UK surname
A surname derived from the Germanic name Roland, meaning "famous land".
In the 1881 census there were 136 people recorded with the Rolands surname, ranking it #16,433 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 36, ranked #35,648, down from #16,433 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Wolverhampton, London parishes and Wolstanton. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Rolands is 136 in 1881. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 73.5%.
1881 census count
136
Ranked #16,433
Modern count
36
2016, ranked #35,648
Peak year
1881
136 bearers
Map years
5
1851 to 1901
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Rolands surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Rolands surname density by area, 1881 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.
| Year | Period | Count | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1851 | historical | 100 | #17,164 |
| 1861 | historical | 103 | #20,650 |
| 1881 | historical | 136 | #16,433 |
| 1891 | historical | 120 | #21,292 |
| 1901 | historical | 102 | #22,596 |
| 1911 | historical | 95 | #23,294 |
| 1997 | modern | 41 | #33,552 |
| 1998 | modern | 46 | #33,286 |
| 1999 | modern | 40 | #33,967 |
| 2000 | modern | 33 | #34,607 |
| 2001 | modern | 31 | #34,648 |
| 2002 | modern | 27 | #35,243 |
| 2003 | modern | 27 | #35,279 |
| 2004 | modern | 30 | #35,186 |
| 2005 | modern | 26 | #35,674 |
| 2006 | modern | 26 | #35,822 |
| 2007 | modern | 28 | #35,801 |
| 2008 | modern | 25 | #36,072 |
| 2009 | modern | 29 | #35,922 |
| 2010 | modern | 28 | #36,084 |
| 2011 | modern | 33 | #35,777 |
| 2012 | modern | 34 | #35,711 |
| 2013 | modern | 39 | #35,483 |
| 2014 | modern | 38 | #35,547 |
| 2015 | modern | 39 | #35,472 |
| 2016 | modern | 36 | #35,648 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Wolverhampton, London parishes, Wolstanton, Coppenhall and Manchester. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wolverhampton | Staffordshire |
| 2 | London parishes | London 1 |
| 3 | Wolstanton | Staffordshire |
| 4 | Coppenhall | Cheshire |
| 5 | Manchester | Lancashire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Rolands surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Rolands, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.
These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.
The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.
UK neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Rolands surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Rolands household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Rolands is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Rolands is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Rolands, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname ROLANDS is of French origin, and it is believed to have originated during the Middle Ages. This surname is derived from the ancient French personal name Roland, which itself comes from the Germanic elements "hrod" meaning "fame" and "land" meaning "territory" or "land." The name Roland gained popularity across Europe due to the legendary figure of Roland, a military leader who fought for Charlemagne in the late 8th century.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the ROLANDS surname can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of land ownership in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. The Domesday Book mentions several individuals with the name Rodland or Rodlande, which are believed to be early variations of the modern ROLANDS spelling.
During the medieval period, the ROLANDS surname was particularly prevalent in the regions of Normandy and Brittany in northern France. It is also believed that some individuals with this surname migrated to England and Scotland during the Norman Conquest of 1066, as the name can be found in various historical records from those regions as well.
Notable individuals with the ROLANDS surname throughout history include:
1. Philippe Rolands (c. 1165 - c. 1230), a French nobleman and crusader who participated in the Third Crusade led by King Richard I of England.
2. Jean Rolands (c. 1350 - c. 1425), a French architect and stonemason who worked on the construction of several notable Gothic cathedrals, including the Cathedral of Rouen.
3. Robert Rolands (c. 1480 - c. 1545), an English scholar and translator who produced early English translations of works by classical authors such as Plutarch and Cicero.
4. Marie Rolands (1754 - 1793), a prominent figure during the French Revolution and one of the leading advocates of women's rights in her time. She was executed by guillotine during the Reign of Terror.
5. Charles Rolands (1825 - 1899), a French artist and painter who was part of the Barbizon school of landscape painting, known for his depictions of rural scenes and landscapes.
While the ROLANDS surname has its roots in France, it has since spread to various parts of the world due to migration and cultural exchange over the centuries.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Rolands surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Cheshire leads with 28 Rolands' recorded in 1881 and an index of 9.63x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Cheshire | 28 | 9.63x |
| Lancashire | 15 | 0.96x |
| Staffordshire | 15 | 3.37x |
| Flintshire | 14 | 39.56x |
| Caernarfonshire | 11 | 20.66x |
| Shropshire | 7 | 6.15x |
| Merionethshire | 6 | 24.91x |
| Middlesex | 6 | 0.46x |
| Carmarthenshire | 5 | 9.01x |
| Glamorgan | 3 | 1.31x |
| Montgomeryshire | 3 | 9.94x |
| Warwickshire | 3 | 0.90x |
| Devon | 2 | 0.73x |
| Durham | 2 | 0.51x |
| Kent | 2 | 0.45x |
| Radnorshire | 2 | 18.83x |
| Surrey | 2 | 0.31x |
| Worcestershire | 2 | 1.16x |
| Angus | 1 | 0.82x |
| Brecknockshire | 1 | 3.80x |
| Cornwall | 1 | 0.67x |
| Denbighshire | 1 | 2.01x |
| Monmouthshire | 1 | 1.05x |
| Suffolk | 1 | 0.62x |
| Sussex | 1 | 0.45x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Birkenhead in Cheshire leads with 14 Rolands' recorded in 1881 and an index of 60.42x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Birkenhead | 14 | 60.42x |
| Whitford | 13 | 710.38x |
| Monks Coppenhall | 7 | 63.81x |
| Wolstanton | 6 | 44.44x |
| Aber | 5 | 2500.00x |
| Chadderton | 5 | 65.45x |
| Hoole | 5 | 454.55x |
| Laugharne | 5 | 675.68x |
| Llanfor | 4 | 606.06x |
| Stoke Upon Trent | 4 | 8.49x |
| Aston | 3 | 3.28x |
| Kensington London | 3 | 4.10x |
| Llanllechid | 3 | 80.21x |
| Rainford | 3 | 177.51x |
| Swansea Town | 3 | 15.96x |
| Ynyscynhaiarn | 3 | 120.97x |
| Cannock | 2 | 25.77x |
| Madeley | 2 | 47.96x |
| Salford | 2 | 4.35x |
| Sedgley | 2 | 12.11x |
| Stranton | 2 | 15.16x |
| Talyllyn | 2 | 212.77x |
| Wallasey | 2 | 202.02x |
| Baylham | 1 | 400.00x |
| Bedwellty | 1 | 5.95x |
| Berriew | 1 | 120.48x |
| Bettws | 1 | 384.62x |
| Brechin | 1 | 20.88x |
| Bromley London | 1 | 3.45x |
| Buckfastleigh | 1 | 79.37x |
| Builth | 1 | 151.52x |
| Chirbury | 1 | 149.25x |
| Clapham | 1 | 6.08x |
| Clunbury | 1 | 227.27x |
| Donington | 1 | 555.56x |
| Glyn Traian | 1 | 263.16x |
| Greenwich | 1 | 4.77x |
| Kings Norton | 1 | 6.49x |
| Lambeth | 1 | 0.87x |
| Lancing | 1 | 163.93x |
| Lathom | 1 | 52.91x |
| Liverpool | 1 | 1.05x |
| Llanasa | 1 | 81.30x |
| Llandrinio | 1 | 277.78x |
| Llanvihangelnantmellan | 1 | 1666.67x |
| Old Radnor Evenjobb | 1 | 714.29x |
| Pershore Holy Cross | 1 | 90.91x |
| Plymouth St Andrew | 1 | 4.74x |
| Shrewsbury Holy Cross | 1 | 79.37x |
| St Columb Minor | 1 | 80.00x |
| St George Hanover | 1 | 5.82x |
| Toxteth Park | 1 | 1.89x |
| Upper Penn | 1 | 90.09x |
| Walmer | 1 | 51.28x |
| Walton On Hill | 1 | 11.82x |
| Westminster St | 1 | 20.62x |
| Whittingham | 1 | 144.93x |
| Wrockwardine | 1 | 40.00x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Rolands surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
| Name | Count |
|---|---|
| Mary | 16 |
| Ann | 4 |
| Elizabeth | 4 |
| Margaret | 4 |
| Jane | 3 |
| Sarah | 3 |
| Alice | 2 |
| Annie | 2 |
| Clara | 2 |
| Margrete | 2 |
| Abra. | 1 |
| Adah | 1 |
| Anne | 1 |
| Caroline | 1 |
| Cathrin | 1 |
| Dorothy | 1 |
| Eliza | 1 |
| Ellin | 1 |
| Emily | 1 |
| Emma | 1 |
| Ester | 1 |
| Fanny | 1 |
| Frances | 1 |
| Harriet | 1 |
| Harriett | 1 |
| Louisa | 1 |
| M.Elizabeth | 1 |
| Matilda | 1 |
| Nellie | 1 |
| Rachel | 1 |
| Rebecca | 1 |
| Rose | 1 |
| Susan | 1 |
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Rolands surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Rolands households.
FAQ
In 1881, 136 people were recorded with the Rolands surname. That placed it at #16,433 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 36 in 2016. That gives Rolands a modern rank of #35,648.
A surname derived from the Germanic name Roland, meaning "famous land".
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Rolands bearers relative to the surrounding population.
The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.