A male name. Old English Randwulf, compound of rand ‘shield’ and wulf ‘wolf', was current in England before the Norman Conquest, after which it was reinforced by the corresponding Norman name derived from Norse Ranðulfr. The vernacular form in the Middle Ages was Ranulf or Randal, which were latinized as Rannulfus and Randulfus. The abbreviated form Rand and the diminutive Rankin were also common. The surnames Randal, Randall, Randell, Randle,Rand, Randson, Rance, Ranson, Ransom, Rankin, Ranking are derived from Randal and Rand. Rannulf appears to be obsolete Randal was less common after the 15th C, but has never altogether died out. 18th-C antiquarianism coined the form Randolph from Latin Randulfus.

Rannulfus, Randulfus Domesday Book 1086. Ranulphus Regesta Regum Anglo-Normannorum 1093-1100. Rannulfus Curia Regis Rolls 1186-1220. Randolph Curia Regis Rolls 1201. Ranulf Hundred Rolls 1273. Ranulph Hundred Rolls 1273. Randle Cheshire 1290. Randull The Coventry Leet Book 1481, Chester 1565. Rand Yorks Poll Tax of West Riding of Yorkshire 1379 1379.

Occasionally RANDLE, the more general form in C13-18. It is a derivative of Randolf (or Randolph), q. v. for etymology; and, though now rather uncommon, is bestowed especially by those who prefer ‘Saxon’ to Greek or Latin names. It graced two C17 lexicographers of decided character and very considerable merit: Cotgrave of the French-English Dictionary and Holme.

A name corrupted from Randolph.