Randolph History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The saga of the Randolph family name begins among the people of an ancient Scottish tribe called the Picts. The Randolph name is derived from the personal name, Randolph which contained elements that translated to shield and wolf. Randolph is a patronymic surname, which belongs to the category of hereditary surnames. Many patronymic surnames were formed by adopting the given name of an ancestor of the bearer, while others came from popular religious names, and from the names of secular heroes. 

Early Origins of the Randolph family

The surname Randolph was first found in Moray, where they held a family seat from early times and their first records appeared on the early census rolls taken by the early Kings of Britain to determine the rate of taxation of their subjects.

Early History of the Randolph family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Randolph research. Another 118 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1296, 1332, 1266, 1266, 1278, 1346, 1332, 1334, 1605 and 1635 are included under the topic Early Randolph History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Randolph Spelling Variations

Repeated and inaccurate translation of Scottish names from Gaelic to English and back resulted in a wide variety of spelling variations with single names. Randolph has appeared Randolph, Randolf and others.

Early Notables of the Randolph family (pre 1700)

Notable amongst the Clan at this time was Thomas Randolph Moray (d. 1332), the 1st Earl of Moray, companion of Robert Bruce and Regent of Scotland, the only son of Thomas Randolph, lord of Stratnith. His father was Sheriff of Roxburgh in 1266 and from 1266 to 1278 Great Chamberlain of Scotland. His son, John Randolph (died 1346) the third Earl of Moray was the second son of Thomas Randolph, first Earl of Moray. He succeeded to the earldom on the… 
Another 80 words (6 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Randolph Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Randolph Ranking

In the United States, the name Randolph is the 669^th most popular surname with an estimated 44,766 people with that name. [1]

 Randolph migration to the United States +

Many Scottish families suffered enormous hardships and were compelled to leave their country of birth. They traveled to Ireland and Australia, but mostly to the colonies of North America, where many found the freedom and opportunity they sought. It was not without a fight, though, as many were forced to stand up and defend their freedom in the American War of Independence. The ancestors of these Scots abroad have rediscovered their heritage in the last century through the Clan societies and other organizations that have sprung up across North America. Immigration and passenger ship lists show some important early immigrants bearing the name Randolph: