Origin of Riolfi
Recorded in over fifty different spellings including as examples Rolf, Roffe, Ruff and Ruffell in England, Rudolf and Rotlauf in Germany, Rohlf in Switzerland, Ridulfo and Firidolfi in Italy, and Roelof in the Netherlands, this is a surname of pre 7th century Nordic-Viking origins. It derives ultimately from the personal name 'Hrodwulf', itself from the period in history known as The Dark Ages, when names were largely pagan in ancestry, and tended to extoll the undoubted virtues of godliness, strength and purpose.
This particular name was composed of the elements "hrod", meaning "renown" and "wulf", literally the wolf, and originally may have referred to a particular warrior or chieftain. In the Norse language the contracted form was "Hrolfr", and in Danish and Swedish "Rolf", and it was in these forms that they reached Northern Europe in the 8th century. It is not absolutely certain as to the first recording date of the hereditary surname, but it was amongst the earliest of all surnames. Examples taken from authentic rolls and charters of the medieval period include: Johan Rodolfi of Hamburg, Germany, in 1252, Robert Rolf, of Battle, in the county of Sussex, England, in 1272, Jakob Rufi, given as being a priest in Zurich, Switzerland, in the year 1300, and Johan Rudolf of Andelshoven, Germany, in 1332. In the church registers of London, England, the marriage of John Roffe and Elizabeth Blythe was recorded at St. Stephan's, Coleman Street, on November 3rd 1560. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop", often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.
It should derive, directly or through hypocoristics, from the medieval name Rolfo, the Italianization of the Germanic personal Rohlf or Rohloff, which consists of a contraction of the original Rudolf, or also from the apheresis of names such as Gairulfus, Warulfus, Teuderulfus and the like.
The surname Rolfo is decidedly Piedmontese, from Turin and Cuneo.
Reolfi is almost unique.
Riolfi is typical of the Verona area.
Riolfo is from northern Italy.
Rolf is almost unique.
Rolfi has a lineage in the Milanese area, one in the Brescia area and one in Foggia.
Rolfini is specific to the Ferrara and Ravenna areas.
The surname Riolfi. Genealogy, origin, history, meaning, and significance
Discovering the historical roots of riolfi is deeply interesting, as it takes us back to the ancestors and relatives who established this lineage. Research into the possible origins of riolfi leads us to learn more about those who bear this surname. The origin, the coat of arms or the different heraldic shields, and the bibliography in which the surname riolfi is mentioned are part of this exciting investigation. Adhering to what we know about the way surnames originated, it is possible to offer a realistic explanation of the origins of riolfi.
The surname Riolfi around the world
Although surnames have a specific origin at a certain time and region of the planet, many of them have spread far and wide across the world for various reasons, as is the case with the surname riolfi. There is a considerable probability that riolfi has crossed the borders of its place of origin to establish itself, to a greater or lesser extent, in other parts of the world. With all the information we have today, it can be said that the countries where riolfi is most abundant are the following. The list of countries with a higher presence of people with the surname riolfi provides us with a perspective on the history of the surname, beyond its origins, focusing on its migrations.
History of Riolfi
The historical chronicle of riolfi is based on a striking series of events that were led by those who have carried this surname throughout history. The deeds, the way of life, the places they lived, the family relationships they had, the jobs they held by those who were the first to be named riolfi are found in every look back in the history of this lineage. For those like you, who are interested in the history hidden behind the surname riolfi, it is essential to find all kinds of information, both direct and tangential, that helps to construct a solid narrative of how the birth and expansion of riolfi developed. In the following lines, you will find everything we have been able to gather about the surname riolfi.
We suggest that if you want to learn more about the surname riolfi, try to locate it through the bibliographic sources we suggest. It is common for genealogy and surname enthusiasts to provide us with information of special value, so the data we offer about the origins of riolfi could be modified. We keep our website updated through our own research and also thanks to contributions from people like you, after verification; so if you have information about riolfi and send it to us, we will update it on this website.
Notable Figures Named Riolfi
It's more than likely that there have been some distinguished riolfis throughout human history. We assume that there have been significant contributions to humanity made by individuals with the surname riolfi, even though not all have been documented to our present day. Sadly, not all the contributions of those who bore the surname riolfi were recorded by the chroniclers of the time. If you or someone you know bears the surname riolfi, you could potentially build illustrious lineages through your efforts and virtues. It is our desire to highlight in this section those individuals with the surname riolfi who, for various reasons, have left their mark on the course of history.
The surname Riolfi and its bibliographic sources
Thanks to a significant bibliographic review, we have so far compiled information on the heraldry, history, and genealogy of riolfi. The bibliography collects information related to the surname riolfi, which allows us to learn more about its meaning. The origin, history, coat of arms or different coats of arms, and the heraldry of riolfi are recorded in a wide variety of sources and documents that are essential to know for better compilation. Accessing the archives of the town or towns where your ancestors were born and lived is, of course, a good way to trace the origins of riolfi.
SOURCES
These sources are essential for initiating the understanding of riolfi, and at the same time, of surnames in general.
