Randolph is a name of Germanic origin, derived from the Old German elements "rand" meaning "shield" and "wulf" meaning "wolf". The name was introduced to England by way of the Normans after the Norman Conquest in 1066.
The name Randolph became popularized through the House of Randolph, an influential Scottish family who held considerable lands and titles in Scotland and England. The most notable member of this family was William Randolph, who fought alongside Robert the Bruce at the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314.
Throughout history, many prominent individuals have borne the name Randolph. Some of these include:
* Thomas Randolph, 1st Earl of Moray (c. 1290–1332), a Scottish nobleman and close friend of Robert the Bruce.
* Thomas Randolph, 1st Earl of Sutherland (1581–1627), a Scottish nobleman who played a significant role in the Wars of the Three Kingdoms.
* Edmund Randolph (1753–1813), an American politician and statesman who served as the first Attorney General of the United States.
* John Randolph of Roanoke (1749–1793), an American politician and planter, known for his influential political speeches and writings.
In literature, the name Randolph is also featured prominently in works such as Charles Dickens' "Bleak House" and Henry James' "The Europeans". Today, Randolph remains a timeless and classic name choice, with variations such as Randy, Rand, and Rolf being popular alternatives.
The name Randolf has been given to a total of 973 babies born in the United States between 1939 and 2004, according to the statistics provided.
The most popular years for the name Randolf were during the 1950s, with a peak of 62 births in 1955. The name was also quite common in the early 1940s, with over 15 births each year between 1943 and 1944.
However, the popularity of the name Randolf has significantly decreased since the 1970s. Between 1978 and 2004, there were fewer than 10 births per year with the name Randolf, with some years having only a handful of births or even just one.
Despite its decline in popularity in recent decades, the name Randolf has a rich history in the United States, with a significant number of babies given this name over the course of nearly seven decades.