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

Alamanni The Alemanni or Alamanni were a confederation of Germanic tribes * * * on the Upper Rhine River during the first millennium. First mentioned by Cassius Dio in the context of the campaign of Roman emperor Caracalla of 213 CE, the Alemanni c ...

c nobility, the name is popularly given from the high medieval period in reference to Saint

Ulrich of Augsburg Ulrich of Augsburg (890 – 4 July 973), sometimes spelled ''Uodalric'' or ''Odalrici'', was Prince-Bishop of Augsburg in the Holy Roman Empire. He was the first saint to be canonised not by a local authority but by a Pope. Life Early year ...

(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 Alamannia, or Alemania, was the kingdom established and inhabited by the Alemanni, a Germanic tribal confederation that had broken through the Roman '' limes'' in 213. The Alemanni expanded from the Main River basin during the 3rd century and ...

. The related name ''

Adalric Adalric, Adalrich, Adelric, or Adelrich is a Germanic given name. Notable people with the name include: * Athalaric (516–534), King of the Ostrogoths * Adalrich, Duke of Alsace (died after 683) * Adalric of Gascony, late 8th century lord * Adalr ...

'' (

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 Athalaric (; 5162 October 534) was the king of the Ostrogoths in Italy between 526 and 534. He was a son of Eutharic and Amalasuintha, the youngest daughter of Theoderic the Great, whom Athalaric succeeded as king in 526. Athalaric was descr ...

King of the Ostrogoths;

Æthelric of Bernicia Aethelric or Æþelric was the fourth-known king of the Kingdom of Bernicia which he ruled from 568 to 572. Aethelric was one of the sons of Ida of Bernicia, founder of the kingdom. During his reign the Bernicians met the Britons in three impo ...

). The name of

Agilolfing The Agilolfings were a noble family that ruled the Duchy of Bavaria on behalf of their Merovingian suzerains from about 550 until 788. A cadet branch of the Agilolfings also ruled the Kingdom of the Lombards intermittently from 616 to 712. They ...

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 Gerold I ({{circa, 725 – 784) was the count of Kraichgau and {{ill, Anglachgau, de.{{sfn, Jackman, 2007, p=22 His daughter, Hildergard married King Charlemagne in 771.{{sfn, Lapidge, 2017, p=5-6 Life Little is known about Gerold. He belonged t ...

, 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 The Hunfridings or Burchardings (''Bouchardids'') were a family of probably Alemannic origin who rose to prominence in their homeland, eventually becoming the first ducal dynasty of Swabia. The first known member of the family was Hunfrid, Margra ...

dynasty in the 9th to 10th centuries; examples include

Odalric, Count of Barcelona Odalric, also spelled ''Odalrih'', ''Odelric'', or ''Udalrich'', was the Count of Barcelona, Girona, Roussillon, and Empúries and Margrave of Septimania from 852 to 858. Odalric was a Hunfriding, probably the second son of Hunfrid, Margrave of ...

(fl. 850s) and Odalric, Count of

Thurgau Thurgau (; ; ; ), anglicized as Thurgovia, and formally as the Canton of Thurgau, is one of the 26 cantons forming the Swiss Confederation. It is composed of five districts. Its capital is Frauenfeld. Thurgau is part of Eastern Switzerland. I ...

(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 Diocese of Augsburg () is a Latin diocese of the Catholic Church in Germany. The diocese is a suffragan of the Archdiocese of Munich. History Early history The present city of Augsburg appears in Strabo as ''Damasia'', a stronghold of t ...

(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 Grace may refer to: Places United States * Grace, Idaho, a city * Grace (CTA station), Chicago Transit Authority's Howard Line, Illinois * Little Goose Creek (Kentucky), location of Grace post office * Grace, Carroll County, Missouri, an uni ...

". 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 Ueli () is the Swiss hypocoristic form of the masculine given name Ulrich. People with the given name Ueli include: * Ueli Aebi, Swiss structural biologist *Ueli Bächli (born 1950), Swiss bobsledder * Ueli Bachmann (born 1950), Swiss gymnast * (1 ...

'') 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

* Udalrich II, son of Udalrich I, count in Alamannia (fl. 800/803) *

(fl. 850s) *

(ca. 890 – 973), bishop and saint * Oldřich, Duke of Bohemia (c. 975 – 1034) *

Ulric Manfred II of Turin Ulric Manfred II (; 975 992 – 29 October 1033 or 1034) or Manfred Ulric (') was the count of Turin, count of county of Turin, Turin and marquis of Susa, marquis of marquisate of Susa, Susa in the early 11th century. He was the last ...

(b. 1034), Count of Turin and Margrave of Susa *

Ulric I of Carniola Ulric I (), also ''Odalric'' or ''Udalrich'' (died 6 March 1070), Count of Weimar- Orlamünde, was margrave of Carniola from 1045 and of Istria from 1060 to his death. Life Ulric was the son of Margrave Poppo I of Carniola and Hadamut, daughter o ...

(d. 1070), the Margrave of Carniola and Carinthia *

Ulric II of Carniola Ulric II (also ''Ulrich'', ''Odalric'', ''Oudalricus'', ''Udalrich'') (died 13 May 1112) was the Margrave of Istria from 1098 until circa 1107 and Carniola Carniola ( ; ; ; ) is a historical region that comprised parts of present-day Sloven ...

(d. 1112), the Margrave of Istria * Ulrich I, Bishop of Passau (c. 1027 – 1121) *

Ulrich of Zell Ulrich of Zell, also known as Wulderic, sometimes of Cluny or of Regensburg (c. 1029 – 1093), was a Cluniac reformer of Germany, abbot, founder and saint. Life Ulrich was born at Regensburg in Bavaria (formerly also known as Ratisbon) in e ...

(1029–93), abbot and saint * Ulrich I

Bishop of Eichstätt A bishop is an ordained member of the clergy who is entrusted with a position of authority and oversight in a religious institution. In Christianity, bishops are normally responsible for the governance and administration of dioceses. The role ...

(r. 1075–1099) *

Ulrich of Bamberg Ulrich of Bamberg was a Roman Catholic priest and chronicler who lived in Bamberg, Germany around 1100. Biography Born Udalricus Babenbergensis, he was a canon of Bamberg Cathedral, who lived about 1100 in Bamberg. He is most probably the priest ...

(fl. 1100), priest and chronicler * Ulrich II von Bogen,

(r. 1112–1125) *

Oldřich of Olomouc Udalrich of Olomouc (also known as ''Ulrich'', ; ; 1134 – 18 October 1177) was Duke in Hradec Králové (eastern Bohemia) from 1152 till 1153 and between 1173–1177 ruled the appanage of Olomouc (as Duke of Olomouc), one of three ducal reg ...

(d. 1177), duke in Bohemia *

Ulrich von Zatzikhoven Ulrich von Zatzikhoven was the author of the Middle High German Arthurian romance '' Lanzelet''. Ulrich's name and his place of origin ( Zezikon in Switzerland) are only known definitively from the work itself. However, it is generally accepted ...

, late 12th century author of the Arthurian romance ''Lanzelet'' *

Ulrich II (bishop of Passau) Ulrich II (died October 31, 1221) was the 34th Bishop of Passau from 1215 and the first prince-bishop from 1217. The Bischof-Ulrich-Straße in Passau is named after him. Ulrich was the priest of the parish of Falkenstein before serving in the cha ...

(d. 1221) *

Ulrich von Liechtenstein Ulrich von Liechtenstein (c. 1200 – 26 January 1275) was a German minnesinger, poet and knight of the Middle Ages. He wrote poetry in Middle High German and was author of noted works about how knights and nobles might lead more virtuous lives. ...

(1200–1275), medieval writer, poet and knight *

Ulrich III, Duke of Carinthia Ulrich III ( – 27 October 1269) was the ruler in the March of Carniola from and Duke of Carinthia from 1256 until his death, the last ruler from the House of Sponheim. His rule had long-lasting consequences. In Carniola, he acquired the for ...

(ca. 1220 – 1269) *

Ulrich II, Count of Württemberg Ulrich II (c. 1254 – 18 September 1279) was Count of Württemberg from 1265 until 1279. Ulrich was the son of Ulrich I and Mechthild of Baden. He acceded power in 1265, at the age of 11 and, thus, was most likely under the tutelage of Count Hart ...

(ca. 1254 – 1279) *

Ulrich III, Count of Württemberg Ulrich III (1286/129111 July 1344) was County of Württemberg, Count of Württemberg from 1325 until his death in 1344. Life Ulrich was born between 1286 and 1291 to Count Eberhard I, Count of Württemberg, Eberhard I and an uncertain mother, e ...

(after 1286 – 1392) *

Ulrich II von Graben Ulrich II von Graben (before 1300 – ) was a Duchy of Styria, Styrian Nobility, noble, a member of the ''edelfrei'' Von Graben family. He held the titles as Lord of Schloss Kornberg, Kornberg and Graben (near Novo Mesto in Lower Carniola), as well ...

(before 1300 – ca. 1361), Austrian nobleman *

Ulrich III, Lord of Hanau Lord Ulrich III of Hanau ( – 1369 or 1370; buried in the Arnsburg Abbey) was Lord of Hanau from 1346 until his death. He was also governor in the Wetterau. Background Ulrich III was born around 1310, as the eldest son of Ulrich II of Han ...

(c. 1310 – 1369 or 1370) *

Ulrich IV, Count of Württemberg Ulrich IV (after 131524 or 26 July 1366) was Count of Württemberg Count (feminine: countess) is a historical title of nobility in certain European countries, varying in relative status, generally of middling rank in the hierarchy of nobili ...

(after 1315 – 1366) *

Ulrich von Jungingen Ulrich von Jungingen (1360 – 15 July 1410) was the 26th Grand Master of the Teutonic Knights, serving from 1407 to 1410. His policy of confrontation with the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and the Kingdom of Poland would spark the Polish–Lithuan ...

(1360–1410), 26th Grand Master of the Teutonic Knights *

Ulrich II, Count of Celje Ulrich II, or Ulrich of Celje (; ; ; 16 February 14069 November 1456), was the last Princely Count of Celje. At the time of his death, he was captain general and '' de facto'' regent of Hungary, '' ban'' (governor) of Slavonia, Croatia and Dal ...

(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 The Diocese of Passau (; ) is a Latin diocese of the Catholic Church in Germany that is a suffragan of the Archdiocese of Munich and Freising.Ulrich V, Count of Württemberg Ulrich V (14131 September 1480), nicknamed the Much-Loved (), was County of Württemberg, Count of Württemberg from 1419 and then count of Württemberg-Stuttgart until his death in 1480. Life Ulrich was born in 1413, the youngest child of Coun ...

(1413–1480) * Ulrich II, Duke of Mecklenburg-Stargard (probably before 1428 – 1471) *

Ulrich Fugger the Elder Ulrich Fugger ''von der Lilie'' (1441–1510) was a German businessman of the Fugger family. He formally headed the family firm from his father's death in 1469 until his own death in 1510 after an operation to remove a bladder stone, though h ...

(1441–1510), German businessman and member of the Fugger family *

Ulrich Rülein von Calw Ulrich Rülein von Calw (1465–1523) was a doctor, mathematician and well-known mining engineer. He was also active as a surveyor, town planner and astrologer and was the mayor () of the mining town of Freiberg for five years. Life Rülein von ...

(1465–1523), mayor of Freiberg, Saxony *

Ulrich of Hardegg Ulrich of Hardegg ( or or ; after 1483 – 1535) was an Austrian nobleman from the Prüschenk family of Count of Hardegg. He was "Cup-bearer" of Austria, which, by this time, was a title of nobility and no longer involved looking after the ...

(after 1483–1535), Count of Hardegg *

(1484–1535), leader of the Reformation in Switzerland *

Ulrich, Duke of Württemberg Duke Ulrich of Württemberg (8 February 14876 November 1550) succeeded his kinsman Eberhard II as Duke of Württemberg in 1498. He was declared of age in 1503. His volatile personality made him infamous, being called the "Swabian Henry VIII" by ...

(1487–1550) *

Ulrich von Hutten Ulrich von Hutten (21 April 1488 – 29 August 1523) was a German knight, scholar, poet and satire, satirist, who later became a follower of Martin Luther and a Protestant reformer. By 1519, he was an outspoken criticism, critic of the Roman Cat ...

(1488–1523), German knight, scholar, poet and reformer during the

Knights' War The Knights' War, also known as the Imperial Knights' Revolt (27 August 15226 May 1523), was a failed attempt by the Brotherly Convention (of knights) led by the Evangelical knight Franz von Sickingen to forcibly remove Richard, Prince-Bisho ...

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 Ulrich III, Duke of Mecklenburg or Ulrich III of Mecklenburg-Güstrow (5 March 1527 – 14 March 1603) was Duke of Mecklenburg ( -Güstrow) from 1555-56 to 1603. Early life Ulrich was the third son of Duke Albrecht VII and Anna of Brandenburg. ...

(1527–1603) *

Ulrik of Denmark (1578–1624) Prince Ulrik John of Denmark, ( Koldinghus Palace, Kolding, 30 December 1578 – 27 March 1624, Rühn) was a son of King Frederick II of Denmark and his consort, Sophie of Mecklenburg-Güstrow. As the second-born son he bore the merely titul ...

, 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 The Diocese of Passau (; ) is a Latin diocese of the Catholic Church in Germany that is a suffragan of the Archdiocese of Munich and Freising.Ulrich von Jungingen Ulrich von Jungingen (1360 – 15 July 1410) was the 26th Grand Master of the Teutonic Knights, serving from 1407 to 1410. His policy of confrontation with the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and the Kingdom of Poland would spark the Polish–Lithuan ...

(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 (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 Steiner, 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 (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 * :de:Wolf-Christian Ulrich, Wolf-Christian Ulrich (born 1975), German TV journalist, host and correspondent

Fictional characters

* Ulrich, the old sorcerer in the film ''Dragonslayer (1981 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 (TV 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