Surname Ulph - Meaning and Origin

Ulph: What does the surname Ulph mean?

The surname Ulph is of English origin, predominantly found in the northern part of England. It is derived from the Old Norse personal name "Úlfr" which means "wolf". The name was fairly common among Scandinavian settlers in England during the Viking Age. Over time, it transformed into various forms in different places, becoming Ulph in some regions. The use of surnames was not common until the Norman Conquest of England in 1066, and hence "Ulph" would have originally been a first name. Gradually, it started being used as a surname, often to represent lineage. Therefore, the last name Ulph signifies a possible connection to the ancient Norse culture and symbolizes the characteristics of a wolf, such as intelligence, fierceness, and strength.

Ulph: Where does the name Ulph come from?

The last name Ulph is of English origin and can most commonly be found today in the United Kingdom and its former colonies. It is also quite commonly found in other parts of Northern and Western Europe, especially in countries that share strong cultural and historical ties to the UK such as Ireland, Canada, and Australia.

The first recorded use of the Ulph surname was in Northamptonshire, England, with records indicating the presence of one Thomas Ulph in the 15th century. Since then, the Ulph surname has spread across the English-speaking world, taking on different versions such as Ulf, Olf, and Ulfe, as well as others. Today, Ulph is principally found in Lancashire and Cheshire in England.

In Scotland, the highest concentration of Ulphs is in Glasgow, though there are also scattered families living in Aberdeenshire, Tayside, and Bearyah. The most recent immigration of families bearing the Ulph name has been from Australia, where in the last hundred years a few families have sought a new life in the homeland of their ancestors.

Ulphs are a fairly widespread and diverse family today, with branches in almost every English-speaking country, and a rich history that extends back for hundreds of years.

Variations of the surname Ulph

The surname Ulph is of English origin meaning "Wolf" or "Wolf-like". It has many variants, spellings and surnames associated with it including Ulf, Ultz, Ulft, Uliffe, Ulphe, Ulfe, Ullft, Ulfet, Oulf, Olfe, Ulfes, Ulphs and Olf.

The variant Ulf is recorded in English records first appearing in 1066 in the Domesday Book, Ulf was a holder of land in East Sussex. This surname is also found in Germany, where it has been recorded since the 1400s. Other variants appear in other countries such as Ultz which is seen in the Netherlands, Ulft which appears in Switzerland and Ulphe which is recorded in France.

The spelling of Ulph is also seen on records for Yorkshire and Manchester in the early 1800s, and a later example is from the birth of Sarah Ann Ulph in 1858 in St. Pancras, London.

The surname Ulph is often found in conjunction with other surnames in the British Isles such as Wulf, Wulff, Woolf, Wolfe and Woolfe.

Ulph can also be found hyphenated with other surnames including Ulph-Fryer, Ulf-Miller, and Ullft-Smith. This is often a sign of the blending of two families with different surnames, although the Ulph spelling usually remains in the form of the surname.

The surname Ulph is not common, but can be found with a variety of other surnames and spellings internationaly, all stemming from their original English origin of the 'Wolf' or 'Wolf-like'.

Famous people with the name Ulph

• Stephen Ulph: English writer and journalist who specializes in national security and intelligence.
• Graham Ulph: British international field hockey player.
• Andrew Ulph: British archaeologist and professor at the University of Birmingham in England.
• Barrie Ulph: British electrical engineer and professor at Liverpool University.
• David Ulph: Leader of Royal Air Force Bomber Command from 1937-1941.
• Thomas Ulph: High Sheriff of Buckinghamshire.
• John Ulph: World War I veteran and British businessman.
• Philippa Ulph: British artist and cartoonist.
• Robert Ulph: English composer and producer.
• Adrian Ulph: British biologist and former professor at the University of Cambridge.

Other surnames

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