Surname:Relf

Template:Relf

The Relf Surname is researched by the International Relf Society International Relf Society

The first known attempt to carry out any systematic general research into the Relf surname was made during the 1980s by people like Brian Relf, Eddie Clarke, Steve Chapman and Chris Relf. In 1990 Brian Relf floated the idea of forming a One-Name Society among the many enthusiastic genealogical researchers of the Relf surname. The Relf Society was form later that year and was rename the following year to the “International Relf Society” in recognition of it burgeoning international membership. A Newsletter was started in the winter of 1990 and four issues of the “The Wolf Pack” have been published ever since.

The Society broadened its research to include the more common variants of the Relf surname such as Relfe, Realf, Riulf, and Relph – although surnames such as Ralph and Rolph/Rolf(e) are also monitored by the society.

One of the aims of the International Relf Society is to foster the study of the Relf surname and its variants with the intention of sponsoring the publication of definitive research where appropriate.

Surname Variants

Currently RELFE, REALF, RIULF, RELPH are the main variants accepted of the Relf One-Name Study. RALPH is often a derivative but it and ROLPH/ROLF(E) also have separate derivations and are often confused with RELF variants. All these names are therefore monitored.

Origins of the Relf Surname

The Penguin Dictionary of Surnames simply defines 'Relf' as a Sussex name, but in fact the name is now spread pretty widely. Certainly the first trace of the name so far discovered is of a John Relf listed in the 1197 Subsidy Rolls for Sussex (Lewes Record Office). The next trace is in the 1397 Sussex Subsidy Rolls. Subsequently, the name crops up fairly regularly, and a large number of Relfs still live in Sussex. but the name can also be found in most parts of the world where European influence has achieved significance. There is even rumour of a branch in Africa though thee are no details found yet. There is evidence that it extends to the North American Indians and Relfs have married into Burmese, Sikh and other diverse cultures. The name Relf is indubitably also of Scandinavian origin. It is found in Old Norse as Hrolfe, in Old Swedish and Old Danish as Rolf, and means 'wolf'. It was imported into France during the various Nordic invasions, where it became an hereditary surname encouraged by the legalization of hereditary descent of fiefdoms. In AD 877 it became permissible in law for a son to inherit the fief of his father and with it he usually took also the family surname. In AD 911, Rolf (spelled Relf in some sources) became the first Duke of Normandy and it became a fashionable name. No. doubt a number of Rolfs followed close behind William the Conqueror on the march against England in AD 1066, and later settled in the plundered lands; others would follow later to join their relatives, and for this reason to this day most Relfs and similar names are found in the south east of England.

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