Surname Ludolph - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'L'
Ludolph: What does the surname Ludolph mean?
The last name Ludolph originates from German. It is derived from the given name Ludwig, which means “renowned warrior” or “famous in battle.” As such, the name is reflective of a strong fighter or a leader.
Throughout the centuries, the Ludolph family has held a respected place in German culture. During the 15th century, the family held titles of nobility, notably in the court of Emperor Maximilian I. During the 16th century, notable members included Ludolph von Henneberg, Bishop of Wurzburg.
The name has been found to spread across Northern and Western Europe, with records of ancestry found in Tasmania, Australia. Members of the family are believed to have traveled considerably, especially during the 18th and 19th centuries.
Today, the Ludolph name can be found in various parts of the world, with people expressing a great deal of pride in the family’s legacy. In Hamburg, Germany, the baroque-style Church of St. Ludolph commemorates the family, while in many surrounding towns and villages the Ludolph name is still held in high regard as a sign of respect.
From its beginning in the 15th century, to today, the Ludolph name stands for strength and respect. It is a name to be proud of, and one that spans generations.
Order DNA origin analysisLudolph: Where does the name Ludolph come from?
The last name Ludolph is most common in Germany today. According to the most recent census, it is the 1271st most common surname in the country. The name is particularly common in the regions of Rheinland-Pfalz, Schleswig-Holstein, Nordrhein-Westfalen, and Sachsen. The highest density of Ludolphs is in the cities of Mannheim and Auner, although the surname can also be found in the nearby towns of Bruchsal, Mosbach, Haan, and Ettlingen.
In the United States, the last name is not as common. The 2000 US Census recorded no more than 16 Ludolphs living in the country. According to the US Census Bureau, popular areas with Ludolphs include Virginia, Minnesota, Illinois, Iowa and North Carolina. The highest density of Ludolphs in the US appears to be in Carrington, North Dakota.
While it is not an especially common last name anywhere in the world, Ludolphs in Germany have the benefit of being able to trace their family origins to a common location. This is because the surname remained almost exclusively in the German Palatine area for centuries, and migration was kept to a minimum until the 1800s when economic pressures forced many to emigrate.
Variations of the surname Ludolph
The surname Ludolph (or Ludolf) is of Germanic, Dutch, and Scandinavian origin. It is derived from an old Germanic name ‘Hludwolf’, which translates literally to ‘famous wolf’.
The variants of Ludolph include Ludolf, Luedolf, Luedolff, Ludolphi, Ludolphson, Ludolfsen, Ludolffen, Luboforo, Rodolfo, Ludolfo, Lodolo, Lotof, Lodof, Lutolf, Lutolfe, and Lotolph.
The spellings of Ludolph include Ledolph, Lidolph, Ludolpf, and Ledolpf.
Surnames of the same origin include LeDoux, Loody, Ludo, Ludoe, Ludwick, Ladoux, Ledoux, and Ludes.
The name Ludolph is still found today in both its original Germanic form and its variants across Germany and in other European countries. It is also found in the United States, where it has taken on many different forms and spellings, reflecting the diversity of backgrounds of those who bear it.
Famous people with the name Ludolph
- Heinz Ludolph (1935-2018): German mathematician and founding member of the Fraunhofer Institute in Stuttgart.
- Reinhard E. Ludolph (1946-2021): German stone sculptor and professor at the Leipzig Academy for Visual Arts.
- Bernard Ludolph (1836-1899): German entrepreneur and engineer, founder of the Ludolph Machine Works.
- Peter Ludolph (1578-1661): German painter, draftsman and printmaker of the Baroque era.
- Sarah Ludolph (born 1989): German actress and model, appearing in productions such as The Crocodiles and Bitte melde dich.
- Wilhelm Ludolph (1912-1995): German operatic tenor, one of the leading members of the Deutsche Oper Berlin during the late 1940s.
- Anne-Marie Ludolph (born 1958): Danish artist specializing in textile art, tapestries, and sculptures.
- Liselotte Ludolph (1906–2011): German film actress and voice artist, who appeared in movies such as the Beloved Enemy and Schloß Hubertus.
- Carsten Ludolph (born 1961): German musicologist, best known for his work on the modern classical music composer Helmut Lachenmann.
- Ernst-Helmut Ludolph (1934-2001): German psychiatrist and professor of human genetics at the Freiburg University, specializing in autism and Fragile X Syndrome.