Surname Rudolfsen - Meaning and Origin

Rudolfsen: What does the surname Rudolfsen mean?

Rudolfsen is a Scandinavian surname of Germanic origin. It is derived from the German personal name Rudolph, which means famous wolf or famous wolf-like creature. The suffix -sen is a patronymic suffix, meaning ‘son of’. Therefore, Rudolfsen translates to ‘son of Rudolph’.

The use of surnames in Scandinavia began in the 12th and 13th centuries. People were identified by their father’s given name combined with the suffix –sen or –datter (daughter). The use of Rudolfsen as a last name was most likely adopted across the region due to the popularity of the name Rudolph in the Middle Ages.

Rudolfsen is a relatively common Scandinavian surname and is found across all the Scandinavian countries: Denmark, Norway, Sweden and Finland. It is also popular among immigrant communities in northern Europe, as well as in North America and Australia. Today, individuals with the Rudolfsen surname can trace their roots back to Scandinavia and the Middle Ages.

Rudolfsen: Where does the name Rudolfsen come from?

The last name Rudolfsen is primarily common in Norway today, where it is one of the top 75 surnames according to Name Statistics from Statistics Norway. It is particularly common in central Norway and the southern and western parts of the country, including the counties of Agder, Telemark, Hedmark, and Rogaland. It is also commonly found in Denmark, Sweden, and other Scandinavian countries. In the United States, it is most common on the East Coast from New York to Virginia, but can also be found in other areas of the United States. The most recent US Census Bureau public record of the last name Rudolfsen dates from 2000 and at that time it was estimated to be present in almost 1,000 households. Beyond Scandinavian countries and the US, the name Rudolfsen is also found in Canada, Germany, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and other parts of Europe.

Variations of the surname Rudolfsen

The surname Rudolfsen is a patronymic, derived from the first name Rudolf, which is a variant of a Germanic name comprising of two elements: hrod (renown) and wulf (wolf). The variants of the surname Ruldolfsen include Rodolfson, Rudolphson, Rudolphsen, Rødolfson, Raudolfson, Ruldoffson, and Ruldofson. In some regions, this surname has been known to take more than one form, due to different languages spoken in the area. Since the spelling of the name has been known to vary widely, instances of the surname Rudolfsen have been found with various other spelling variations. Some of these alternate spellings are Rudolfs, Rolofs, Rolfs, Rolfson, and Rodlfs. This surname has been found in various other countries, where, due to heavy influences of other languages, the spelling has changed from its original form. For example, in Scandinavia, immigrants from Germany often found this name spelled Rodloffson or Rudolffson.

The surname Rudolfsen is also known to have produced various variant surnames over time. In Latin countries such as Portugal, Spain, and Latin America, for instance, this surname has evolved to become Rudolpho and Rudovez. Other variants of the surname which have been recorded include Rudofski, Rudovski, Rudovskis, Rudauskis, Rudavskis, Rodofski, and Rodauskis. This surname has also been known as Rudovsce, Rudofsce, Rudauskas or Rudavskas in Lithuania, and Rogulsky or Rudofsky in Russia.

In England, the Burrows-Lyon Index of 1847 has recorded changes for this surname to include Ralphson, Rudlison, Rodlinson, and Rudolfson. This surname can also be found in North America, most likely due to emigration from Europe during the 19th century. Here it is often found spelled as Ralfson, Radolfo, Radulsky, Radolsky, Rodulsky, Rudulph, Ruedel, and Rudell.

In conclusion, the surname Rudolfsen has seen various variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin, many of which have survived the test of time. While some of these have endured due to influence of different languages, others have evolved as a result of emigration and modernization.

Famous people with the name Rudolfsen

• Andrew Rudolphsen: lead guitarist for the original rock band “The Animals” in the 1960s.
• Alfred Rudolphsen: Academy Award-winning director, producer, and screenwriter.
• Barbara Rudolphsen: Norwegian singer and songwriter.
• Bradley Rudolphsen: former Canadian professional ice hockey player.
• Casey Rudolphsen: American actor and producer.
• Charlotte Rudolphsen: Danish singer and pianist.
• David Rudolphsen: British petroleum engineer.
• Douglas Rudolphsen: American actor, director, and writer.
• Eliza Rudolphsen: Norwegian Olympic gold medal-winning cross-country skier.
• Ivar Rudolphsen: Norwegian philologist, historian, and librarian.
• Jack Rudolphsen: Norwegian artist.
• James Rudolphsen: American bass player and composer.
• Lars Rudolphsen: Norwegian sailor and Olympian.
• Mile Rudolphsen: German sport shooter.
• Per Rudolphsen: Danish pitcher in Major League Baseball.
• Rikard Rudolphsen: Norwegian footballer.
• Rudolf Rudolphsen: Norwegian priest and author.
• Richard Rudolphsen: Danish actor.
• Sarah Rudolphsen: American singer-songwriter.
• Sören Rudolphsen: Danish actor.

Other surnames

Rudolfs