★ Be on time for a wonderful present this year · Order by Dec 8 (US) · Dec 9 (UK & AU) · All dates ›

Ulrich Surname Meaning & Origin

What the Ulrich last name means, where the surname began and how it spread.

Order your pack and our heraldry team researches and paints the Ulrich coat of arms for you.

Meaning and origin of the Ulrich last name

Meaning of the Ulrich last name: powerful heir. Ulrich is a German surname from the old given name Ulrich, from Germanic uodal, "inherited land", and rīc, "powerful". The last name is widespread in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. Curiously, St Ulrich, a tenth-century bishop of Augsburg, was the first saint ever formally canonised by a pope, in 993.

Arms associated with the Ulrich name

German heraldry favours bold colours and clear figures, and coats of arms associated with the Ulrich surname, each with its blazon, follow that style.

Get your full Ulrich family history

This is only a glimpse of the Ulrich story. The full Ulrich history report goes much deeper into where the name began, who carried it and how the family spread, and it comes with a museum-style painted Ulrich coat of arms. Get the full Ulrich report.

Ulrich name FAQ

What does the Ulrich name mean?

Powerful heir. Common variants include Ullrich, Uhlig.

Where does the Ulrich surname come from?

It originates in Germany, and is also found in the United States, Austria and Switzerland.

Is there a Ulrich coat of arms?

Arms were granted to individuals rather than to everyone with a surname. Herald Lab paints a personalized Ulrich coat of arms in museum style, based on historic heraldry.

Sources: Duden Familiennamen; Dictionary of American Family Names (Oxford).