The name Randle is of English origin, derived from the Old English name Randolph, which itself is a compound of the elements "rand" meaning "rim" or "border" and "wulf" meaning "wolf". This suggests that the name may have originally been a nickname referring to someone who lived near a border or boundary area, or perhaps someone who was associated with wolves in some way.

The earliest recorded instances of the name date back to the 11th century, with the Domesday Book of 1086 listing several individuals bearing variations of the name such as Randulf and Randolf. One of the earliest known bearers of the name was Randle de Gernon, 4th Earl of Chester, who lived in the late 11th century and played a prominent role in the Norman conquest of England.

During the Middle Ages, the name Randle was particularly popular among the nobility and aristocracy of England and France. Notable historical figures with this name include Randle de Blundeville, 6th Earl of Chester (c. 1170-1232), a powerful noble who played a key role in the Barons' War against King John, and Randle Holme (1601-1659), an English writer and heraldic scholar who authored several important works on heraldry and genealogy.

In the realm of literature, the name Randle appears in several notable works, including the medieval romance Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, where Randle is the name of one of the knights of King Arthur's Round Table. The name also features in the works of William Shakespeare, with a character named Randle appearing in the play The Merry Wives of Windsor.

Other notable individuals named Randle throughout history include Randle Wilbraham (1637-1711), an English lawyer and politician who served as Lord Chief Justice of the Common Pleas, and Randle Patrick McMurphy, the fictional protagonist of Ken Kesey's 1962 novel One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest.

Overall, the name Randle has a long and rich history, dating back to the Anglo-Saxon period and carrying connotations of strength, nobility, and perhaps a connection to nature or the wilderness. While not as commonly used today as it once was, the name remains a distinctive and evocative choice with deep roots in English and European history and culture.