Find out how popular the last name Ralph is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Ralph.

Ralph, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Ralph surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Ralph in America

Ralph is the 4358th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Ralph surname appeared 8,153 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 3 people would have the surname Ralph.

We can also compare 2010 data for Ralph to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Ralph

The surname Ralph is of Old English origin, derived from the personal name Radulf or Rudolph. It is a compound name formed from the elements "rad" meaning counsel or advice, and "wulf" meaning wolf. The name was first recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a survey of landowners in England commissioned by William the Conqueror.

The earliest recorded spelling of the surname Ralph was found in Yorkshire in 1176, when one William Radulf was mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of that county. By the 13th century, the name had spread to other parts of England, with various spellings such as Radelph, Radulph, and Raddulff being recorded.

One of the earliest bearers of the surname Ralph was Sir Ralph de Goushill, a knight who fought in the Scottish Wars of Independence in the 14th century. Another notable figure was Ralph de Neville, who was Bishop of Chichester from 1224 to 1244.

During the Middle Ages, the surname Ralph was often associated with place names, such as Ralph of Coventry, who was a monk and chronicler in the 12th century. Similarly, Ralph of Diceto was an archdeacon of Middlesex and a chronicler in the late 12th century.

In the 16th century, Sir Ralph Sadler (1507-1587) was a prominent statesman and diplomat who served under Henry VIII, Edward VI, and Elizabeth I. Another notable bearer of the name was Ralph Erskine (1685-1752), a Scottish minister and founder of the Secession Church.

Other famous individuals with the surname Ralph include Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882), the American essayist, philosopher, and poet, and Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872-1958), the English composer known for his orchestral and choral works.

Over time, the surname Ralph has undergone various spelling changes, including Rafe, Raff, and Rawlph, reflecting regional variations and the evolution of the English language. However, the name's origins can be traced back to its Old English roots, reflecting the rich history and cultural diversity of surnames in England.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Ralph

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Ralph.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Ralph was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Ralph has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

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

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

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