The surname Roelfs is of Dutch origin and is derived from the first name Roelof, which is a variation of the Germanic name Rudolf. The name Rudolf means "famous wolf" in Old German.
The surname Roelfs is most commonly found in the United States, with a high incidence rate of 360. This can be attributed to the large number of Dutch immigrants who settled in the United States in the 19th and early 20th centuries.
Dutch immigrants first began arriving in the United States in the early 17th century, with the establishment of the Dutch colony of New Amsterdam, which later became New York. Many Dutch immigrants settled in New York and the surrounding areas, bringing their surnames with them.
There are several notable individuals with the surname Roelfs in American history. One such individual is John Roelfs, who was a Dutch immigrant and early settler in New Amsterdam. He played a key role in the establishment of the Dutch colony and was a prominent figure in colonial American society.
In the Netherlands, the surname Roelfs has an incidence rate of 167. The name is relatively common in the country, reflecting its Dutch origins.
In Dutch naming customs, surnames are often derived from first names, occupations, or places of origin. The surname Roelfs likely originated as a patronymic surname, meaning it was based on the father's first name (Roelof).
There have been several notable individuals with the surname Roelfs in the Netherlands. One such individual is Maarten Roelfs, a renowned Dutch artist known for his paintings of the Dutch countryside.
In Germany, the surname Roelfs has an incidence rate of 107. While the name is less common in Germany compared to the United States and the Netherlands, it is still present in the country.
German immigrants also played a significant role in the settlement of the United States, particularly in the Midwest. It is possible that some individuals with the surname Roelfs in the United States have German ancestry.
The German influence on the surname Roelfs can be seen in the variation of the name Rudolf, which is of German origin. This highlights the interconnectedness of European cultures and their impact on surnames.
While the surname Roelfs is most concentrated in the United States, the Netherlands, and Germany, it is also present in smaller numbers in Switzerland, Sweden, New Zealand, the United Arab Emirates, Austria, Australia, and Denmark. These countries likely have individuals with Dutch or German ancestry carrying the Roelfs surname.
The presence of the surname Roelfs in countries such as Switzerland, Sweden, and New Zealand can be attributed to historical and cultural connections between these countries and the Netherlands and Germany. Migration patterns over the centuries have played a significant role in the spread of surnames like Roelfs across different regions.
Overall, the surname Roelfs has a rich history and is reflective of the diverse cultural tapestry that makes up Europe and its diaspora across the globe.
Globalization has meant that surnames distribute far beyond their country of origin, so that it can be done to locate African surnames in Europe or Indian surnames in Oceania. Equivalent occurs in the case of Roelfs, which as you are able to corroborate, it can be said that it is a surname that may be found in all of the countries of this globe. Just as you can find nations in which certainly the thickness of individuals using the surname Roelfs is more than in other countries.
The possibility of examining on a globe map about which nations hold a greater number of Roelfs on earth, helps us a lot. By putting ourselves regarding the map, for a tangible country, we are able to understand tangible number of people with all the surname Roelfs, to obtain in this way the precise information of all the Roelfs that you could presently find in that country. All this also assists us to know not only in which the surname Roelfs comes from, but also in what way the folks that are initially an element of the household that bears the surname Roelfs have moved and moved. Just as, you are able to see by which places they've settled and developed, and that's why if Roelfs is our surname, it seems interesting to which other countries associated with world it's possible that certain of our ancestors once relocated to.