Relph
Encyclopedia
The English
family name Relph is classified as being of personal name origin. According to scholars the oldest and most pervasive type of surname is that derived from a personal name. Such family names may be derived from a parental first name or from the front name of the grandfather, or indeed a more remote ancestor of the original bearer of the surname. In this case, the surname Relph is derived from the Anglo-Saxon name Richolf, derived from the Old German Ricwulf, meaning power wolf. The form Riulf from the Old French became popular at a later stage, probably due to the Normans
who settled in England
in the eleventh century. Variants of the surname Relph include Relf, Relfe and Realff.
One of the earliest references to this surname or to its variants is a record of one Robert Realf who resided in Sussex
in 1327. The modern spelling of most English
surnames is comparatively recent and is found in parish registers of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. The son of John Relph was christened in Saint Alphage's Church, in Greenwich
, in October, 1655. Alice Relph of Westhouse, Charntan-in-Consdale, Yorkshire
, was born circa 1656. Abraham Relph, son of John and Elizabeth Relph, was christened in Meeting House-Independent Church, Huddlesceugh, in Cumberland
, on 17 March, 1714. Another Abraham Relph, son of Francis and Ann Relph, was christened in Gwennap, in Cornwall
, on 13 May 1770. Ada Mary Relph, daughter of William and Mary Relph, was christened in Saint Peter's Church, in Liverpool
, on 21 August, 1861.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
family name Relph is classified as being of personal name origin. According to scholars the oldest and most pervasive type of surname is that derived from a personal name. Such family names may be derived from a parental first name or from the front name of the grandfather, or indeed a more remote ancestor of the original bearer of the surname. In this case, the surname Relph is derived from the Anglo-Saxon name Richolf, derived from the Old German Ricwulf, meaning power wolf. The form Riulf from the Old French became popular at a later stage, probably due to the Normans
Normans
The Normans were the people who gave their name to Normandy, a region in northern France. They were descended from Norse Viking conquerors of the territory and the native population of Frankish and Gallo-Roman stock...
who settled in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
in the eleventh century. Variants of the surname Relph include Relf, Relfe and Realff.
One of the earliest references to this surname or to its variants is a record of one Robert Realf who resided in Sussex
Sussex
Sussex , from the Old English Sūþsēaxe , is an historic county in South East England corresponding roughly in area to the ancient Kingdom of Sussex. It is bounded on the north by Surrey, east by Kent, south by the English Channel, and west by Hampshire, and is divided for local government into West...
in 1327. The modern spelling of most English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
surnames is comparatively recent and is found in parish registers of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. The son of John Relph was christened in Saint Alphage's Church, in Greenwich
Greenwich
Greenwich is a district of south London, England, located in the London Borough of Greenwich.Greenwich is best known for its maritime history and for giving its name to the Greenwich Meridian and Greenwich Mean Time...
, in October, 1655. Alice Relph of Westhouse, Charntan-in-Consdale, Yorkshire
Yorkshire
Yorkshire is a historic county of northern England and the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its great size in comparison to other English counties, functions have been increasingly undertaken over time by its subdivisions, which have also been subject to periodic reform...
, was born circa 1656. Abraham Relph, son of John and Elizabeth Relph, was christened in Meeting House-Independent Church, Huddlesceugh, in Cumberland
Cumberland
Cumberland is a historic county of North West England, on the border with Scotland, from the 12th century until 1974. It formed an administrative county from 1889 to 1974 and now forms part of Cumbria....
, on 17 March, 1714. Another Abraham Relph, son of Francis and Ann Relph, was christened in Gwennap, in Cornwall
Cornwall
Cornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...
, on 13 May 1770. Ada Mary Relph, daughter of William and Mary Relph, was christened in Saint Peter's Church, in Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
, on 21 August, 1861.