the Old High German name Adálualf. Besides its common spelling, variations and alternate spellings of the surname Adolphus include Adolf, Adolph, Adolff, Adolphe, Allphin, and Allphinus.
In German-speaking countries, the given name Adolphus or its variations are also commonly used as surnames in its own right. Variants of the surname Adolphus include Alff, Alphin, Alphinus, Alpf, and Alpff. In Finland, the surname Adolphus is rarely used, but there are some rare small families with the surname Adolfson or Adolphson.
In English, French, Spanish, Portuguese and other languages, the name Adolphus is usually translated to its equivalent form “Adolf” or “Adolph”, and thus the surnames Adolfson and Adolphson are also fairly widely used in these languages.
In some cases, particularly in the U.S. and Canada, the surname Adolphus may have also been Anglicized to Dulphus or Dulphy. Similarly, some variations of the surname Adolphus may have been Anglicized to form new names such as Dolph, Dolphus, or Dolphson.
Finally, in some cases the surname of Adolphus may have also been mistranslated into phonetically similar names, such as Alphonso, Alamo, or Alfano, which are all of distinct heritage.
Famous people with the name Adolphus
- Gustav Adolphus, the King of Sweden from 1611–1632
- Frederick Adolphus, the Elder Prince of Torrington
- Countess Augusta Adolphus, Duchess of Mecklenburg-Strelitz
- Prince Adolphus, Duke of Cambridge, the seventh child and third son of King George III of the United Kingdom
- Charles Adolphus Robertson, Scottish-born actor and singer
- Anthea Adolphus, Jamaican-born British broadcaster
- Antonius Adolphus, Dutch footballer
- Professor Theodore K Adolphus, Visiting Fellow at the American Institute of Mathematical Sciences
- Anthony Adolphus, Former Ambassador of Barbados to the United Nations
- Carl Adolphus, Caricature Artist from Germany