Kilcoole 1239
Adam Rauf (also spelled Ralph) was "feloniously" slain in Drogheda in 1311 by Luke de Sewell and Luke Hart. The two Lukes did not deny the killing but threw up their hands in outraged innocence at the charge of murder, claiming they believed that Rauf was an Irishman. However, it was shown that the deceased was in fact an English man, but the accused claimed that they had believed that he was an Irishman.
Eventually Luke de Sewell was fined 100 shillings for this killing. In a case heard by the Justicar at Carlow in 1308, one Ralph son of Ralph, together with Robert son of William de Cauntetoun, Gilbert de Cauntetoun and others, was charged that they "with force of arms seized and carried away cattle and other goods etc." of Richard son of Henry Taloun from Rathnegeragh (Rathnageragh, in the Co Carlow parish of Fenagh), to the value of £200.
In defence Robert de Cauntetoun claimed that some of the cattle belonged to Oregon Okolleyn, his faithful Hibernicus (Irishman), and Richard similarly claimed that some of the cattle had belonged to his Hibernicus, Melok O Killeyn. (Presumably if one was entitled to own a Hibernicus, then one was entitled to kill one).
In 1309, Thomas son of Ralph was among the jurors at Common Pleas at Cashel, Co Tipperary, while at a hearing in Kildarein in 1311, Cecelia, daughter of Thomas Rauf, was charged with the death of Matilda, daughter of Thomas Mebrey, whom she "feloniously scalded and thus slew, as alleged."
Two years later, Alexander son of Ralph was among those who gave evidence relating to the felonious slaying of Milo Prat at Modeshil, Co Tipperary. In Limerick that same year, Gilbert son of Ralph was charged with sheltering common robbers, and at the same venue Stephen and David, sons of Ralph, were charged with theft from Robert, Bishop of Limerick.
Archbishop Alen's Register contains even earlier records of persons bearing the name Ralph. Some time between 1190 and 1206, Master Ralph and Ralph (Ralulpho), the clerk, were witnesses to a grant of land at Killcowl (Kilcoole, Co Wicklow) and at Mackineganes.
A grant of land to Walter son of Ralph de Rathkull was registered in 1250, while, some time between 1256 and 1271, there was a reference to a burgage in Swords "situated on the way to the church of Swerdes beside the burgage formerly Ralph's by the wayside; on the north beside the land of Roger the cobbler (suctoris)".
In 1311, Roger son of Ralph was the tenant in Greenoge, Co Dublin. Also mentioned in this same account was Walter Rauf, son and heir of Roger and Petronilla his wife. Apart from his name being additionally rendered Walter Rouw, we are informed "Add ly Inspeximus for ly Row or Rauf as synonyms or surnames."
In 1326, "Ralph by the wayside", mentioned in a document of 1271, was probably the same as Ralph Withway (also Withwey, meaning wayside) who witnessed a Co Dublin document of 1313.
The descendants of those early 14th-century Ralphs appear to have held on in the same localities. The Directory of 1814 lists but three Ralphs, two in the Borrisokane district of Co Tipperary, the third at Hilltown, Swords, Co Dublin.
John Ralph, grocer and publican, Moore Street, Dublin, was a witness to a will of 1805, and Andrew Ralph, saddler, Cavendish Row, witnessed a will of 1816. In Owners of Land of One Acre and Upwards (1876) but two of the name are to be found - Michael Ralph, 145 North Strand Road, Dublin, with two acres, and John Ralph, Commons, Carney, Borrisokane, with four acres.
RATHCOOLE, the place with the earliest association (1190-1206) with the name Ralph, is the anglicised form of Cill Chomhghaill, "the church of Comhghall". In Co Wexford and Co Waterford are townlands named RALPH. We have no idea whence the first; the latter, according to Canon Power's The Placenames of Decies is Baile an Raithe, "earthen fort homeland." RALPHDALE in the Co Westmeath of Kilcumny, was the name of the seat of Ralph Smyth Esq, according to Lewis's 1837 Topographical Dictionary of Ireland, which name was to replace the older townland name. RALPHTOWN is in the Co Wexford parish of Kilcowan, though we cannot say if it contains the surname Ralph.
Telephone directories show 16 Ralph entries north of the Border, and the bulk of the 100 to its south are in Dublin, and in Leinster, followed by Connacht and Co Donegal.