Ulrich () is a

Germanic given name Germanic languages, Germanic given names are traditionally wikt:dithematic, dithematic; that is, they are formed from two elements (word stem, stems), by joining a prefix and a suffix. For example, Æthelred the Unready, King Æþelred's name was ...

derived from

Old High German Old High German (OHG; ) is the earliest stage of the German language, conventionally identified as the period from around 500/750 to 1050. Rather than representing a single supra-regional form of German, Old High German encompasses the numerous ...

''Uodalrich'', ''Odalric''. It is composed of the elements '' uodal-'' meaning "heritage" and ''-rih'' meaning "king, ruler". Attested from the 8th century as the name of Alamannic nobility, the name is popularly given from the high medieval period in reference to Saint Ulrich of Augsburg (canonized 993). Ulrich is also a surname. It is most prevalent in Germany and has the highest density in Switzerland. This last name was found in the United States in the year 1727 when Christof Ulrich landed in Pennsylvania. Most Americans with the last name were concentrated in Pennsylvania, which was home to many German immigrant communities. Nowadays in the United States, the name is distributed largely in the Pennsylvania-Ohio region.

History

Documents record the Old High German name ''Oadalrich'' or ''Uodalrich'' from the later 8th century in Alamannia. The related name '' Adalric'' (

Anglo-Saxon The Anglo-Saxons, in some contexts simply called Saxons or the English, were a Cultural identity, cultural group who spoke Old English and inhabited much of what is now England and south-eastern Scotland in the Early Middle Ages. They traced t ...

cognate '' Æthelric'') is attested from the 6th century ( Athalaric King of the Ostrogoths; Æthelric of Bernicia). The name of Agilolfing duke Odilo (fl. 709–748) may represent a short form of the name. Count Udalrich I (fl. 778–814), a son of Gerold of Anglachgau, founded the Alamannic Udalriching dynasty, ancestral to the

counts of Bregenz The county of Bregenz is recorded as part of the Holy Roman Empire between 1043 and 1160. It was in possession of the Udalriching family, who took the titles of counts of Bregenz. After 1160, Bregenz fell to the counts of Montfort-Bregenz (1160 ...

. The given name occurred frequently in the Alamannic Hunfriding dynasty in the 9th to 10th centuries; examples include Odalric, Count of Barcelona (fl. 850s) and Odalric, Count of Thurgau (fl. 920s). The name is recorded in an Icelandic form as ''Óðalríkr'' only in the later medieval period. In the

Middle High German Middle High German (MHG; or ; , shortened as ''Mhdt.'' or ''Mhd.'') is the term for the form of High German, High German language, German spoken in the High Middle Ages. It is conventionally dated between 1050 and 1350, developing from Old High ...

period the name generally commemorated Saint Ulrich, Bishop of Augsburg (c. 890 – 4 July 973), who twice defended Augsburg from attacks by Magyars. The Swiss Reformer

Ulrich Zwingli Huldrych or Ulrich Zwingli (1 January 1484 – 11 October 1531) was a Swiss Christian theologian, musician, and leader of the Reformation in Switzerland. Born during a time of emerging Swiss patriotism and increasing criticism of the Swis ...

etymologized his given name as ''Huldrych'' (''Huldricus, Huldaricus''), i.e. "rich in grace". In the wake of Zwingli, during the 16th century and well into the 18th century, it became a fashion - especially for Protestant writers - to Latinise the given name ''Ulrich'' as '' Huldricus''. The name was popularly given in 20th-century

Switzerland Switzerland, officially the Swiss Confederation, is a landlocked country located in west-central Europe. It is bordered by Italy to the south, France to the west, Germany to the north, and Austria and Liechtenstein to the east. Switzerland ...

, especially from the 1940s to the 1960s, peaking at rank 16 in 1947, but dropping below rank 100 in 1972. In

Czechoslovakia Czechoslovakia ( ; Czech language, Czech and , ''Česko-Slovensko'') was a landlocked country in Central Europe, created in 1918, when it declared its independence from Austria-Hungary. In 1938, after the Munich Agreement, the Sudetenland beca ...

, ''Oldřich '' was popularly given in the 1940s to 1950s, peaking at rank 18 during 1946–1951.behindthename.com (Oldrich)

Variants

The Germanic given name was adopted in Czech and Slovak as ''Oldřich'', ''Oldrich'' and in Scandinavian languages as ''Ulrik'', in Slovenian as '' Urh'', in Latvia as Uldis. Common German hypocoristics are ''Uli'' or ''Ulli'' (Swiss '' Ueli'') and historically '' Utz''. A Czech/Slovak hypocoristic is ''Olda'', ''Oldík'', '' Volek'' and a Polish one ''Ryczek''. Feminine forms ''

Ulrikke Ulrikke is a feminine given name found primarily in Denmark and Norway. It is a feminine form of the masculine name Ulrik. Notable people named Ulrikke include: * Ulrikke Brandstorp (born 1995), Norwegian singer * Ulrikke Dahl (1846–1923), Norwe ...

'' and '' Ulrika'' have been recorded from the early modern period. A Czech form is '' Oldřiška''. In Italian, there are also many forms, as surnames, such as "Orrico", "D'Orrico", "D'oricchio", "Ulrico", "Urrico", "Orrigo", "Origo", "Orrigoni", "Orrici" and "Ulrici".

People with the given name

Medieval to early modern

* Udalrich I, count in Alamannia (fl. 778–814), son of Gerold of Anglachgau * Udalrich II, son of Udalrich I, count in Alamannia (fl. 800/803) * Odalric, Count of Barcelona (fl. 850s) * Ulrich of Augsburg (ca. 890 – 973), bishop and saint * Oldřich, Duke of Bohemia (c. 975 – 1034) * Ulric Manfred II of Turin (b. 1034), Count of Turin and Margrave of Susa * Ulric I of Carniola (d. 1070), the Margrave of Carniola and Carinthia * Ulric II of Carniola (d. 1112), the Margrave of Istria * Ulrich I, Bishop of Passau (c. 1027 – 1121) * Ulrich of Zell (1029–93), abbot and saint * Ulrich I Bishop of Eichstätt (r. 1075–1099) * Ulrich of Bamberg (fl. 1100), priest and chronicler * Ulrich II von Bogen, Bishop of Eichstätt (r. 1112–1125) * Oldřich of Olomouc (d. 1177), duke in Bohemia * Ulrich von Zatzikhoven, late 12th century author of the Arthurian romance ''Lanzelet'' * Ulrich II (bishop of Passau) (d. 1221) * Ulrich von Liechtenstein (1200–1275), medieval writer, poet and knight * Ulrich III, Duke of Carinthia (ca. 1220 – 1269) * Ulrich II, Count of Württemberg (ca. 1254 – 1279) * Ulrich III, Count of Württemberg (after 1286 – 1392) * Ulrich II von Graben (before 1300 – ca. 1361), Austrian nobleman * Ulrich III, Lord of Hanau (c. 1310 – 1369 or 1370) * Ulrich IV, Count of Württemberg (after 1315 – 1366) * Ulrich von Jungingen (1360–1410), 26th Grand Master of the Teutonic Knights * Ulrich II, Count of Celje (1406–1456) *

Ulrich I, Count of East Frisia Ulrich I of East Frisia was the first count of East Frisia, from 1408 in Norden to 25 or 26 September 1466, in Emden. He was a son of the chieftain Enno Edzardisna of Norden and Greetsiel, and Gela of Manslagt. Biography His father Enno ...

(1408–1466) * Ulrich III von Nussdorf, Bishop of Passau (r. 1451–1479) * Ulrich V, Count of Württemberg (1413–1480) * Ulrich II, Duke of Mecklenburg-Stargard (probably before 1428 – 1471) * Ulrich Fugger the Elder (1441–1510), German businessman and member of the Fugger family * Ulrich Rülein von Calw (1465–1523), mayor of Freiberg, Saxony * Ulrich of Hardegg (after 1483–1535), Count of Hardegg *

(1484–1535), leader of the Reformation in Switzerland * Ulrich, Duke of Württemberg (1487–1550) * Ulrich von Hutten (1488–1523), German knight, scholar, poet and reformer during the Knights' War *

Ulrich Hugwald Ulrich Hugwald (''Udalricus Hugualdus'', ''Huldaricus Mutius Hugwaldus''; 1496–1571) was a Swiss humanist scholar and Reformer. Born in Wilen near Bischofszell, county of Thurgau, he was enrolled in the theological faculty in Basel Universi ...

(1496–1571), Swiss reformer * Ulrich, Duke of Mecklenburg (1527–1603) * Ulrik of Denmark (1578–1624), administrator of the Prince-Bishopric of Schwerin * Ulrich, Duke of Pomerania (1589–1622) * Ulrik of Denmark (1611–1633), administrator of the Prince-Bishopric of Schwerin * Ulrich Grappler von Trappenburg, Bishop of Passau (r. 1646–1658) * Ulrich von Jungingen (1360-1410), 26th Grand Master of the Teutonic Knights

Modern era

* Ulrich, 10th Prince Kinsky of Wchinitz and Tettau (1893–1938), titular pretender * Ulrich Braukmann (born 1959), German economics professor * Ulrich Daldrup (born 1947), German scientist and mayor of Aachen * Ulrich Eberl (born 1962), German science and technology journalist * Ulrich Ellis (1904–1981), Australian writer * Ulrich Graf (1878–1950), member of Hitler's inner circle * Ulric Guttinguer (1785–1866), French novelist * Ulrich Herbert (born 1951), German historian * Hans-Ulrich Indermaur (born 1939), Swiss journalist and writer * Ulrich Leyendecker (1946–2018), German composer of contemporary classical music * Ulrich Marida, Central African Republic basketball coach * Ulrich Matthes (born 1959), German actor *

Ueli Maurer Ulrich "Ueli" Maurer (; born 1 December 1950) is a Swiss politician who served as a List of members of the Swiss Federal Council, Member of the Swiss Federal Council from 2009 to 2022. A member of the Swiss People's Party (SVP/UDC), he was Pres ...

(b. 1950), Swiss politician * Ulrich Mühe (1953–2007), German actor and director * Ulrich Noethen (born 1959), German actor * Ulrich Ochsenbein (1811–1890), Swiss politician * Ulrich Salchow (1877–1949), German figure skater and inventor of the salchow jump * Ulrich Schmid-Maybach, philanthropist, real estate developer and entrepreneur * Ulrich Schnauss (born 1977), German musician * Ulrich Wilhelm Graf Schwerin von Schwanenfeld (1902–1944), a key conspirator in the failed 20 July plot to assassinate Hitler in 1944 * Ulrich Steinhilper (1918–2009), World War II Luftwaffe ace credited by some with the concept of word processing * Ulrich Thoden (born 1973), German politician * Ulrich von Wilamowitz-Moellendorff (1848–1931), German classical philologist * Ulrich Wild (born 1969), American record producer * Ulrich Friedrich Wilhelm Joachim von Ribbentrop (1893-1946), more commonly known as Joachim von Ribbentrop, Foreign Minister of Nazi Germany from 1938 until 1945 * Ulrich Frédéric Woldemar, Comte de Lowendal (1700–1755), German-born French soldier and statesmen * Leonardo Ulrich, Cardinal Steiner (born 1950), Brazilian cardinal

People with the surname

* Alexander Ulrich (born 1971), German politician * Benjamin Ulrich (born 1988), German rugby union international * Bror Ludvig Ulrich (1818–1887), Swedish military and colonial governor * Charles Frederic Ulrich (1858–1908), American painter * Christian Ulrich (1836–1909), Austrian architect * Curt von Ulrich (1876–1946), German politician * D. K. Ulrich (born 1944), American race car driver/owner * Donald Ulrich aka Don Rich (1941–1974) American country music musician * Dutch Ulrich (1899–1929), American baseball player * Edward Oscar Ulrich (1857–1944), American invertebrate paleontologist * Einer Ulrich (1896-1969), Danish tennis player * Eric Ulrich (born 1985), American politician from New York City * Fernando Ulrich (born 1952), Portuguese economist and banking administrator * Henry G. Ulrich III, United States Navy admiral who retired in 2007 *

Jan Ullrich Jan Ullrich (; born 2 December 1973) is a German former professional road bicycle racer. Ullrich won gold and silver medals in the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia, Sydney. He won the 1999 Vuelta a España and the HEW Cyclassics in fro ...

(born 1973), German race cyclist * Jennifer Ulrich (born 1984), German actress * Joe Ulrich (born 1961), American former soccer player * Lars Ulrich (born 1963), Danish drummer for heavy metal band Metallica * Laurent Ulrich (born 1951), French archbishop of the Catholic Church * Laurel Thatcher Ulrich (born 1938), American historian and writer * Lester J. Ulrich (1908-1991), American lawyer and politician * Lisa Ullrich (1900-1986), German politician * Richard Ulrich (born 1942), German board game designer * Richard Ulrich (American football), former American football coach * Skeet Ulrich (born 1970), American actor * Torben Ulrich (1928–2023), Danish writer and tennis pro * Tracy Ulrich (born 1966), aka Tracii Guns, guitarist and musician * Werner Ulrich (born 1948), Swiss social scientist and practical philosopher * William M. Ulrich (born ca. 1956), American management consultant * Wolf-Christian Ulrich (born 1975), German TV journalist, host and correspondent

Fictional characters

* Ulrich, the old sorcerer in the film '' Dragonslayer'' (1981) * Ulrich, the protagonist of Robert Musil's 20th century novel '' The Man Without Qualities'' * Ulrich Stern, a character on the French animated TV series '' Code Lyoko'' * Ulrich von Bek, the hero of '' The War Hound and the World's Pain'' and other novels by Michael Moorcock * Ulrich von Gradwitz, a character in Saki's short story "The Interlopers" * Ulrich von Liechtenstein, an alias of Heath Ledger's character in the film '' A Knight's Tale'' * Ulrich Nielsen, a character in the German Netflix original series '' Dark'' * Walter von Ulrich, one of the main characters in the novels '' Fall of Giants'' and '' Winter of the World'' by Welsh author Ken Follett

References

External links

* Profile of surname; note: contains errors.
Uodalrich (nordicnames.de)
{{given name, type=both German masculine given names Masculine given names Germanic given names Surnames from given names