NameCensus.

UK surname

Roll

An occupational surname referring to a person who rolls or flattens metal, likely in a factory setting.

In the 1881 census there were 323 people recorded with the Roll surname, ranking it #9,240 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 374, ranked #12,490, down from #9,240 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Gorleston and Tynemouth. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include North Norfolk, Great Yarmouth and Cheshire East.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Roll is 415 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 15.8%.

1881 census count

323

Ranked #9,240

Modern count

374

2016, ranked #12,490

Peak year

1901

415 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Roll had 323 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #9,240 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 374 in 2016, ranked #12,490.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 415 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Roll surname distribution map

The map shows where the Roll surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Roll surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Roll over time

The 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 194 #10,662
1861 historical 390 #6,567
1881 historical 323 #9,240
1891 historical 404 #8,802
1901 historical 415 #9,236
1911 historical 409 #9,140
1997 modern 409 #10,818
1998 modern 402 #11,295
1999 modern 402 #11,403
2000 modern 391 #11,591
2001 modern 388 #11,459
2002 modern 400 #11,443
2003 modern 381 #11,667
2004 modern 376 #11,798
2005 modern 371 #11,842
2006 modern 359 #12,216
2007 modern 364 #12,237
2008 modern 353 #12,616
2009 modern 356 #12,800
2010 modern 375 #12,568
2011 modern 369 #12,600
2012 modern 366 #12,520
2013 modern 376 #12,472
2014 modern 387 #12,299
2015 modern 384 #12,276
2016 modern 374 #12,490

Geography

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Where Rolls are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Gorleston, Tynemouth, Lakenham , Eaton St Andrew, Town Close, St Stephen, St Peter Mancroft, St Giles, St Andrew, St John and Hellesdon, St Mary in the Marsh, St Clement, St Martin at Oak, St Mary at Coslany, St Michael at Cos. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to North Norfolk, Great Yarmouth, Cheshire East, Broadland and Waveney. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 London parishes London 3
2 Gorleston Suffolk
3 Tynemouth Northumberland
4 Lakenham , Eaton St Andrew, Town Close, St Stephen, St Peter Mancroft, St Giles, St Andrew, St John Norfolk
5 Hellesdon, St Mary in the Marsh, St Clement, St Martin at Oak, St Mary at Coslany, St Michael at Cos Norfolk

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 North Norfolk 014 North Norfolk
2 Great Yarmouth 002 Great Yarmouth
3 Cheshire East 025 Cheshire East
4 Broadland 013 Broadland
5 Waveney 004 Waveney

Forenames

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First names often paired with Roll

These lists show first names that appear often with the Roll surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Roll

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Roll, 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

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Roll surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Roll household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Roll is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Roll is most concentrated in decile 4 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Roll falls in decile 6 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Roll is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Roll, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Roll

The surname Roll has its origins in Germany, where it first emerged in the medieval period. It is derived from the Old German word "rollen," which means "to roll" or "to turn." This suggests that the name may have initially been an occupational surname given to someone who worked as a miller or a worker in a profession that involved rolling or turning objects.

The earliest recorded instances of the Roll surname can be traced back to the 13th century, with references found in various historical documents and records from German-speaking regions. One notable example is the mention of a person named Henricus Rolle in a document from the city of Cologne, dated 1284.

In the following centuries, the Roll surname spread across different parts of Germany and neighboring countries. It is believed that the name may have also been influenced by the place name Rolle, a town in the Canton of Vaud in Switzerland, which could have contributed to the surname's development and variations in spelling.

Several notable individuals with the Roll surname have made their mark throughout history. One such figure was Johann Heinrich Roll (1609-1684), a German composer and organist from Nuremberg, who was renowned for his contributions to church music during the Baroque period.

Another prominent bearer of the Roll surname was Georg Ludwig Roll (1778-1846), a German philosopher and educator who worked as a professor at the University of Bonn. His writings on ethics and moral philosophy were influential in his time.

In the realm of literature, the Roll surname is associated with Walter H. Roll (1886-1942), an American author and playwright known for works such as "The Admirals" and "The House of Connelly." His plays explored themes of family dynamics and social issues.

The Roll surname also has connections to the world of art, with the Austrian painter and engraver Johann Michael Roll (1736-1800) being a notable figure. His works, which included portraits and religious scenes, were highly regarded during the late 18th century.

Another individual of note was Carl Ferdinand Roll (1800-1879), a German architect who designed numerous buildings in Berlin, including the Alte Nationalgalerie, a renowned art museum that still stands today.

While the Roll surname has its roots in Germany and surrounding regions, it has since spread to various parts of the world through migration and cultural exchange.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Roll families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Roll surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Norfolk leads with 78 Rolls recorded in 1881 and an index of 16.30x.

County Total Index
Norfolk 78 16.30x
Middlesex 52 1.67x
Suffolk 42 11.08x
Northumberland 27 5.83x
Essex 14 2.28x
Lancashire 13 0.35x
Devon 12 1.85x
Surrey 11 0.73x
Yorkshire 11 0.36x
Glamorgan 9 1.66x
Durham 8 0.86x
Sussex 8 1.52x
Berkshire 7 3.00x
Kent 7 0.66x
Buckinghamshire 4 2.13x
Fife 3 1.63x
Aberdeenshire 2 0.69x
Dorset 2 0.98x
Hampshire 2 0.31x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.51x
Dunbartonshire 1 1.20x
Hertfordshire 1 0.47x
Midlothian 1 0.24x
Northamptonshire 1 0.34x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.24x
Somerset 1 0.20x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Gorleston in Suffolk leads with 24 Rolls recorded in 1881 and an index of 249.22x.

Place Total Index
Gorleston 24 249.22x
Lakenham 14 205.88x
Lowestoft 14 78.21x
Tynemouth 14 56.47x
West Ham 14 10.32x
Hackney London 12 6.88x
Heigham 9 35.05x
Southwark St George Martyr 9 14.37x
Brighton 8 7.56x
Norwich St George Colegate 8 459.77x
Ashby With Oby 7 6363.64x
Bishopwearmouth 7 8.81x
Clewer 7 73.15x
Cowpen 7 65.67x
Llantrisant 7 51.24x
South Molton 7 196.63x
Great Lever 6 153.06x
Horning 6 1304.35x
Islington London 6 1.99x
Barrow In Furness 5 9.96x
Bedlington 5 32.34x
Great Yarmouth 5 12.62x
Hindringham 5 793.65x
St Pancras London 5 2.00x
Holy Trinity 4 5.39x
Mile End Old Town 4 8.14x
Paddington London 4 3.50x
Somerleyton 4 625.00x
South Lynn 4 74.07x
Southcoates 4 23.36x
Aveton Gifford 3 319.15x
Bethnal Green London 3 2.22x
Bradeston 3 1666.67x
Charlton Next Woolwich 3 27.10x
Chelsea London 3 3.20x
Clerkenwell London 3 4.08x
Kettle 3 135.75x
Norwich St Andrew 3 365.85x
Sprowston 3 142.18x
Cardiff St Mary 2 6.70x
Linthorpe 2 10.87x
Milton In Gravesend 2 12.56x
Norwich St Peter Mancroft 2 83.33x
Norwich St Stephen 2 45.56x
Peterhead 2 13.12x
Ratcliffe London 2 11.64x
Sharrington 2 869.57x
Shoreditch London 2 1.48x
St Marylebone London 2 1.20x
Stony Stratford East 2 259.74x
Stony Stratford West 2 153.85x
Aldershot 1 4.68x
Alton 1 20.79x
Barney 1 303.03x
Bow London 1 2.52x
Brampton 1 526.32x
Cheshunt 1 13.33x
Churchstow 1 256.41x
Clarborough 1 31.85x
Edinburgh St Georges 1 11.56x
Epsom 1 13.53x
Fakenham 1 42.37x
Fordington 1 22.73x
Kensington London 1 0.58x
Lewisham 1 1.77x
Liverpool 1 0.45x
Melcombe Regis 1 11.82x
New Kilpatrick 1 12.58x
Northampton St Sepulchre 1 6.72x
Skelton In Guisbrough 1 11.99x
St Faith Under St 1 555.56x
St George Hanover 1 2.46x
St Martin In Fields 1 5.37x
Stalham 1 109.89x
Trumpington 1 100.00x
Wandsworth 1 3.34x
Wellington 1 14.73x
West Derby 1 0.93x
Whickham 1 11.74x
Yealmpton 1 101.01x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Roll surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Elizabeth 15
Mary 11
Sarah 10
Alice 8
Emma 6
Edith 4
Ethel 4
Hannah 4
Louisa 4
Martha 4
Amelia 3
Ann 3
Annie 3
Eliza 3
Ellen 3
Frances 3
Jane 3
Maria 3
Charlotte 2
Clara 2
Fanny 2
Penelope 2
Susan 2
Anna 1
Bertha 1
Bridget 1
Catherine 1
Constance 1
Dinah 1
Elizth. 1
Emily 1
Eva 1
F. 1
Florence 1
Freidericke 1
Henzietta 1
Isabella 1
Jessie 1
Kate 1
Kesia 1
Laura 1
Lillie 1
Lilly 1
Lucy 1
Mabel 1
Mahala 1
Margaret 1
Margt. 1
Margt.J. 1
Winifred 1

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Roll surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
John 21
William 20
Robert 12
Henry 11
George 10
James 8
Thomas 8
Edward 5
Arthur 4
Charles 4
Frederick 4
Joseph 4
Samuel 4
Walter 4
Alfred 3
Ernest 3
Richard 3
Alma 2
Beevor 2
Daniel 2
Frank 2
Geo.W. 2
Herbert 2
Robinson 2
Robt. 2
Sidney 2
Archibald 1
Cecil 1
Clement 1
Cuthbert 1
Fred. 1
Frederic 1
Graham 1
Harry 1
Hugh 1
Jeremiah 1
Mathew 1
Matthew 1
Peter 1
Rewbin 1
Terrace 1
Thos.Harold 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Roll surname: questions and answers

How common was the Roll surname in 1881?

In 1881, 323 people were recorded with the Roll surname. That placed it at #9,240 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Roll surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 374 in 2016. That gives Roll a modern rank of #12,490.

What does the Roll surname mean?

An occupational surname referring to a person who rolls or flattens metal, likely in a factory setting.

What does the Roll map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Roll bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

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.