Rolf is a male

given name A given name (also known as a forename or first name) is the part of a personal name quoted in that identifies a person, potentially with a middle name as well, and differentiates that person from the other members of a group (typically a f ...

and a surname. It originates in the Germanic name ''Hrolf'', itself a contraction of ''Hrodwulf'' ( Rudolf), a conjunction of the stem words ''hrod'' ("renown") + ''wulf'' ("wolf"). The

Old Norse Old Norse, also referred to as Old Nordic or Old Scandinavian, was a stage of development of North Germanic languages, North Germanic dialects before their final divergence into separate Nordic languages. Old Norse was spoken by inhabitants ...

cognate In historical linguistics, cognates or lexical cognates are sets of words that have been inherited in direct descent from an etymological ancestor in a common parent language. Because language change can have radical effects on both the s ...

is ''Hrólfr''. An alternative but less common variation of ''Rolf'' in Norway is ''Rolv''. The oldest evidence of the use of the name Rolf in

Sweden Sweden, formally the Kingdom of Sweden, is a Nordic countries, Nordic country located on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. It borders Norway to the west and north, and Finland to the east. At , Sweden is the largest Nordic count ...

is an inscription from the 11th century on a

runestone A runestone is typically a raised stone with a runic alphabet, runic inscription, but the term can also be applied to inscriptions on boulders and on bedrock. The tradition of erecting runestones as a memorial to dead men began in the 4th centur ...

in Forsheda, Småland. The name also appears twice in the

Orkneyinga saga The ''Orkneyinga saga'' (Old Norse: ; ; also called the ''History of the Earls of Orkney'' and ''Jarls' Saga'') is a narrative of the history of the Orkney and Shetland islands and their relationship with other local polities, particularly No ...

s, where a scion of the jarls of Orkney, Gånge-Rolf, is said to be identical to the Viking

Rollo Rollo (, ''Rolloun''; ; ; – 933), also known with his epithet, Rollo "the Walker", was a Viking who, as Count of Rouen, became the first ruler of Normandy, a region in today's northern France. He was prominent among the Vikings who Siege o ...

who captured

Normandy Normandy (; or ) is a geographical and cultural region in northwestern Europe, roughly coextensive with the historical Duchy of Normandy. Normandy comprises Normandy (administrative region), mainland Normandy (a part of France) and insular N ...

in 911. This Saga of the Norse begins with the abduction of Gói daughter by a certain Hrolf of Berg, (the Mountain). She is the daughter of Thorri, a Jotun of Gandvik, and sister of Gór and Nór. The latter is regarded as a first king and eponymous anchestor of Nórway. After a fierce duell (Holmgang) where none is able to overcome the other, Hrolf and Nór become friends; Góí apparently was abducted willingly and marries Hrolf. Nór marries Hedda, Hrolf's sister. Goi may be identical, or reflect the story of the Jotunn and Åsynja Gefhjón who fools the Swedish King Gylfi of Uppsala, plowing the lands where the great lakes in Sweden are, making the island of Zealand (and some more of the Danish islands, but not Fyn) and establishes the high seat of the Scyldings at Lejre (Hliðarbru) the proposed main artificial island. Hroðulf of the Beowolf epic may be conferred as well as the Saga of Hrolf Kraki. Rolf is a first name or part of a

double name A given name (also known as a forename or first name) is the part of a personal name quoted in that identifies a person, potentially with a middle name as well, and differentiates that person from the other members of a group (typically a ...

or a longer name in Sweden,

Norway Norway, officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic countries, Nordic country located on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. The remote Arctic island of Jan Mayen and the archipelago of Svalbard also form part of the Kingdom of ...

Germany Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It lies between the Baltic Sea and the North Sea to the north and the Alps to the south. Its sixteen States of Germany, constituent states have a total popu ...

Finland Finland, officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country in Northern Europe. It borders Sweden to the northwest, Norway to the north, and Russia to the east, with the Gulf of Bothnia to the west and the Gulf of Finland to the south, ...

and

Denmark Denmark is a Nordic countries, Nordic country in Northern Europe. It is the metropole and most populous constituent of the Kingdom of Denmark,, . also known as the Danish Realm, a constitutionally unitary state that includes the Autonomous a ...

, and to a lesser extent in

Iceland Iceland is a Nordic countries, Nordic island country between the Atlantic Ocean, North Atlantic and Arctic Oceans, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge between North America and Europe. It is culturally and politically linked with Europe and is the regi ...

. In

Europe Europe is a continent located entirely in the Northern Hemisphere and mostly in the Eastern Hemisphere. It is bordered by the Arctic Ocean to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the west, the Mediterranean Sea to the south, and Asia to the east ...

, the name Rolf is most popular in Sweden where, as of 2012, there were 54,737 people with Rolf as their first name or part of a double or a longer name. At the same time there were 511 people in Sweden with Rolf as their last name. As a given name, Rolf reached its peak in popularity in the decade of the 1960s.SCB Namnsök
/ref> The name day for Rolf in both Norway and Sweden is August 27. The Day for Rolf on the Finnish-Swedish calendar is March 6. Notable Rolfs or Hrolfs include:

Given names

* Hrólf Kraki, legendary king of Denmark * Göngu-Hrólfr, Norwegian jarl that ''Orkneyinga Saga'' identifies with

, the Viking conqueror of Normandy * Rolf Beeler, Swiss cheese entrepreneur * Rolf-Göran Bengtsson (born 1962), Swedish equestrian jumper *

Rolf Benirschke Rolf Joachim Benirschke (born February 7, 1955) is an American former professional football player who was a placekicker in the National Football League (NFL). He played for the San Diego Chargers from 1977 until 1986. He is probably most kno ...

(born 1955), American footballer and game show host *

Rolf Bernhard Rolf Bernhard (born 13 December 1949) is a retired long jumper from Switzerland. A three-time Olympian, he won two medals at the European Indoor Championships. Bernhard competed at the 1972 Summer Olympics The 1972 Summer Olympics (), off ...

(born 1949), Swiss long jumper *

Rolf Billberg Rolf Billberg (22 August 1930 – 17 August 1966) was a Swedish alto saxophone player active during the 1950s and 1960s. Biography Rolf Billberg was born in Lund, Sweden on 22 August 1930 and was raised by his mother in Gothenburg. At age 17, B ...

(1930–1966), Swedish musician *

Rolf de Heer Rolf de Heer (born 4 May 1951) is a Dutch Australian film director. De Heer was born in Heemskerk in the Netherlands but migrated to Sydney when he was eight years old.

(born 1951), Dutch-Australian film director *

Rolf Ekéus Carl Rolf Ekéus (born 7 July 1935) is a Swedish diplomat. Ekéus had a long career in diplomacy and international security. He began as a district court clerk before joining the Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs in 1962, with postings in B ...

, (born 1935), Swedish diplomat *

Rolf Ericson Rolf Ericson (August 29, 1922 – June 16, 1997) was a Swedish jazz trumpeter. He also played the flugelhorn. Yanow, Scott. Biography ''AllMusic'' Early career Ericson was born in Stockholm, Sweden. He moved to New York City in 1947 and, in 19 ...

(1922–1997), Swedish musician *

Rolf Falk-Larssen Rolf Falk-Larssen (born 21 February 1960) is a former speed skater. __NOTOC__ Representing Trondhjems Skøiteklub, Rolf Falk-Larssen made his international debut at the European Allround Championships of 1982 and he was in the lead after three ...

(born 1960), Norwegian speed skater * Rolf G. Fjelde (1926–2002), American playwright, educator and poet *

Rolf Forsberg Rolf Forsberg (July 12, 1925 – February 16, 2017) was an American playwright, film and theater director. Biography Forsberg is known for directing films such as '' The Late Great Planet Earth'' and '' Parable'', a film produced for the '' 1 ...

(1925–2017), Swedish-American playwright, film and theater director *

Rolf Gindorf Rolf Gindorf (14 May 1939 – 26 March 2016) was a German sexologist. He was a member of Mensa. In 1971 he founded the German Society for Social-Scientific Sexuality Research. He received the 2004 Magnus Hirschfeld Medal. Publications G ...

(1939–2016), German sexologist * Rolf Gölz (born 1962), German road and track cyclist * Rolf Groven (born 1943), Norwegian painter *

Rolf Harris Rolf Harris (30 March 1930 – 10 May 2023) was an Australian musician, television personality, painter, and actor. He used a variety of instruments in his performances, notably the didgeridoo and the Stylophone, and is credited with the inventi ...

(1930–2023), former Australian entertainer and convicted sex offender * Rolf Hauge (officer) (1915–1989), Norwegian army officer *

Rolf Hochhuth Rolf Hochhuth (; 1 April 1931 – 13 May 2020) was a German author and playwright, best known for his 1963 drama ''The Deputy'', which insinuates Pope Pius XII's indifference to Hitler's extermination of the Jews, and he remained a controversial ...

(1931–2020), German author and playwright *

Rolf Jacobsen (poet) Rolf Jacobsen (8 March 1907 – 20 February 1994) was a Norwegian writer. Jacobsen could be said to be the first modernism, modernist writer in Norway. Jacobsen's career as a writer spanned more than fifty years. He is one of Scandinavia’ ...

(1907–1994), Norwegian author *

Rolf Kanies Rolf Kanies (born 21 December 1957) is a German actor who played many high-profile roles on the stage before switching to a career in film and television in 1997. Since then Kanies has specialized in German and international film and television. ...

(born 1957), German actor *

Rolf Knie Rolf Knie (born 16 August 1949 in Bern) is a Swiss painter Painting is a Visual arts, visual art, which is characterized by the practice of applying paint, pigment, color or other medium to a solid surface (called "matrix" or "Support (ar ...

(born 1949), Swiss painter and actor *

Rolf Løvland Rolf Undsæt Løvland (born 19 April 1955) is a Norwegian composer, lyricist, arranger, and pianist. Together with Fionnuala Sherry, he formed the Celtic-Nordic group Secret Garden, in which he was the composer, producer, and keyboardist. He be ...

(born 1955), Norwegian composer * Rolf Mützelburg (1913–1942), German U-Boat commander during World War II * Rolf Mützenich (born 1959), German politician *

Rolf Nevanlinna Rolf Herman Nevanlinna (né Neovius; 22 October 1895 – 28 May 1980) was a Finnish mathematician who made significant contributions to complex analysis. Background Nevanlinna was born Rolf Herman Neovius, becoming Nevanlinna in 1906 when his fa ...

(1895–1980), Finnish mathematician * Rolf Rheborg (1922–1983), Swedish Navy rear admiral *

Rolf Roosalu Rolf Roosalu, also known as Rolf Junior (born 18 January 1982 in Tartu), is an Estonian singer who has participated in a number of musicals. He has also, yet unsuccessfully, competed to represent Estonia at the Eurovision Song Contest six times ( ...

(''Rolf Junior''), Estonian singer *

Rolf Rämgård Rolf Rämgård (born 30 March 1934) is a former Swedish cross-country skier. He competed in the 15, 30 and 50 km events at the 1960 Winter Olympics and won a silver medal over 30 km and a bronze over 50 km. In the 1970's, Rämg� ...

(born 1934), Swedish politician and Olympic medalist in cross country skiing * Rolf

Jacob Sartorius Rolf Jacob Sartorius (born October 2, 2002) is an American social media personality and singer. He rose to fame via social media after posting lip-syncing videos on short-form video application Musical.ly. In 2016, he began releasing music with ...

(born 2002), American singer and internet meme *

Rolf Steiner Rolf Steiner (born 3 January 1933) is a German retired mercenary. He began his military career as a French Foreign Legion paratrooper and saw combat in Vietnam, Egypt, and Algeria. Steiner rose to the rank of lieutenant colonel commanding the 4t ...

(born 1933), Retired German mercenary * Rolf Schimpf (1924–2025), German actor *

Rolf Schläfli Rolf Schläfli (born March 15, 1971) is a retired male decathlon, decathlete from Switzerland. He set his personal best score (8019 points) at the 2003 Hypo-Meeting in Götzis, Austria. Schläfli is a two-time National champions Decathlon (men), na ...

(born 1971), Swiss decathlete *

Rolf Singer Rolf Singer (June 23, 1906 – January 18, 1994) was a German mycologist and Taxonomy (biology), taxonomist of gilled mushrooms (agarics). He wrote the book "The Agaricales in Modern Taxonomy (biology), Taxonomy". He fled to various countries d ...

(1906–1994), German mycologist * Rolf Skoglund (1940–2022), Swedish actor *

Rolf Sørensen Rolf Sørensen (born 20 April 1965) is a former Danish professional road bicycle racer. He is currently working as a cycling commentator and agent. Born in Helsinge in Denmark, Sørensen moved to Italy at the age of 17, where he has lived sin ...

(born 1965), Danish professional road bicycle racer *

Rolf Stommelen Rolf Johann Stommelen (; 11 July 1943 – 24 April 1983) was a German racing driver, who competed in Formula One from to . In endurance racing, Stommelen was a four-time winner of the 24 Hours of Daytona with Porsche. Stommelen participated in ...

(1943–1983), German racing driver * Rolf Daniel Vikstøl (born 1989), Norwegian footballer * Rolf Wenkhaus (1917–1942), German actor *

Rolf Widerøe Rolf Widerøe (11 July 1902 – 11 October 1996) was a Norwegian accelerator physicist who was the originator of many particle acceleration concepts, including the ''resonance accelerator'' and the betatron accelerator. Early life Widerøe w ...

(1902–1996), Norwegian particle physicist *

Rolf Wirtén Rolf Gustav Stefan Wirtén (4 May 1931 – 19 February 2023) was a Swedish politician who held various ministerial posts, including the Minister of Economics (Sweden), minister of economics and Minister for the Budget, minister for the budget in ...

(1931–2023), Swedish politician *

Rolv Wesenlund Rolv Helge Wesenlund (17 September 1936 – 18 August 2013) was a Norway, Norwegian comedian, singer, clarinetist, writer and actor. Biography Wesenlund was most known for having portrayed the title character in the musical Bør Børson Jr. (m ...

(1936–2013), Norwegian actor *

Rolf M. Zinkernagel Rolf Martin Zinkernagel AC (born 6 January 1944) is a professor of experimental immunology at the University of Zurich. Along with Peter C. Doherty, he shared the 1996 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for the discovery of how t ...

(born 1944), Swiss Professor of Experimental Immunology, 1996 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine *

Rolf Zuckowski Rolf Zuckowski (born 12 May 1947) is a German singer-songwriter. He has written and composed music especially for children, but his songs are very popular among adults, too. His compositions involve children in music throughout their childhood an ...

(born 1947), German singer-songwriter

Surname

* Ernst Rolf (1891–1932), Swedish actor and singer. *

Tom Rolf Ernst Ragnar Rolf (December 31, 1931 – July 14, 2014), better known as Tom Rolf, was a Swedish film editor who worked on at least 48 feature films in a career spanning over fifty years. Most notable among these films are Martin Scorsese's ...

(1931–2014), Swedish-born American film editor, son of Ernst Rolf. * Ida P. Rolf (1896–1979), American biochemist and founder of Rolfing, a holistic health discipline

Fictional characters

* Rolf, a cranky cartoon tiger in the ''

Animal Crossing is a social simulation video game series developed and published by Nintendo. It was created by Katsuya Eguchi and Hisashi Nogami. The player character is a human who lives in a village inhabited by various anthropomorphic animals and can ...

'' game series * Rolf, a Peach Creek Cul-de-Sac kid from the Cartoon Network animated series ''

Ed, Edd n Eddy '' Ed, Edd n Eddy'' is an animated television series created by Danny Antonucci for Cartoon Network. The series revolves around three friends named Ed, Edd (nicknamed "Double D" to avoid confusion with Ed), and Eddy—collectively known as "th ...

'' * Rolf, tragic hero of ''

Phantasy Star II is a science fantasy role-playing video game developed and published by Sega for the Sega Genesis. It was released in Japan in 1989 and North America and Europe in 1990. It was later ported to a variety of different platforms. An updated remake ...

'' * Rolf, a character in the ''

Fire Emblem is a Video games in Japan, Japanese fantasy tactical role-playing game franchise developed by Intelligent Systems and published by Nintendo. First produced and published for the Nintendo Entertainment System in 1990, the series currently con ...

'' series * Rolf Gruber, the delivery boy (and Nazi volunteer) in the play ''

The Sound of Music ''The Sound of Music'' is a musical with music by Richard Rodgers, lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II, and a book by Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse. It is based on the 1949 memoir of Maria von Trapp, '' The Story of the Trapp Family Singers''. ...

'' *

Rowlf Rowlf the Dog is a Muppet character created and originally performed by Jim Henson. Known most notably as the resident pianist on the sketch comedy television series ''The Muppet Show'', Rowlf is an anthropomorphic scruffy brown dog of indeterm ...

, an easy-going Muppet dog who plays the piano * Rolf, a German Shepherd dog from Polish film ''

Border Street ''Border Street'' () is a 1948 Polish drama film directed by Aleksander Ford and starring Mieczysława Ćwiklińska, Jerzy Leszczyński (actor), Jerzy Leszczyński, Jerzy Złotnicki and Władysław Godik. The film depicts the Nazis' purge of Warsa ...

'' * Rolf, a character and protagonist in Isabel Allende's third novel '' Eva Luna'' * Rolf, a fighter in the video game ''Galaxy Fight: Universal Warriors'' * Rolf, son of Rolf, a self-proclaimed nobleman from the video game '' Mount & Blade''

References

External links

ROLF
a list of acronyms {{given name Danish masculine given names German masculine given names Masculine given names Swedish masculine given names Norwegian masculine given names Scandinavian masculine given names Surnames from given names Given names derived from animals

Given names

Surname

Fictional characters

See also

References

External links