Ulrich (), is a German given name, derived from Old High German ''Uodalrich'', ''Odalric''. It is composed of the elements '' uodal-'' meaning "(noble) heritage" and ''-rich'' meaning "rich, powerful". Attested from the 8th century as the name of

Alamanni The Alemanni or Alamanni, were a confederation of Germanic tribes * * * on the Upper Rhine River. First mentioned by Cassius Dio in the context of the campaign of Caracalla of 213, the Alemanni captured the in 260, and later expanded into pres ...

c nobility, the name is popularly given from the high medieval period in reference to Saint Ulrich of Augsburg (canonized 993). There is also a surname Ulrich. It is most prevalent in Germany and has the highest density in Switzerland

This last name was found in the United States around the year 1840

Most Americans with the last name were concentrated in Pennsylvania, which was home to many Pennsylvania Dutch, German immigrant communities. Nowadays in the United States, the name is distributed largely in the Pennsylvania-Ohio regio

History

Documents record the Old High German name ''Oadalrich'' or ''Uodalrich'' from the later 8th century in

Alamannia Alamannia, or Alemannia, was the kingdom established and inhabited by the Alemanni, a Germanic peoples, Germanic tribal confederation that had broken through the Roman ''Upper Germanic Limes, limes'' in 213. The Alemanni expanded from the Main ...

. The related name '' Adalric'' (

Anglo-Saxon The Anglo-Saxons were a Cultural identity, cultural group who inhabited England in the Early Middle Ages. They traced their origins to settlers who came to Britain from mainland Europe in the 5th century. However, the ethnogenesis of the Anglo- ...

cognate '' Æthelric'') is attested from the 6th century (

Athalaric Athalaric (; 5162 October 534) was the king of the Ostrogoths in Italy between 526 and 534. He was a son of Eutharic and Amalasuntha, the youngest daughter of Theoderic the Great, whom Athalaric succeeded as king in 526. As Athalaric was only ...

King of the Ostrogoths; Æthelric of Bernicia). The name of Agilolfing duke Odilo (fl. 709–748) may represent a short form of the name. Count Udalrich I (fl. 778–814), a son of Gerold of Vinzgau, founded the Alamannic Udalriching dynasty, ancestral to the counts of Bregenz. The given name occurred frequently in the Alamannic Hunfriding dynasty in the 9th to 10th centuries; examples include Odalric, Count of Barcelona (fl. 850s) and Odalric, Count of Thurgau (fl. 920s). The name is recorded in an Icelandic form as ''Óðalríkr'' only in the later medieval period. In the Middle High German period the name generally commemorated Saint Ulrich,

Bishop of Augsburg Diocese of Augsburg is a diocese of the Catholic Church in Germany. The diocese is a suffragan of the Archdiocese of Munich.attacks by Magyars. The Swiss Reformer Ulrich Zwingli etymologized his given name as ''Huldrych'' (''Huldricus, Huldaricus''), i.e. "rich in grace". In the wake of Zwingli, during the 16th century and well into the 18th century, it became a fashion - especially for Protestant writers - to Latinise the given name ''Ulrich'' as '' Huldricus''. The name was popularly given in 20th-century

Switzerland ). Swiss law does not designate a ''capital'' as such, but the federal parliament and government are installed in Bern, while other federal institutions, such as the federal courts, are in other cities (Bellinzona, Lausanne, Luzern, Neuchâtel ...

, especially from the 1940s to the 1960s, peaking at rank 16 in 1947, but dropping below rank 100 in 1972. In Czechoslovakia, ''Oldřich '' was popularly given in the 1940s to 1950s, peaking at rank 18 during 1946–1951.behindthename.com (Oldrich)

Variants

The German given name was adopted in Czech and Slovak as ''Oldřich'', ''Oldrich'' and in Scandinavian as ''Ulrik'', in Slovenian as '' Urh'', in Latvia as Uldis. Common German hypocoristics are ''Uli'' or ''Ulli'' (Swiss ''

Ueli Ueli () is the Swiss hypocoristic form of the masculine given name Ulrich. People with the given name Ueli include: *Ueli Bodenmann (born 1965), Swiss rower *Ueli Gegenschatz (1971–2009), Swiss skydiver *Ueli Kestenholz (born 1975), Swiss snowboa ...

'') and historically '' Utz''. A Czech/Slovak hypocoristic is ''

Volek Volek (Czech feminine: Volková) is a surname. Notable people with the surname include: * Billy Volek (born 1976), American football player * David Volek (born 1966), Czech ice hockey player * Jaroslav Volek (1923–1989), Czech musicologist * ...

'' and a Polish one ''Ryczek''. Feminine forms '' Ulrikke'' and ''

Ulrika Ulrica, also spelled Ulrika, is a female given name of Germanic origins. Its male equivalent is Ulric, Ulrich or Ulrik. Ulrike and Ulrikke are alternative names derived from Ulrica. Ulrica may refer to: People * Ulrika Eleonora, Queen of Sw ...

'' have been recorded from the early modern period.

People with the given name

Medieval to early modern

* Udalrich I, count in Alamannia (fl. 778–814), son of Gerold of Vinzgau * Udalrich II, son of Udalrich I, count in Alamannia (fl. 800/803) * Odalric, Count of Barcelona (fl. 850s) * Ulrich of Augsburg (ca. 890 – 973), bishop and saint * Oldřich, Duke of Bohemia (c. 975 – 1034) *

Ulric Manfred II of Turin Ulric Manfred II ( it, Olderico Manfredi II; 975 992 – 29 October 1033 or 1034) or Manfred Ulric (') was the count of Turin and marquis of Susa in the early 11th century. He was the last male margrave from the Arduinid dynasty. Ulri ...

(b. 1034), Count of Turin and Margrave of Susa *

Ulric I of Carniola Ulric I (german: Ulrich I.), also ''Odalric'' or ''Udalrich'' (died 6 March 1070), Count of Weimar-Orlamünde, was margrave of Carniola from 1045 and of Istria from 1060 to his death. Life Ulric was the son of Margrave Poppo I of Carniola, whom he ...

(d. 1070), the Margrave of Carniola and Carinthia *

Ulric II of Carniola Ulric II (also ''Ulrich'', ''Odalric'', ''Oudalricus'', ''Udalrich'') (died 13 May 1112) was the Margrave of Istria from 1098 until circa 1107 and Carniola from 1098 until his death. He was the second son of Ulric I and Sophia, a daughter of Bel ...

(d. 1112), the Margrave of Istria *

Ulrich I, Bishop of Passau Portrait from Herzogenburg MonasteryUlrich I of Passau, also called Udalrich ( - 7 August 1121, Passau), was a monastery founder and bishop of the diocese of Passau.Herbert Wilhelm Wurster: Das Bistum Passau und seine Geschichte. 4 Bände, Straßbu ...

(c. 1027 – 1121) *

Ulrich of Zell Ulrich of Zell, also known as Wulderic, sometimes of Cluny or of Regensburg (c. 1029 – 1093), was a Cluniac The Cluniac Reforms (also called the Benedictine Reform) were a series of changes within medieval monasticism of the Western Chur ...

(1029–93), abbot and saint * Ulrich I Bishop of Eichstätt (r. 1075–1099) *

Ulrich of Bamberg Ulrich of Bamberg was a priest and chronicler who lived in Bamberg, Germany around 1100. Biography Born Udalricus Babenbergensis, he was a cleric of the cathedral church of Bamberg, of whom nothing more is known than that he lived about 1100 at ...

(fl. 1100), priest and chronicler * Ulrich II von Bogen, Bishop of Eichstätt (r. 1112–1125) *

Oldřich of Olomouc Udalrich of Olomouc (also known as ''Ulrich'', cz, Oldřich; la, Oldericus; 1134 – 18 October 1177) was Duke in Hradec Králové (eastern Bohemia) from 1152 till 1153 and between 1173–1177 ruled the appanage of Olomouc (as Duke of Olomo ...

(d. 1177), duke in Bohemia *

Ulrich von Zatzikhoven Ulrich von Zatzikhoven was the author of the Middle High German Arthurian romance ''Lanzelet''. Ulrich's name and his place of origin (''Zezikon'' in Switzerland) are only known definitively from the work itself. However, it is generally accepted ...

, late 12th century author of the Arthurian romance ''Lanzelet'' * Ulrich II (bishop of Passau) (d. 1221) * Ulrich von Liechtenstein (1200–1275), medieval writer, poet and knight * Ulrich III, Duke of Carinthia (ca. 1220 – 1269) *

Ulrich II, Count of Württemberg Ulrich II (c. 1254 – 18 September 1279) was Count of Württemberg from 1265 until 1279. Ulrich was the son of Ulrich I and Mechthild of Baden. He acceded power in 1265, at the age of 11 and, thus, was most likely under the tutelage of Count Hart ...

(ca. 1254 – 1279) *

Ulrich III, Count of Württemberg Ulrich III (after 1286 – 11 July 1344) Count of Württemberg from 1325 until 1344. Career Ulrich was already strongly involved in politics during the reign of his father Eberhard I. In 1319 he handled a treaty with King Frederick I, the ...

(after 1286 – 1392) *

Ulrich II von Graben Ulrich II von Graben (before 1300 – ) was a Styrian noble, a member of the ''edelfrei'' Von Graben family. He held the titles as Lord of Kornberg and Graben Castle (near Novo Mesto in Lower Carniola), as well as burgrave of Gleichenberg, Rot ...

(before 1300 – ca. 1361), Austrian nobleman * Ulrich III, Lord of Hanau (c. 1310 – 1369 or 1370) *

Ulrich IV, Count of Württemberg Ulrich IV of Württemberg (born after 1315–1366, at Castle Hohenneuffen), Count of Württemberg. He reigned, together with his brother Eberhard II from 1344 until 1362. During his reign he stood in the shadow of his brother Eberhard II. Becau ...

(after 1315 – 1366) * Ulrich von Jungingen (1360–1410), 26th Grand Master of the Teutonic Knights * Ulrich II, Count of Celje (1406–1456) * Ulrich I, Count of East Frisia (1408–1466) * Ulrich III von Nussdorf, Bishop of Passau (r. 1451–1479) * Ulrich V, Count of Württemberg (1413–1480) * Ulrich II, Duke of Mecklenburg-Stargard (probably before 1428 – 1471) *

Ulrich Fugger the Elder Ulrich Fugger ''von der Lilie'' (1441–1510) was a German businessman of the Fugger family. He formally headed the family firm from his father's death in 1469 until his own death in 1510 after an operation to remove a bladder stone, though h ...

(1441–1510), German businessman and member of the Fugger family *

Ulrich Rülein von Calw Ulrich Rülein von Calw (1465–1523) was a physician, doctor, mathematician and well-known mining engineer. He was also active as a surveying, surveyor, Urban planner, town planner and astrologer and was the mayor () of the mining town of Freiberg ...

(1465–1523), mayor of Freiberg, Saxony * Ulrich of Hardegg (after 1483–1535), Count of Hardegg * Ulrich Zwingli (1484–1535), leader of the Reformation in Switzerland *

Ulrich, Duke of Württemberg Duke Ulrich of Württemberg (8 February 14876 November 1550) succeeded his kinsman Eberhard II as Duke of Württemberg in 1498. He was declared of age in 1503. His volatile personality made him infamous, being called the "Swabian Henry VIII" by ...

(1487–1550) *

Ulrich von Hutten Ulrich von Hutten (21 April 1488 – 29 August 1523) was a German knight, scholar, poet and satirist, who later became a follower of Martin Luther and a Protestant reformer. By 1519, he was an outspoken critic of the Roman Catholic Church. Hutte ...

(1488–1523), German knight, scholar, poet and reformer during Knights' Revolt * Ulrich Hugwald (1496–1571), Swiss reformer *

Ulrich, Duke of Mecklenburg Ulrich III, Duke of Mecklenburg or Ulrich III of Mecklenburg-Güstrow (5 March 1527 – 14 March 1603) was Duke of Mecklenburg ( -Güstrow) from 1555-56 to 1603. Early life Ulrich was the third son of Duke Albrecht VII and Anna of Brandenburg. U ...

(1527–1603) * Ulrik of Denmark (1578–1624), administrator of the Prince-Bishopric of Schwerin * Ulrich, Duke of Pomerania (1589–1622) * Ulrik of Denmark (1611–1633), administrator of the Prince-Bishopric of Schwerin * Ulrich Grappler von Trappenburg, Bishop of Passau (r. 1646–1658)

Modern era

* Ulrich, 10th Prince Kinsky of Wchinitz and Tettau (1893–1938), titular pretender *

Ulrich Daldrup Ulrich Daldrup (born 27 September 1947) is a former political leader and mayor of the German city of Aachen. He is an expert in International Cooperation and in Humanitarian Aid, and worked and lived many years in Africa and Asia. Youth Daldru ...

(born 1947), German scientist and mayor of Aachen *

Ulrich Eberl Ulrich Eberl (born 1962 in Regensburg, Germany) is a science and technology journalist. After four years as a journalist, he took a position with Diemler from 1992 to 1995 working on their technology publications. In 1995, he took a position as D ...

(born 1962), German science and technology journalist *

Ulrich Ellis Ulrich Ruegg Ellis (23 July 1904 – 4 December 1981) was an Australian journalist, political activist, and historian. He was known for his work in developing Canberra, his involvement with the New State Movement, and his behind-the-scenes work ...

(1904–1981), Australian writer *

Ulrich Graf Ulrich Graf (6 July 1878 – 3 March 1950) was an early member of the Nazi Party and one of Adolf Hitler's inner circle. In 1923, he served in a bodyguard unit for Hitler and was wounded in the Beer Hall Putsch. He was a long serving member of ...

(1878–1950), member of Hitler's inner circle * Ulric Guttinguer (1785–1866), French novelist * Ulrich Herbert (born 1951), German historian *

Hans-Ulrich Indermaur Hans-Ulrich Indermaur (born 29 November 1939) is a Swiss magazine editor, television reporter, and author. As a reporter and moderator for the television program ''Telearena'', he moderated a heated debate about homosexuality in Switzerland in 1978 ...

(born 1939), Swiss journalist and writer * Ulrich Leyendecker (born 1946), German composer of contemporary classical music *

Ulrich Marida The Central African Republic national basketball team is administered by the Fédération Centrafricaine de Basketball. The team won the African Basketball Championship twice. It became the first Sub-Saharan African team to qualify for the Ba ...

, Central African Republic basketball coach * Ulrich Matthes (born 1959), German actor * Ueli Maurer (b. 1950), Swiss politician *

Ulrich Mühe Friedrich Hans Ulrich Mühe (; 20 June 1953 – 22 July 2007) was a German film, television and theatre actor. He played the role of Hauptmann (Captain) Gerd Wiesler in the Oscar-winning film ''Das Leben der Anderen'' (''The Lives of Others'', 200 ...

(1953–2007), German actor and director * Ulrich Noethen (born 1959), German actor * Ulrich Salchow (1877–1949), German figure skater and inventor of the salchow jump *

Ulrich Schmid-Maybach Ulrich Schmid-Maybach is a philanthropist, real estate developer, and entrepreneur.Ryono, Debra. The Maybach Hybrid. worth.com. 2009-01-04. URL:http://www.worth.com/Editorial/Thought-Leaders/Profiles/Profile-Maybach-April-May08.asp. Accessed: 2009-0 ...

, philanthropist, real estate developer and entrepreneur * Ulrich Schnauss (born 1977), German musician *

Ulrich Wilhelm Graf Schwerin von Schwanenfeld Ulrich-Wilhelm Graf von Schwerin von Schwanenfeld (21 December 1902 – 8 September 1944) was a German landowner, officer, and resistance fighter against the Nazi régime. His name is commonly shortened to Schwerin. Biography Count Schwerin ...

(1902–1944), a key conspirator in the failed

20 July plot On 20 July 1944, Claus von Stauffenberg and other conspirators attempted to assassinate Adolf Hitler, Führer of Nazi Germany, inside his Wolf's Lair field headquarters near Rastenburg, East Prussia, now Kętrzyn, in present-day Poland. The ...

to assassinate Hitler in 1944 *

Ulrich Steinhilper Ulrich Steinhilper (14 September 1918 – 20 October 2009) was a World War II Luftwaffe fighter ace who made numerous attempts to escape after he was shot down and captured. As a post-war IBM typewriter salesman, he was an early proponent of word ...

(1918–2009), World War II Luftwaffe ace credited by some with the concept of word processing * Ulrich von Wilamowitz-Moellendorff (1848–1931), German classical philologist *

Ulrich Wild Ulrich Wild is an American record producer, engineer and mixer specializing in the rock and metal genres. Born and raised in Switzerland, Ulrich is now a naturalized citizen in the United States, living in Los Angeles, California. In a career tha ...

(born 1969), American record producer *

Ulrich Friedrich Wilhelm Joachim von Ribbentrop Ulrich Friedrich Wilhelm Joachim von Ribbentrop (; 30 April 1893 – 16 October 1946) was a German politician and diplomat who served as Minister of Foreign Affairs of Nazi Germany from 1938 to 1945. Ribbentrop first came to Adolf Hitler's not ...

(1893-1946), more commonly known as Joachim von Ribbentrop, Foreign Minister of Nazi Germany from 1938 until 1945 * Ulrich Frédéric Woldemar, Comte de Lowendal (1700–1755), German-born French soldier and statesmen

People with the surname

Benjamin Ulrich Benjamin Ulrich (born 20 January 1988)
accessed: 22 March 2010 is a German

(born 1988), German rugby union international *

Bror Ludvig Ulrich Ludvig Ulrich (6 March 1818 – 11 September 1887) was a Swedish military and governor. Between 1868 and 1878 Ulrich was the governor of the Swedish colony of Saint Barthélemy The Swedish colony of Saint Barthélemy existed for nearly a century ...

(1818–1887), Swedish military and colonial governor * Christian Ulrich (1836–1909), Austrian architect *

D. K. Ulrich Donald Keith (D. K.) Ulrich (born April 10, 1944) is a former driver/owner in the NASCAR Winston Cup Series. As a driver, he had sixteen top ten finishes in 273 starts. His last race came in 1992. As car owner, he fielded cars for many years for ...

(born 1944), American race car driver/owner * Donald Ulrich aka Don Rich (1941–1974) American country music musician * Dutch Ulrich (1899–1929), American baseball player * Edward Oscar Ulrich (1857–1944), American invertebrate paleontologist * Einer Ulrich (1896-1969), Danish tennis player *

Eric Ulrich Eric Ulrich (born February 13, 1985) is a former member of the New York City Council representing the 32nd district. His constituency includes the neighborhoods of Belle Harbor, Breezy Point, Broad Channel, Hamilton Beach, Howard Beach, L ...

(born 1985), American politician from New York City *

Fernando Ulrich Fernando Maria Costa Duarte Ulrich (born 26 April 1952 in Lisbon) is a Portuguese economist and banking administrator. He has been the chief executive officer of Banco Português de Investimento (BPI) since 2004. Early life and background The Ulri ...

(born 1952), Portuguese economist and banking administrator *

Henry G. Ulrich III Henry George "Harry" Ulrich III (born 1950) was a four-star admiral in the United States Navy who served as the Commander, United States Naval Forces Europe and Commander, Allied Joint Force Command Naples from May 23, 2005 to November 30, 2007. He ...

, United States Navy admiral who retired in 2007 * Jan Ullrich (born 1973), German race cyclist *

Jennifer Ulrich Jennifer Ulrich (born 18 October 1984) is a German actress who has starred in such films as '' The Wave'' and '' We Are The Night''. She was born in Lichtenberg, Berlin. Career Jennifer Ulrich started her actress career with ''Big Girls Don't ...

(born 1984), German actress *

Joe Ulrich Joe Ulrich is a retired U.S. soccer defender (football), defender. He won the 1982 Hermann Trophy as that year's top collegiate soccer player. He also played three seasons in the Major Soccer League, Major Indoor Soccer League. Youth and colleg ...

(born 1961), American former soccer player *

Lars Ulrich Lars Ulrich (; ; born 26 December 1963) is a Danish musician best known as the drummer and co-founder of American heavy metal band Metallica. The son and grandson respectively of tennis players Torben and Einer Ulrich, he played tennis in his ...

(born 1963), Danish drummer for heavy metal band Metallica *

Laurent Ulrich Laurent Bernard Marie Ulrich (born 7 September 1951) is a French prelate of the Catholic Church who became Archbishop of Paris in May 2022. Ulrich has been a bishop since 2000 and was Archbishop of Lille from 2008 to 2022. He was vice president ...

(born 1951), French archbishop of the Catholic Church *

Laurel Thatcher Ulrich Laurel Thatcher Ulrich (born July 11, 1938) is a Pulitzer Prize-winning American historian specializing in early America and the history of women, and a professor at Harvard University. Her approach to history has been described as a tribute to ...

(born 1938), American historian and writer *

Lester J. Ulrich Lester Julius Ulrich (November 15, 1908 – November 25, 1991) was an American lawyer and politician. Ulrich was born in Willow Creek, Blue Earth County, Minnesota. He graduated from Amboy High School in Amboy, Minnesota in 1926. Ulrich went t ...

(1908-1991), American lawyer and politician *

Richard Ulrich Richard Ulrich (born 1942 in Stuttgart) is a German board game designer. Many of his games have been nominated for or have won the Spiel des Jahres, a German games award. He is best known for co-authoring the board game ''El Grande'' with Wolfg ...

(born 1942), German board game designer * Skeet Ulrich (born 1970), American actor *

Torben Ulrich Torben Ulrich (born 4 October 1928) is a Danish writer, musician, filmmaker and former professional tennis player. He is the father of Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich. Biography Ulrich was born on 4 October 1928 in Copenhagen, the son of Ulla ...

(born 1928), Danish writer and tennis pro *

Tracy Ulrich Tracy Richard Irving Ulrich (born January 20, 1966), known professionally as Tracii Guns, is an American guitarist best known as the co-founder of glam metal group L.A. Guns, as well as the supergroups named Brides of Destruction and Contraban ...

(born 1966), aka Tracii Guns, guitarist and musician *

Werner Ulrich Werner Ulrich (born 1948, Berne, Switzerland) is a Swiss social scientist and practical philosopher, and a former professor of the theory and practice of social planning at the University of Fribourg. He is known as one of the originators of cr ...

(born 1948), Swiss social scientist and practical philosopher *

William M. Ulrich William M. Ulrich (born c. 1956) is an American business architecture consultant, consultant at Cutter Consortium, director and lecturer, known for development of 'The Systems Redevelopment Methodology' (TSRM) in the 1990s, on legacy systems in th ...

(born ca. 1956), American management consultant

Fictional characters

* Ulrich, the old sorcerer in the film ''

Dragonslayer A dragonslayer is a person or being that slays dragons. Dragonslayers and the creatures they hunt have been popular in traditional stories from around the world: they are a type of story classified as type 300 in the Aarne–Thompson classifica ...

'' (1981) * Ulrich, the protagonist of Robert Musil's 20th century novel ''

The Man Without Qualities ''The Man Without Qualities'' (german: Der Mann ohne Eigenschaften; 1930–1943) is an unfinished modernist novel in three volumes and various drafts, by the Austrian writer Robert Musil. The novel is a "story of ideas", which takes place in th ...

'' * Ulrich Stern, a character on the French animated TV series '' Code Lyoko'' * Ulrich von Bek, the hero of '' The War Hound and the World's Pain'' and other novels by Michael Moorcock * Ulrich von Gradwitz, a character in Saki's short story "The Interlopers" * Ulrich von Liechtenstein, an alias of Heath Ledger's character in the film '' A Knight's Tale'' * Walter von Ulrich, one of the main characters in the novels '' Fall of Giants'' and ''

Winter of the World ''Winter of the World'' is a historical novel written by the Welsh-born author Ken Follett, published in 2012. It is the second book in the ''Century Trilogy''. Revolving about a family saga that covers the interrelated experiences of American, ...

'' by Welsh author Ken Follett * Ulrich Wolfshead, warlord of the Nadir in David Gemmells Drenai tales. * Maj. Ulrich Herzoff, alias used by Rex Harrison's character in Carol Reed's film '' Night Train to Munich'' * Ullrich, an enemy appearing in

Nintendo is a Japanese Multinational corporation, multinational video game company headquartered in Kyoto, Japan. It develops video games and video game consoles. Nintendo was founded in 1889 as by craftsman Fusajiro Yamauchi and originally produce ...

's '' EarthBound Beginnings''. * Ulrich Nielsen, a character in the German Netflix original series '' Dark''.

References

External links

* Profile of surname; note: contains errors.
Uodalrich (nordicnames.de)
{{given name, type=both German masculine given names Germanic given names Surnames from given names