Randall (given name)

Etymology and early history

The modern given name Randall, /ˈrændl/, is derived from the transferred use of the surname Randall. There have been two explanations for the origin of this surname. One explanation is that the surname is derived from the Middle English personal name Randel. This name is a diminutive of the mediaeval personal name Rand compounded with the Anglo Norman hypocoristic suffix -el. The Middle English Rand can be a short form of any of several names composed of the first element rand, meaning "shield" or "rim"; or the Old Norse short first name Randr (variant form Randi, Old Danish Rand), however the specific names associated with Randel are Randulf and Randolf—names that were brought to England by the Normans. Another explanation for the surname Randall, is that it is merely an apocopal form, or mediaeval vernacular form of Randolf.

The Norman personal names Randulf and Randolf are ultimately derived from the Old Norse Rannúlfr, when the short form Randr (Old Danish Rand) is probably the first part of Norman toponyms such as Randal (Manche, le Vrétot, maybe from *Randdalr, a compound with dalr "valley", same as Randale, hamlet in England), Rantot (Manche, farm at Digulleville maybe from *Randtopt with topt > -tot "toft") and Ranville. In fact, Rannúlfr was introduced into England by Scandinavians well before the arrival of the Norman name, and because of the introduction of the form used by the Normans, both names were reinforced in England. The Old Norse Rannúlfr is composed of two elements—the first element is rand, meaning "shield" or "rim"; the second element is úlfr, meaning "wolf". The Old English form of these names is Randwulf (similarly composed of rand and wulf). Other cognates include: the Old Low German Randwulf, Randulf; and the Old Norse Röndúlfr.

There are several early occurrences in British sources of the names that gave rise to the modern given name Randall. An early occurrence of the modern surname is: Richard Randall, in 1547 (in Huntingdonshire, England). A mediaeval occurrence of the surname is: Thomas Randel, in 1250 (in Suffolk, England). An early occurrence of the short form Rand is: Rande de Borham, in 1299. An early occurrence of Randel (a diminutive of Rand) is: Randal, in 1204 (in Yorkshire, England). An early occurrence of the mediaeval personal names Randolf, Randulf is: Randulfus, in about 1095 (in the Assize Rolls of Yorkshire, England); another is: Nicolaus filius Randulphi, in the years spanning 1175–86 (in Norfolk, England).

According to etymologist P. H. Reaney, the mediaeval name Randulf was commonly confused with Old German Rannulf. This Old German name is composed of elements meaning "raven" and "wolf", and was introduced into England around the same time as Randulf. One example where the unrelated names were confused and given to the same individual in different records is: Randolphus de Brachenberch, in about 1155; and Ranulfus de Brachinberge, in 1160–6 (both names recorded in Lincolnshire, England).

Variant forms and pet forms

Variant spellings of the given name Randall include: Randal, Randel, Randell, and Randle. Randal is also used as an Anglicised form of the Irish and Scottish Gaelic Raghnall (to which it is etymologically unrelated). Although Randal is generally Gaelicised as Raghnall in Ireland (and sometimes Rághnall), the Irish Rannulbh more accurately represents Randulph and Randulf. A pet form of Randall is Randy; this name is /ˈrændi/, and is also a pet form of several other etymologically related, and unrelated names. Randaloso allies too :v

Use and popularity

Randall, as a modern given name, is regarded as being mainly an American name. In Scotland, the name Randal has been associated with Lord Randal, an Anglo-Scottish border ballad, published by American Francis James Child in 1882 (see Child Ballads). In parts of Ireland in the 19th and early 20th century, the name Randal has been noted being used particularly by families of the surname MacDonnell (the surname was/is spelt variously). There are several notable Irish families, historically unrelated to each other, who bear (forms of) this surname. The chiefly line of one such family relocated to the Glens of Antrim from Scotland in the 16th and 17th centuries, and Randal appears numerous times in their pedigree; this family descends from members of the Scottish Clan Donald; and even today, various Anglicised forms of the Gaelic Raghnall are commonly used by members of this clan. Randal was noted in the early 20th century as being common within the O'Donovan family as well; their name, like that of Clan Donald, originated as an Anglicised form of the etymologically unrelated Raghnall.

Since 1906, Randall has been among the top 1,000 names recorded in Social Security card applications for baby boys in the United States. The name was at its most popular point in 1955, when it was ranked the 53rd most popular masculine baby name. Currently, the name was ranked 749th for the year 2009. Randall currently is, and historically has been more popular in the United States than the various other forms of the name. For example, since 1995, Randal has not been among the top 1,000 names recorded in for baby boys. This name first ranked within the top 1,000 boys names in 1938, and it stayed among the top 1,000 names until 1994; the name was at its most popular point in 1958, when it was ranked 189th. According to data released by the Social Security Administration, the forms Randell, Randel, and Randle have never been nearly as popular (see 'popularity graphs' below). In 1990, the United States Census Bureau undertook a study of the 1990 United States Census, and released a sample of data concerning the most popular names. According to this sample of 6.3 million people (who had 5,494 unique first names), Randal was ranked as the 477th most popular masculine name, and Randall was ranked 139th most popular. Neither name ranked among females in this sample.

Neither Randal or Randall ranked within the top 100 masculine (or feminine) baby names for the year 2009 in England and Wales; similarly so for Scotland. In both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland, neither name ranked within the top 100 masculine (or feminine) names of registered births in 2009.

Randall

Randall Dale Adams, (born 1949), wrongly convicted of murder and sentenced to death

Randall Amster, (born 1966), American, author

Randall Azofeifa, (born 1984), Costa Rican, football (soccer) player

Randall B. Griepp, American, cardiothoracic surgeon

Randall B. Kester, (born 1916), American, attorney and judge

Randall Bailey, (born 1974), American, boxer

Randall Bal,

Randall Balmer, (born 1954), American, author

Randall Bass, American, scholar

Randall James Bayer,

Randall Batinkoff, (born 1968), American, actor

Randall Beer, American, scholar

Randall C. Berg, Jr., American, Executive Director of the Florida Justice Institute

Randall Bewley, (1955–2009), guitarist

Randall Boe, (born 1962), General Counsel for AOL

Randall Bone, (born 1973), Australian rules footballer

Randall Bramblett, American, musician and singer-songwriter

Randall Brenes, (born 1983), Costa Rican, professional football (soccer) player

Randall Burks, (born 1953), American, American football player

Randall Carroll, (born 1991), American, American football player

Randall Cobb (disambiguation) - several people

Randall Cobb (American football), (born 1989), American, American football player

Randall "Tex" Cobb, (born 1950), American, boxer and actor

Randall Collins, (born 1941), American, academic

Randall Crane, academic

Randall Cunningham, (born 1963), American, American football player

Randall Davidson, 1st Baron Davidson of Lambeth, (1848–1930), British, Anglican clergyman, Archbishop of Canterbury

Randall Dodd, founder and director of Financial Policy Forum

Randall Dougherty, (born 1961), mathematician

Randall Duell, (1903–1992), American, architect and art director

Randall Duk Kim, (born 1943), American, actor

Randall Edwards (disambiguation) - several people

Randall Edwards (actress), (born 1955), American, actor

Randall Edwards (politician), (born 1961), American, politician

Randall Einhorn, (born 1963), American, television director and cinematographer

Randall Faye, (1892–1948), American, screenwriter, film producer and director

Randall Craig Fleischer, American, conductor

Randall Forsberg, (1943–2007), American, anti-war activist

Randall M. Fort, (born 1956), American, member of the Intelligence and Research in the United States Department

Randall Frakes, author

Randall Franks, American actor, singer and musician

Randall Garrett, (1927–1987), American, author

Randall Garrison, Canadian politician

Randall Gay, (born 1982), American, American football player

Randall George Lewis MacAlister, Anglican priest

Randall L. Gibson,

Randall Giles, (1950–2010), American, music composer

Randall Godfrey, (born 1973), American, American football player

Randall Goff,

Randall Gregory Holcombe, American, academic

Randall Hall, musician

Randall S. Harmon, (1903–1982), American, politician

Randall G. Hassell, karate instructor

Randall Hodgkinson, American, musician

Randall Hunley, American, musician

Randall Hyde, (born 1956), American, author

Randall Jahnson, American, writer, director, and producer

Randall Jarrell, (1914–1965), American, author

Randall Kenan, (born 1963), American, author

Randall Kennedy, (born 1954), American, academic and author

Randall C. Kennedy, computer specialist

Randall Kleck, American, martial artist

Randall Kroszner, (born 1962), member of the Federal Reserve

Randall Luthi, (born 1955), American, attorney

Randall Maggs, Canadian, poet

Randall Mann, American, poet

Randall McDaniel, (born 1964), American, professional American football player

Randall Miller, American, film director

Randall Munroe, (born 1984), American, webcomic author

Randall Nieman, musician

Randall C. O'Reilly, (born 1967), academic

Randall Packer, (born 1953), American, contemporary multimedia artist

Randall Park, American, comedian and actor

Randall Parrish, (1858–1923), American, author

Randall Pinkston, (born 1950), correspondent for CBS News

Randall Ray Rader, (born 1949), American, Chief Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit

Randall "Randy" Roach (born 1951), American mayor

Randall Robinson, (born 1941), American, lawyer, author, and activist

Randall Robinson (cinematographer), (born 1946), American, cinematographer

Randall Rollins (born 1931), American businessman.

Randall Rothenberg, business executive

Randall Row, (born 1971), Costa Rican, footballer

Randall Schmidt, American, Lieutenant General in the United States Air Force

Randall Schweller, American, academic

Randall Silvis, American, author

Randall Simon, (born 1975), professional baseball player

Randall Smith (disambiguation) - several people

Randall Smith, (born 1960), Canadian, musician

Randall Lee Smith, (died 2008), American, convicted murderer

Randall W. Spetman, (born 1953), American, athletic director at Florida State University

Randall J. Stephens, author

Randall L. Stephenson, (born 1960), American, business executive

Randall S. Street, (1780–1841), American, lawyer and politician

Randall J. Strossen, (born 1951), strength training writer

Randall Stout, American, architect

Randall Svane, (born 1955), American, composer

Randall Swingler, (1909–1967), English, poet, also awarded the Military Medal in the Second World War

Randall T. Shepard, (born 1946), Chief Justice of the Indiana Supreme Court

Randall Terry, (born 1959), American, pro-life activist

Randall L. Tobias, (born 1942), American, business executive

Randall Thompson (disambiguation) - several people

Randall Thompson, (1899–1984), American, composer

Randall Thompson (boxer)

Randall Tolson, (1912–1954), American, clockmaker

Randall Wallace, (born 1949), American, screenwriter, director, producer

Randall J. Webb, (1943-2015), American university president

Randall Weber, (born 1968), Canadian, ice hockey player

Randall Wells, (1877–1942), English, architect

Randall Wiebe, Canadian playwright

Randall Winston, television producer and director

Randall Woodfield, (born 1950), American, serial killer dubbed The I-5 Killer or The I-5 Bandit

Randall Woolf, American, composer

Randall Zindler, American, business executive

Randall Zisk, American, television director and producer

Randall Zwinge, American stage magician and scientific skeptic

Randell

Randell Kirsch, officer in the United States Army.