Surname Ould - Meaning and Origin

Ould: What does the surname Ould mean?

The surname "Ould" is of Irish origin. It is derived from the Old Gaelic name "O'hUalghairg", which means a descendant of Ualgharg. The personal name "Ualgharg" means "proud". Thus, the surname can approximately be translated as "the offspring of the proud one". Like many other Irish surnames, it started as a patronymic, a name derived from the father or a paternal ancestor's first name. Over time, it evolved into a family name that is passed down through generations. The surname "Ould" is predominately found in regions of Ireland. However, due to the migration of the Irish people over centuries, it may also be found in places where Irish diaspora are settled, like United States, Canada, Australia and United Kingdom. It's also worth noting that, over the years, the surname has seen different spellings includingould, Old, Hould, Ould and others.

Ould: Where does the name Ould come from?

The last name Ould is common today in certain parts of the world, with the majority of individuals carrying the name originating from North Africa and the Middle East. In North Africa, the last name is known to be particularly common in Algeria, Tunisia, and Morocco. Additionally, the name is widespread among Arab countries such as Iraq, Jordan, and Kuwait.

The last name Ould is believed to have its roots in France and is thought to have been brought to North African and Middle Eastern countries by the French. Consequently, the spelling of the name in these regions may slightly differ from its French counterpart, with the letter w sometimes having been replaced by a v.

Ould is a patronymic name derived from the Arabic language. It is a form of the phrase “Ou” which means “son of” and was commonly used as a prefix to a person’s first name. For example, someone named Muhammad would have the name Ould Mohammad as a patronymic.

Thus, the last name Ould is today most common in North Africa and the Middle East with links to France, Arabic languages, and patronymic naming systems.

Variations of the surname Ould

The surname Ould is a combination of two Old Norse elements, ‘uld’ (meaning ancestral lineage or heritage) and ‘wulf’ (meaning wolf). It is found in various variants and spellings all over Europe. The most common variants and spelling of the surname Ould are Ould, Uld, Olld, Ule, Ulld, Ulle, Ulded, Ulden, Oud, Ulde, Utled, Ultd, Ulete, and Ohlde.

The most common surnames of the same origin derived from the surname Ould include Oulds, Ollds, Ullds, Utes, Uldens, Ouds, Uldys, Ouhls, Ulses, Ulded, Uttles, Ullen, Oulder, Ulled, and Ullede. Other variants and spellings are often associated with a particular location or a specific dialect. For example, 'Ohld' is found as a variant spelling of Ould in northern Germany, and 'Uld' is commonly used in Scandinavian countries, particularly in Sweden. Some surnames derived from Ould may have roots in a language other than Old Norse, such as Welsh or French.

The spelling and variants of the surname Ould can vary greatly, even within families. It is often due to changes over time of the language, literacy, and pronunciation. The easiest way to identify the different variants of Ould is to use the online surname matching services available, such as FamilySearch, or to search for the history and origins of the surname.

Famous people with the name Ould

• Cheik Ould Abdallahi: Former President of Mauritania.
• Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz: Current President of Mauritania.
• Sidi Ould Cheikh Abdallahi: Former Prime Minister of Mauritania.
• Abdallah Ould Ahmed Vall: Former Prime Minister of Mauritania.
• Mustapha Ould Salek: Mauritania's Foreign Minister from 2014 to 2018.
• Zeine Ould Zeidane: Former Prime Minister of Mauritania.
• Sidi Mohamed Ould Boubacar: Former Prime Minister of Mauritania.
• Ahmed Ould Daddah: Former Prime Minister of Mauritania.
• Ismael Ould Cheikh Ahmed: Former Prime Minister of Mauritania.
• Ould Ahmed Laghdaf: Former Finance Minister of Mauritania.
• Issa Ould Cheikh Mohamed: Former Prime Minister of Mauritania.
• Cheikh Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz: Former Prime Minister of Mauritania.
• Mohamed Ould Maouloud: Former Prime Minister of Mauritania.
• Cheikh Sidiya Ould Hassan: Former Minister of Education in Mauritania.
• Ould Taleb Moussa: Former Minister of Communication in Mauritania.
• Noura Mint Ould Sheikh Mohamed: Former Minister of Energy and Mines in Mauritania.
• Yahya Ould Hademine: Former Minister of Agriculture in Mauritania.
• Mohamed Salem Ould Leon: Former Minister of Health in Mauritania.
• Abderrahim Ould Hadrami: Former Minister of Labor and Immigration in Mauritania.
• Moudjib Ould Aboul-Kacem: Former Minister of Environment and Tourism in Mauritania.

Other surnames

OulahanOuldenOulsonOulton