UK surname
A surname derived from the French word "rolle" meaning a register or record.
In the 1881 census there were 34 people recorded with the Role surname, ranking it #28,837 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 19, ranked #36,760, down from #28,837 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Greenwich, Stoke St Gregory and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Role is 196 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 44.1%.
1881 census count
34
Ranked #28,837
Modern count
19
2016, ranked #36,760
Peak year
1861
196 bearers
Map years
1
1861 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Role surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Role surname density by area, 1861 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 | 42 | #25,706 |
| 1861 | historical | 196 | #12,223 |
| 1881 | historical | 34 | #28,837 |
| 1891 | historical | 53 | #29,946 |
| 1901 | historical | 25 | #31,259 |
| 1911 | historical | 35 | #29,478 |
| 1997 | modern | 10 | #37,060 |
| 1998 | modern | 8 | #37,334 |
| 1999 | modern | 9 | #37,217 |
| 2000 | modern | 9 | #37,119 |
| 2001 | modern | 9 | #36,980 |
| 2002 | modern | 9 | #37,051 |
| 2003 | modern | 5 | #37,750 |
| 2004 | modern | 5 | #37,830 |
| 2005 | modern | 4 | #38,078 |
| 2006 | modern | 6 | #37,788 |
| 2007 | modern | 7 | #37,687 |
| 2008 | modern | 7 | #37,735 |
| 2009 | modern | 11 | #37,336 |
| 2010 | modern | 12 | #37,307 |
| 2011 | modern | 11 | #37,397 |
| 2012 | modern | 14 | #37,078 |
| 2013 | modern | 14 | #37,127 |
| 2014 | modern | 14 | #37,161 |
| 2015 | modern | 21 | #36,574 |
| 2016 | modern | 19 | #36,760 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Greenwich, Stoke St Gregory, London parishes, Manchester and Lambeth. 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 | Greenwich | London (South Districts) |
| 2 | Stoke St Gregory | Somerset |
| 3 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 4 | Manchester | Lancashire |
| 5 | Lambeth | London (South Districts) |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Role 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 Role, 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 Role surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Role 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, Role 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 Role is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Role, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname ROLE has its origins in France, where it first emerged in the early Middle Ages, around the 11th or 12th century. The name is derived from the Old French word "rolle," which means a roll or scroll, referring to the occupation of a scribe or record-keeper.
ROLE is believed to have originated in the Normandy region of northern France. It was likely used as a descriptive surname for individuals who worked as scribes or clerks, responsible for maintaining records and documents on scrolls or parchments.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name ROLE can be found in the Domesday Book, a historical record compiled in 1086 for William the Conqueror. The book mentions a landowner named Raoul de Rolle, suggesting the presence of the name in medieval England.
In the 13th century, a notable figure bearing the name ROLE was Robert de Rolle, a British religious writer and hermit who lived from around 1290 to 1349. His work, "The Fire of Love," was an influential spiritual text during that period.
During the 14th century, another individual named John Rolle is mentioned in historical records. He was an English landowner and member of the gentry, born around 1320 in Norfolk, England.
In the 16th century, a French nobleman named Jacques Rolle gained prominence. He was born in 1518 and served as a military commander and governor of various regions in France during the French Wars of Religion.
Another notable individual with the surname ROLE was Sir Samuel Rolle, an English politician and landowner who lived from 1588 to 1647. He was a Member of Parliament and owned extensive estates in Devon, England.
As the surname ROLE spread throughout Europe, variations in spelling emerged, such as Rollo, Rolo, and Rolles. These variations were likely influenced by regional dialects and linguistic adaptations in different areas.
While the surname ROLE has its roots in France, it has since become widespread in various parts of the world, including England, Scotland, and other European countries, as well as in North America and other regions where French and British settlers migrated.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Role 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. Kent leads with 7 Roles recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.19x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Kent | 7 | 6.19x |
| Lancashire | 6 | 1.52x |
| Worcestershire | 5 | 11.55x |
| Middlesex | 4 | 1.21x |
| Norfolk | 3 | 5.88x |
| Bedfordshire | 1 | 5.82x |
| Cumberland | 1 | 3.50x |
| Derbyshire | 1 | 1.93x |
| Glamorgan | 1 | 1.73x |
| Gloucestershire | 1 | 1.54x |
| Northumberland | 1 | 2.03x |
| Surrey | 1 | 0.62x |
| Sussex | 1 | 1.79x |
| Yorkshire | 1 | 0.30x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Manchester in Lancashire leads with 6 Roles recorded in 1881 and an index of 33.92x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Manchester | 6 | 33.92x |
| The Hill | 4 | 1428.57x |
| Barham | 3 | 2500.00x |
| Shoreditch London | 3 | 20.88x |
| Deptford St Paul | 2 | 22.91x |
| Kings Lynn St Margaret | 2 | 130.72x |
| Minster In Sheppey | 2 | 106.95x |
| Adlestrop | 1 | 5000.00x |
| Brampton Bierlow | 1 | 238.10x |
| Derby St Alkmund | 1 | 64.10x |
| Harrold | 1 | 833.33x |
| Keswick | 1 | 277.78x |
| Keymer | 1 | 256.41x |
| Roath | 1 | 38.17x |
| Seaton Delaval | 1 | 232.56x |
| Smallburgh | 1 | 1666.67x |
| St George Hanover | 1 | 23.09x |
| Streatham | 1 | 40.65x |
| Worcester St John | 1 | 192.31x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Role surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Role 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 Role households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 5 |
| Labourer | 2 |
| Nail Maker | 2 |
| Rag Sorter | 2 |
| Ag Lab | 1 |
| Blacksmith | 1 |
| Carpenter | 1 |
| Coal Miner | 1 |
| Collier Labourer | 1 |
| Gardener | 1 |
| Groom & Gardner (Dom) | 1 |
| House Keeper | 1 |
| Labourer In Mill Cotton Manuf | 1 |
| No Occupation | 1 |
| Nurse (SM) | 1 |
| Nurse Domestic Servant | 1 |
| Royal Naval Engineer | 1 |
| School | 1 |
| Seamstress | 1 |
| Shipwright | 1 |
| Wife | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 34 people were recorded with the Role surname. That placed it at #28,837 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 19 in 2016. That gives Role a modern rank of #36,760.
A surname derived from the French word "rolle" meaning a register or record.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Role 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.