Randolph

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A masculine first name of English origin, often given to boys and men in English-speaking countries
2. A traditional male forename of English origin, borne by many notable people over the centuries
3. A boy's or man's first name derived from Old English elements meaning shield and wolf

Etymology: Randolph is a given name built from two Old Norse elements: "rǫnd", meaning "shield", and "úlfr", meaning "wolf". Put together, the name means something like "shield-wolf", a warrior image that suits the Norsemen who settled parts of England and Scotland and brought their naming habits with them. The name passed into English through Old French and Anglo-Norman forms, which shaped its spelling and sound. Over the centuries it spread from a personal name into a surname, and many families who carry it today took it from a bearer whose first name was Randolph rather than from any place or trade.