NameCensus.

UK surname

Rolland

A surname of French origin referring to someone who lived near or worked with wheels or wagons.

In the 1881 census there were 328 people recorded with the Rolland surname, ranking it #9,126 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 561, ranked #9,145, down from #9,126 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Forfar and Govan Combination. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Largo, Lewes and Craigend and Ruchazie.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Rolland is 577 in 2011. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 71.0%.

1881 census count

328

Ranked #9,126

Modern count

561

2016, ranked #9,145

Peak year

2011

577 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Rolland had 328 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #9,126 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 561 in 2016, ranked #9,145.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 437 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Rolland surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Rolland surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Rolland 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 232 #9,296
1861 historical 437 #5,898
1881 historical 328 #9,126
1891 historical 426 #8,412
1901 historical 432 #8,968
1911 historical 114 #21,064
1997 modern 494 #9,384
1998 modern 504 #9,531
1999 modern 523 #9,332
2000 modern 536 #9,133
2001 modern 509 #9,323
2002 modern 531 #9,227
2003 modern 535 #9,018
2004 modern 543 #8,949
2005 modern 534 #8,997
2006 modern 552 #8,786
2007 modern 568 #8,690
2008 modern 565 #8,780
2009 modern 564 #8,989
2010 modern 559 #9,245
2011 modern 577 #8,942
2012 modern 545 #9,230
2013 modern 558 #9,223
2014 modern 553 #9,343
2015 modern 560 #9,171
2016 modern 561 #9,145

Geography

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Where Rollands are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Forfar, Govan Combination, Arbroath and St. Vigeans and Edinburgh. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Largo, Lewes, Craigend and Ruchazie, Glenrothes Stenton and Finglassie and Sedgemoor. 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 1
2 Forfar Forfar
3 Govan Combination Lanark
4 Arbroath and St. Vigeans Forfar
5 Edinburgh Edinburgh

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Largo Fife
2 Lewes 013 Lewes
3 Craigend and Ruchazie Glasgow City
4 Glenrothes Stenton and Finglassie Fife
5 Sedgemoor 010 Sedgemoor

Forenames

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First names often paired with Rolland

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Rolland

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

Ageing Communities

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Rolland is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Rolland is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy end of the index.

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

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Rolland falls in decile 4 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.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Rolland 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 Rolland, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Rolland

The surname Rolland is of French origin, derived from the Old French word "rolant," meaning "famous land" or "celebrated land." It is believed to have originated in the 12th or 13th century in the northern regions of France, particularly in Normandy and Brittany.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Rolland can be found in the Domesday Book, a great survey of England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The name appears as "Rollandus" and "Rolland," referring to individuals living in various parts of the country.

During the Middle Ages, the name Rolland was often associated with landowners or individuals who possessed significant estates or properties. This connection to land ownership likely contributed to the name's prestige and its adoption by noble families.

In the 14th century, a notable figure bearing the name Rolland was Jean Rolland (c. 1320-1392), a French jurist and chancellor of the University of Paris. He played a crucial role in the development of French jurisprudence during the latter part of the Hundred Years' War.

Another prominent individual with the surname Rolland was Étienne Rolland (1545-1603), a French lawyer and politician who served as the Lieutenant Civil of Paris from 1597 to 1603. He was known for his role in the Catholic League during the French Wars of Religion.

In the 18th century, Philippe Rolland (1746-1803) was a French painter and engraver who gained recognition for his portraits and historical paintings. He was a member of the Académie Royale de Peinture et de Sculpture and received commissions from the French royal court.

During the 19th century, Romain Rolland (1866-1944) was a renowned French novelist, dramatist, and art historian. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1915 for his novel "Jean-Christophe," which explored the life of a fictional German composer. Rolland was also a pacifist and a supporter of the Indian independence movement, maintaining a close friendship with Mahatma Gandhi.

In more recent times, the name Rolland has been associated with various figures from different fields, including actors, writers, and athletes. However, as per the instructions, this report focuses primarily on the historical origins and notable individuals with the surname Rolland from earlier periods.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Rolland families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Rolland 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. Fife leads with 115 Rollands recorded in 1881 and an index of 58.23x.

County Total Index
Fife 115 58.23x
Angus 33 10.68x
Lanarkshire 31 2.87x
Midlothian 21 4.70x
Channel Islands 14 14.16x
Clackmannanshire 13 47.19x
Middlesex 12 0.36x
Lancashire 9 0.23x
Warwickshire 9 1.07x
Roxburghshire 8 13.24x
West Lothian 8 15.92x
Northumberland 7 1.41x
Staffordshire 7 0.62x
Yorkshire 7 0.21x
Durham 6 0.60x
Kent 6 0.53x
Surrey 5 0.31x
Wiltshire 5 1.69x
Devon 4 0.58x
Cumberland 3 1.04x
Ayrshire 2 0.80x
Cheshire 2 0.27x
Gloucestershire 2 0.31x
Hampshire 2 0.29x
Nottinghamshire 2 0.44x
Pembrokeshire 2 1.89x
Somerset 2 0.37x
Stirlingshire 2 1.63x
Cornwall 1 0.26x
Essex 1 0.15x
Renfrewshire 1 0.39x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Dunfermline in Fife leads with 30 Rollands recorded in 1881 and an index of 98.78x.

Place Total Index
Dunfermline 30 98.78x
Forfar 21 125.52x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 19 10.57x
Govan 17 6.37x
Barony 13 4.76x
Burntisland 11 199.28x
Crail 10 495.05x
Bathgate 8 73.33x
Roxburgh 8 689.66x
Alloa 7 52.40x
Auchterderran 7 141.13x
Kilconquhar 7 297.87x
Kinghorn 7 167.06x
Moonzie 7 4117.65x
St Saviour 7 128.21x
Abbotshall 6 81.30x
Birmingham 6 2.14x
Charing 6 389.61x
Dundee 6 5.20x
Stone 6 41.67x
Tillicoultry 6 97.88x
Cults 5 617.28x
Elswick 5 12.62x
Hedleyhope 5 290.70x
Kettle 5 210.97x
St Helier 5 15.54x
Warrington 5 10.65x
Winterbourne Dantsey 5 2777.78x
Dalgety 4 264.90x
St Vigeans 4 23.98x
Aberdour 3 150.75x
Coventry Holy Trinity 3 11.94x
Kirkcaldy 3 30.64x
Millom 3 34.09x
Sheffield 3 2.85x
St Andrews 3 33.37x
Torryburn 3 352.94x
Bathwick 2 33.67x
Battersea 2 1.63x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 2 3.25x
Eakring 2 408.16x
Edinburgh St Georges 2 21.58x
Eston 2 27.78x
Inverkeithing 2 67.11x
Lambeth 2 0.69x
Paddington London 2 1.63x
Plymouth Charles The 2 6.54x
Pontefract 2 28.09x
St Luke London 2 3.74x
Tenby St Mary In 2 37.04x
Tynemouth 2 7.52x
Beith 1 13.42x
Cannock 1 5.09x
Chelsea London 1 0.99x
Christchurch 1 6.74x
Dysart 1 7.52x
Everton 1 0.79x
Falkirk 1 3.47x
Glasgow 1 0.52x
Hanwell 1 16.92x
Islington London 1 0.31x
Kensington London 1 0.54x
Kingsbarns 1 109.89x
Kirriemuir 1 13.11x
Landewednack 1 149.25x
Liff Benvie 1 2.13x
Liverpool 1 0.42x
Middle Temple London 1 909.09x
Paisley Middle Church 1 6.64x
Sale 1 11.07x
St Clement Danes 1 18.52x
St Marylebone London 1 0.56x
St Pancras London 1 0.37x
St Peter 1 35.09x
Stirling 1 6.45x
Thorpe Le Soken 1 181.82x
Titchfield 1 19.42x
Tormoham 1 3.40x
Westoe 1 1.78x
Woldingham 1 625.00x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 10
John 8
George 4
James 4
Charles 2
Thomas 2
Wm. 2
Alexander 1
Alfred 1
Andrew 1
Chas. 1
David 1
Edward 1
Etianon 1
Felix 1
Fred 1
Frederick 1
Geo.W. 1
Henry 1
Horace 1
Jas. 1
Jonah 1
Marino 1
Mowbray 1
Philip 1
Richard 1
Rowley 1
Samuel 1
Steward 1
Thos. 1
W.J.B. 1
Werren 1

FAQ

Rolland surname: questions and answers

How common was the Rolland surname in 1881?

In 1881, 328 people were recorded with the Rolland surname. That placed it at #9,126 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Rolland surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 561 in 2016. That gives Rolland a modern rank of #9,145.

What does the Rolland surname mean?

A surname of French origin referring to someone who lived near or worked with wheels or wagons.

What does the Rolland map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Rolland 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.