Surname Roloffs - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'R'
Roloffs: What does the surname Roloffs mean?
Roloffs is a German surname derived from the name of a location. It is derived from the Old High German word 'Hrodulf' which means 'Fame Wolf'. It was likely used as a descriptive name for someone living near a wolf den. The name is more commonly found in the state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and other nearby areas.
The name has several variations, like Rolloff, Rollof, Rollop and Rolloff. It is believed that the name originated during the Middle Ages and was used as an occupational name for someone who fought against wolves in the northern German state.
The meaning of the name is likely more symbolic than literal. It was likely used to describe someone who had courage and was brave, qualities that the 'Fame Wolf' represented.
Finally, it's worth noting that the name has become more popular in modern times with the Roloff Family featured in the American reality TV series titled Little People, Big World. While Matt and Amy Roloff had no relation to the original German family, the show has perhaps had a large part to play in the increased popularity of the name and its various spellings.
Order DNA origin analysisRoloffs: Where does the name Roloffs come from?
The last name Roloffs is most common in Germany, especially in the northern part of the country. It first originated in the Middle Ages and is believed to have derived from the German word, ‘Rolle’, which means ‘roll’ or ‘wheel’.
Today, Roloffs is most commonly found in the region of Schleswig-Holstein, along the northern coast of the country. Other areas of Germany where this last name is common include Lower Saxony, North Rhine-Westphalia, Bavaria, and Berlin.
Outside of Germany, notable Roloffs reside in various countries across Europe. Notable Roloffs include American actresses Arye and Emmalee Roloff, German weightlifter André Roloff, and German author Ludwig Roloff.
The Roloff family, made famous by American reality TV show ‘Little People, Big World’, hails from the German region of Schleswig-Holstein. This family's matriarch was born as Gertrude Roloff and the name was passed down to her children.
The Roloff name has predominately remained in Germany but may be spread further as those with the name immigrate and settle into other countries.
Variations of the surname Roloffs
The different spellings and variants of the surname Roloffs include Rolloffs, Rollofs, Roelofs, Roeloffs, Rolofs and Roloffs. It is a popular patronymic surname derived from the given name Roloff which was an ancient Germanic name which was derived from Radolf, a personal name composed of two elements with the meaning “counsel” and “wolf”.
Though the most common spellings of the name are Roloffs, Roelofs is the most popular surname in the Netherlands and Northern Germany. Roeloffs is more popular in Belgium and Denmark. Rolloffs and Rolofs are less popular but still found in some areas.
Variants of this surname will depend on the particular country or region where the family originated from. There are variations in pronunciation and spelling due to regional and dialectic influences. For example, in Spain the surname is usually spelled as Rolof, in Poland it is spelled as Rolof and in Bulgaria as Rolof or Rollof.
Surnames derived from the Roloffs include Rolloff, Rolof, Roeloff, Roelof, Roelofs, and Roeloffs. The patronymic surname Rolloff is anglicized form of the Dutch name Rollofs and can also be spelled as Rollof. The surname Roelofs is a Dutch patronymic name which is commonly found in Flanders and the Netherlands. The similar sounding Roeloffs is a patronymic name derived from the Dutch given name Roelof. Additionally, Rolof is an Anglicized form of the Dutch surname Rolofs and is generally found in England, Scotland and Ireland.
Overall, the surname Roloffs is a patronymic surname derived from the given name Roloff and has many variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin.
Famous people with the name Roloffs
- Matt Roloff: The star of the reality show Little People, Big World, Matt Roloff is a Little Person who is well-known for his work in advocacy for people with dwarfism.
- Amy Roloff: Amy is married to Matt and they both appear on Little People, Big World. She is a mother of four children and is an author.
- Zack Roloff: Zack is Matt and Amy's oldest son, and he too is a Little Person. He stars on Little People, Big World and is a talented soccer player.
- Jeremy Roloff: Jeremy is the second oldest of the four Roloff children. He is married to Audrey Roloff and both appear on Little People, Big World.
- Molly Roloff: Molly Roloff is the third child of Matt and Amy. She too appeared on Little People, Big World, though she is not a Little Person.
- Jacob Roloff:Jacob is the youngest of the four children. He was also on the show until he left in 2016.
- Chris Roloff: Chris is the older brother of Matt, making him a member of the extended Roloff family. He appears occasionally on Little People, Big World.
- Sam Roloff: Sam is another brother of Matt, making him also a part of the extended family.
- Jacob “Jake” Roloff: Jake Roloff is a comedian and writer. He is not related to Matt and Amy, but has the same last name.