Surname Ralls - Meaning and Origin

Ralls: What does the surname Ralls mean?

The surname Ralls is of Anglo-Saxon origin and originated from a personal name such as Ralph, Ralf, or Rolf. These names were popular among the Normans and were introduced to England after the Norman Conquest in 1066. The Ralls surname most likely developed as a diminutive or pet form of these names. A diminutive form is a name that has been modified to convey a smaller or younger version of the original name.

However, it's also possible that the surname Ralls is locational, derived from a geographic feature or place, characterizing a person by their place of residence, birth, or land ownership. Some researchers suggest that it may be associated with places named Ryal, Ryhill, or Rowell in the UK.

Like many surnames, the exact origin and meaning of Ralls could vary significantly based on geographic location and family history. Each Ralls family's ancestry could provide further insights into the name's meaning. Overall, Ralls, like many surnames, offers a glimpse into our ancestors' lives, reflecting personal characteristics, occupations, or even places of origin.

Ralls: Where does the name Ralls come from?

The last name Ralls is most commonly found in the United States today. According to the US Census Bureau, its highest concentration is in the state of Virginia, where roughly 39% of Ralls households live. Following Virginia, the states of Mississippi, Texas, and Alabama contain the next three highest population concentrations of Ralls households.

Outside of the US, many Ralls households can be found in English-speaking countries. According to the 2001 census in the United Kingdom, the highest population concentrations of Ralls families were in the counties of Oxfordshire and Worcestershire, with smaller concentrations in Bedfordshire, Gloucestershire, and Hereford and Worcester. In Canada, the majority of Ralls families live in the provinces of Ontario and Alberta, with smaller population concentrations in British Columbia and Nova Scotia.

The Ralls surname is from an English place name, likely derived from Anglo-Saxon words, and orginally brought to the British Isles by Norman settlers. Ralls is sometimes seen as an Americanized version of the German surname Rall, which has a similar geographic distribution in the US.

Overall, the Ralls name is most commonly found in English-speaking countries, particularly Virginia in the United States and the counties of Oxfordshire and Worcestershire in England.

Variations of the surname Ralls

The surname Ralls is an English toponymic or locational surname, derived from the Old English words "regels" and "reol," which mean hamlet and boundary respectively. This surname has a variety of rare variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin.

The most common variant for the surname Ralls is Rawles. It is derived from the French pronunciation of the name, and is used in the United Kingdom and many other parts of the world. Other variants of the surname Ralls include Rawls, Rawles, Rauls, Rolles, Rowls, and Roles.

Some less common variants include Rayles, Rales, Raels, Realls, Relles, and Rolle. Additionally, it has a few Irish variants like Ryals, Ryles, Reeles, and Rollis.

It also has a few spellings including Ralls, Rolls, Rowls, Rewles, and Rewls. These spellings are typically used in the United States and Canada.

Along with these variants and spellings, there are also some other surnames of the same origin, such as Rawlins, Rawling, Rawlinson, Rollins, Rollinson, Rollin, and Rollens.

Overall, the surname Ralls has many variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. While some of these are more popular than others, they all ultimately share the same origin.

Famous people with the name Ralls

• Robert Ralls: a renowned English chocolate maker whose confections have been sold to royalty around the world.
• Clay Ralls: the voice actor for several popular cartoons, including Hercules, Buzz Lightyear of Star Command, and The Emperor's New Groove.
• Dan Ralls: the former United States Representative from Missouri's 2nd congressional district.
• Pat Ralls: a six-time guitar winner of the National Fingerstyle Guitar Championship.
• Miranda Ralls: an award-winning British stage and film actress best known for her roles in The Governor, and prematurely cancelled TV series Sparkhouse.
• Sophia Ralls: a Canadian Grand Companies Champion figure skater who is signed with the Ice Age Entertainment Agency.
• Ernie Ralls: a Michigan-born professional baseball player who played for the Boston Red Sox from 1924 to 1931.
• Herbert Ralls: an American chemist and prominent NASA researcher who designed and developed some of the earliest rocket-propelled aircraft models.
• Mackenzie Ralls: the 2008 U.S. National Champion and twice U.S. Junior Pairs silver medalist in figure skating.
• Richard Ralls: a successful entrepreneur and philanthropist with numerous projects in Africa and other countries in need of assistance.

Other surnames

Rall