Surname Rohls - Meaning and Origin
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Rohls: What does the surname Rohls mean?
The last name Rohls is of German origin. It is derived from an archaic German word meaning “clearing” or “brushwood area”, and can be seen as a topographical name or an occupational name for someone who worked in such an area. The name could also be related to the German word “rolin”, meaning “to growl”, which suggests a possible nickname for a particularly gruff or stern person.
The Rohls surname is found predominantly in Northwest Germany, although the name can also be seen in certain areas in Poland, Denmark, and parts of Austria. Records of the name have been found as early as the 14th century in Germany, with people bearing the name being noted in the court records of Hesse in 1343 and Prussia in 1431.
One notable bearer of the name Rohls was the German princess Elisabeth Elisabeth Wilhelmine Luise zu Röhl, who was born in October 1786 and who married Karl Christoph zur Lippe, a Hanoverian diplomat. Another notable bearer of the name was Karl Friedrich Röhl, a statesman and soldier who served as the Monarch of Bavaria between 1854 and 1910.
The Rohls name is not a common one, but its bearers are descended from a long line of historic people, with many contributing to the histories of their home nations.
Order DNA origin analysisRohls: Where does the name Rohls come from?
The last name Rohls is most common today in Germany. In fact, it is one of the top 150 most common last names in Germany, according to the annual census records of the German government. Rohls is derived from the German word 'rohlen', which means 'to growl'. While the etymology of the surname is uncertain, it is believed to have been in use since the Middle Ages.
The vast majority of Rohls (91%) today are located in Germany. However, there is also a small presence across Europe in countries like Denmark (2%), the Netherlands (2%) and Austria (1%). Outside of Europe, only the United States (1%) and Canada (2%) have significant numbers of Rohls. Most of these occurrences are immigrants and their descendants from Germany.
In the United States, the last name Rohls is quite rare. Only approximately 1,400 people in the United States have this surname. Most of them live in Illinois, followed by Minnesota and Wisconsin. By contrast, in Germany there are over 85,000 Rohls, making it a much more common name there.
Variations of the surname Rohls
Rohls is a family name of German origin. Variations of the name Rohls include Rolle, Role, Rolles, Roll, Rolls, Roles, and Rolles. Variations of the name Rohls may also be found in other countries such as Austria and Switzerland and typically take on the variations of 'Rohleder' or 'Rohlders'.
In Scotland, the name is spelled Rouls, with 's' instead of 'l'. Rouls is a more unusual spelling and most commonly found in Aberdeen and the North East. In Ireland, the name is typically found as Rowles.
Other spelling variations of the name Rohls include Ruhls, Ruhl, Ruhels, Raulsen, Rulles, Rolleus, and Ralston. But, these spellings are rarer than the common variations mentioned above.
Variations of the name Rohls could also include Röhls, with the German umlaut. The umlaut is represented by two dots over the letter 'o'.
This distinguishes the name from its common spelling variations, especially when written in German-speaking countries.
Variations of the name Rohls could also include surname derivatives such as Roloff, Rohloff, Rolff, Rolfs, Rolf, Rohlf, and Rölf. It is also possible to find surnames spelt with a double 'L', such as Rohlls and Rollels.
Finally, there is also the possibility to find the name as an Anglicized version, such as 'Rollands' or 'Rollands'.
Overall, the name Rohls is relatively versatile, and can take on many different forms, depending on the country of origin and local dialect. All forms of the name likely have the same origin and can be traced back to the same geographical area or family.
Famous people with the name Rohls
- Michael Rohl: German-Canadian television director and producer.
- John Rohl: British professor of modern history at the University of Sussex.
- Richard Rohl: American painter and sculptor from California.
- Adeline Rohl-Kessel: German artist and illustrator specializing in architectural history.
- Brady Rohlfs: American professional ice hockey player currently playing for the New York Rangers in the National Hockey League (NHL).
- Chris Rohl: American television and film actor.
- Michelle Rohl: American author and a former executive with a major internet media company who specialized in social media marketing.
- Camille Rohl: French professional cyclist, currently riding for the UCI Women's team, FDJ Nouvelle-Aquitaine Futuroscope.
- Aole Rohl: German graphic designer and illustrator.
- Frank Rohl: Austrian actor best known for his work in the films The Bridges of Madison County and The Reader.