Ralfe History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The surname Ralfe was first found in Herefordshire where Ralph the Timid, the Earl of Hereford (died 1057) held lands and estates. Apparently, "he was in command there in July 1049, when a force of pirates from Ireland and Welsh under Gruffydd ab Rhydderch invaded the shire. He fled before them, leaving Worcester to be burnt by the invaders, and gaining for himself the appellation of 'the timid earl.' 1

Gaulder or Wader Ralph, the Earl of Norfolk (fl. 1070) was son of Ralph the Staller (d. 1066). "This Ralph is frequently referred to in Domesday Book as having held various estates, and is twice mentioned as 'Radulfus comes vetus', and on one other occasion as 'Radulfus Stalra' and father of Ralph Guader. It is evident, therefore, that Ralph the Staller was himself an earl, probably in East Anglia, perhaps as a subordinate of Gyrth." 1

RALPH of Toesny (d. 1102), was a Norman Baron who came in the female line of the stock of Malahulc, uncle of Rollo, the conqueror of Normandy and Ralph d'Escures, sometimes called Ralph de Turbine (d. 1122), was Archbishop of Canterbury. Ralph, Radulf, Ranulf, or Randulf (d. 1123), was chancellor, was a chaplain or clerk of Henry I, and became chancellor in 1107-1108.