Ralphs History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Scotland

The earliest forms of hereditary surnames in Scotland were the patronymic surnames, which are derived from the father's given name, and metronymic surnames, which are derived from the mother's given name. Scottish patronymic names emerged as early as the mid-9th century. The patronyms were derived from a variety of given names that were of many different origins. The surname Ralphs is derived from the Old Norse given name Randolph, which itself comes from the Old German words, rat, meaning counsel, and wolf, meaning wolf.

Early Origins of the Ralphs family

The surname Ralphs was first found in the town of Nairn in Nairnshire (Gaelic: Siorrachd Inbhir Narann) in northern Scotland, today part of the Council Area of Highland, where they are thought to have arrived well before the invasion of Britain of Duke William of Normandy in 1066 A.D.

One of the first records of the family was Ralph (died 1144), Bishop of Orkney, whose name usually appears as Ralph Nowell, a native of York, where he became a priest. "York writers assert that, apparently about 1110, Ralph was elected (by men of the Orkneys) to the bishopric of the islands in the church of St. Peter at York." 1

Early History of the Ralphs family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Ralphs research. Another 117 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1205 and 1452 are included under the topic Early Ralphs History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ralphs Spelling Variations

The frequent translations of surnames from and into Gaelic, accounts for the multitude of spelling variations found in Scottish surnames. Furthermore, the spelling of surnames was rarely consistent because medieval scribes and church officials recorded names as they sounded, rather than adhering to any specific spelling rules. The different versions of a surname, such as the inclusion of the patronymic prefix "Mac", frequently indicated a religious or Clan affiliation, or even a division of the family. Moreover, a large number of foreign names were brought into Scotland, accelerating accentuating the alterations to various surnames. The name Ralphs has also been spelled Ralph, Rolph, Rolfe and others.

Early Notables of the Ralphs family

Another 38 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Ralphs Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ralphs migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Ralphs Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Miss Sarah Ralphs, (b. 1815), aged 17, English convict who was convicted in Shropshire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Fanny" on 14th July 1832, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, she died on board in 1832 2

Contemporary Notables of the name Ralphs (post 1700) +

Tony Ralphs (b. 1943), American sprint canoer at the 1964 Summer Olympics
George S Ralphs (1850-1914), American businessman, who founded Ralphs Grocery Company in 1873 in Los Angeles
Mick Ralphs (b. 1948), English rock guitarist, founding member of rock bands Mott the Hoople and Bad Company
Dicky Ralphs (1908-1989), Welsh international rugby fly-half
Damani Ralphs (b. 1980), Jamaican football player
Caleb Stan Ralphs (b. 1977), New Zealand rugby union footballer
Bertram Victor Ralphs (b. 1896), English footballer

The Ralphs Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Cresco crescendeo
Motto Translation: I increase by increasing.

Citations +

Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 29th September 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/fanny