Elrico first name popularity, history and meaning

Find out how popular the first name Elrico has been for the last 27 years (from 1975 to 2001) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Meaning of Elrico

A variant of the Germanic masculine name Alric meaning "noble ruler".

Popularity of Elrico by gender

Based on the last 27 years of data, Elrico is exclusively a male name.

For the most recent data in 2001, there were 5 male babies and 0 female babies born with the name Elrico.

Year Male Count Female Count
2001 5 0
1979 6 0
1978 5 0
1976 5 0
1975 7 0

The history of the first name Elrico

The name Elrico is believed to have originated from the Germanic languages, specifically from the Old High German and Old Saxon dialects. It is a compound name formed by the combination of two elements: "ald" or "al" meaning "old" or "ancient," and "ric" meaning "ruler" or "powerful."

The earliest recorded use of the name Elrico dates back to the 8th century, during the medieval period in Europe. It was a name commonly used among the nobility and ruling classes, reflecting the aspirations of parents to bestow a name that signified strength, authority, and a long-standing legacy.

One of the earliest known historical figures bearing the name Elrico was Count Elrico of Fritzlar, a nobleman who lived in the 9th century and played a significant role in the expansion of the Carolingian Empire under Charlemagne. Another notable figure was Elrico of Auxerre, a scholar and theologian from the 9th century who made significant contributions to the intellectual and religious discourse of his time.

In the 11th century, Elrico, also known as Ealhric or Aelfric, was a renowned Anglo-Saxon abbot and scholar who authored several influential works on grammar, homilies, and religious texts. His writings played a crucial role in preserving and disseminating the Anglo-Saxon literary tradition.

During the 12th century, there was a prominent figure named Elrico of Clairvaux, a Cistercian monk and the first abbot of the Clairvaux Abbey in France. He was a close companion of St. Bernard of Clairvaux and played a significant role in the expansion of the Cistercian order throughout Europe.

In the 14th century, Elrico Schoneveld, a German philosopher and theologian, gained recognition for his works on metaphysics and natural philosophy. He was part of the intellectual circles of the University of Paris and contributed to the development of scholastic thought during the late medieval period.

While the name Elrico has fallen out of widespread usage in modern times, it remains a part of historical records and literary works, serving as a testament to the rich cultural heritage and linguistic traditions of the Germanic peoples.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Elrico was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Elrico, please contact us.

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!

"Elrico first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on August 31, 2025. http://namecensus.com/first-names/elrico-meaning-and-history/.

"Elrico first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/first-names/elrico-meaning-and-history/. Accessed 31 August, 2025

Elrico first name popularity, history and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/first-names/elrico-meaning-and-history/.

Search for a name

Search for a first or last name to learn more about its origin, meaning, and more.

Simple as that.