NameCensus.

UK surname

Rollason

A surname originating from a diminutive form of the male given name Roland.

In the 1881 census there were 965 people recorded with the Rollason surname, ranking it #4,025 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,314, ranked #4,569, down from #4,025 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Dudley, Foleshill and Coventry Holy Trinity (incl. Radford), Coventry St Michael, Wyken. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Sandwell, Doncaster and North Warwickshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Rollason is 1,500 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 36.2%.

1881 census count

965

Ranked #4,025

Modern count

1,314

2016, ranked #4,569

Peak year

1911

1,500 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Rollason had 965 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,025 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,314 in 2016, ranked #4,569.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,500 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Suburban Professionals.

Rollason surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Rollason surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Rollason 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 564 #4,499
1861 historical 529 #4,961
1881 historical 965 #4,025
1891 historical 1,132 #3,757
1901 historical 1,342 #3,735
1911 historical 1,500 #3,218
1997 modern 1,434 #4,062
1998 modern 1,446 #4,179
1999 modern 1,453 #4,188
2000 modern 1,472 #4,128
2001 modern 1,426 #4,155
2002 modern 1,451 #4,179
2003 modern 1,355 #4,332
2004 modern 1,348 #4,358
2005 modern 1,331 #4,352
2006 modern 1,322 #4,386
2007 modern 1,320 #4,429
2008 modern 1,322 #4,446
2009 modern 1,350 #4,455
2010 modern 1,382 #4,450
2011 modern 1,358 #4,473
2012 modern 1,313 #4,530
2013 modern 1,345 #4,509
2014 modern 1,333 #4,574
2015 modern 1,317 #4,577
2016 modern 1,314 #4,569

Geography

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Where Rollasons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Dudley, Foleshill, Coventry Holy Trinity (incl. Radford), Coventry St Michael, Wyken, Halesowen (all except Hunnington, Romsley; partly in Halesowen, Worcestershire) and Birmingham Town: Birmingham. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Sandwell, Doncaster, North Warwickshire, Dudley and Carmarthenshire. 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 Dudley Staffordshire
2 Foleshill Warwickshire
3 Coventry Holy Trinity (incl. Radford), Coventry St Michael, Wyken Warwickshire
4 Halesowen (all except Hunnington, Romsley; partly in Halesowen, Worcestershire) Staffordshire
5 Birmingham Town: Birmingham Warwickshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Sandwell 033 Sandwell
2 Doncaster 001 Doncaster
3 North Warwickshire 005 North Warwickshire
4 Dudley 026 Dudley
5 Carmarthenshire 012 Carmarthenshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Rollason

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Rollason

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

Ethnically Diverse Suburban Professionals

Group

Suburban Professionals

Nationally, the Rollason surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Suburban Professionals, within Ethnically Diverse Suburban Professionals. This does not mean every Rollason household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Employment in this Group is typically in managerial and professional occupations, and education to degree level is common. Residents are typically of working age, many of whom identify with an Indian ethnicity. Households are unlikely to be of Mixed or Multiple ethnicities, and English is not the main language used in some households. This Group is found on the outskirts of most conurbations as well as in the suburbs of some free-standing towns.

Wider pattern

Those working within the managerial, professional and administrative occupations typically reflect a wide range of ethnic groups, and reside in detached or semi-detached housing. Their residential locations at the edges of cities and conurbations and car-based lifestyles are more characteristic of Supergroup membership than birthplace or participation in child-rearing. Houses are typically owner-occupied and marriage rates are lower than the national average. This Supergroup is found throughout suburban UK.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Rollason 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

Rollason is most concentrated in decile 8 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Rollason falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

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

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Rollason is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Rollason

The surname Rollason has its origins in England, tracing back to the early medieval period. The name is believed to derive from the Old English words "role" and "sunu," which together mean "son of Rolf." Rolf was a common Germanic personal name during this time, and the addition of "sunu" or "son" was a common practice in the formation of surnames.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Rollason surname can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive record of land ownership and taxation commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The entry refers to a landowner named Roluesson, which is likely an early spelling variation of the name.

During the 13th century, the surname appeared in various records across different regions of England, including Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, and Nottinghamshire. Some early examples include Robert Rolleson, mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire in 1230, and William Rollason, listed in the Hundred Rolls of Lincolnshire in 1273.

The name Rollason has also been associated with several notable individuals throughout history. One such figure was John Rollason, a prominent English merchant and alderman of the City of London in the 16th century. He was born around 1520 and played a significant role in the city's governance and trade activities.

Another notable bearer of the Rollason surname was Sir Samuel Rollason, a British naval officer who served during the 17th century. He participated in several naval battles and expeditions, earning recognition for his bravery and leadership.

In the 18th century, the Rollason family had a strong presence in the county of Nottinghamshire. Thomas Rollason, born in 1720, was a respected landowner and magistrate in the region, and his descendants continued to hold prominent positions in the local community.

The name Rollason has also been associated with various place names, particularly in the Midlands region of England. For example, the village of Rolleston in Nottinghamshire is believed to have derived its name from the Old English words "Rolf" and "tun," meaning "Rolf's settlement."

Throughout history, the Rollason surname has undergone various spelling variations, including Rolason, Rolleston, Rollison, and Rolliston, among others. These variations often reflect regional dialects and linguistic changes over time.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Rollason families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Rollason 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. Warwickshire leads with 340 Rollasons recorded in 1881 and an index of 14.31x.

County Total Index
Warwickshire 340 14.31x
Staffordshire 252 7.92x
Worcestershire 206 16.74x
Middlesex 48 0.51x
Essex 21 1.13x
Surrey 19 0.41x
Lancashire 12 0.11x
Leicestershire 11 1.05x
Yorkshire 10 0.11x
Somerset 9 0.59x
Sussex 8 0.50x
Cornwall 6 0.56x
Durham 5 0.18x
Shropshire 5 0.61x
Derbyshire 2 0.14x
Glamorgan 2 0.12x
Gloucestershire 2 0.11x
Oxfordshire 2 0.34x
Devon 1 0.05x
Dorset 1 0.16x
Hampshire 1 0.05x
Hertfordshire 1 0.15x
Kent 1 0.03x
Northamptonshire 1 0.11x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Dudley in Worcestershire leads with 100 Rollasons recorded in 1881 and an index of 66.84x.

Place Total Index
Dudley 100 66.84x
Birmingham 88 11.11x
Aston 81 12.38x
Oldbury 72 118.93x
Foleshill 65 260.00x
West Bromwich 61 33.50x
Sedgley 49 41.48x
Coventry Holy Trinity 48 67.64x
Rowley Regis 34 38.36x
Handsworth 18 22.96x
Coventry St Michael 16 20.96x
Wolverhampton 16 6.54x
Harborne 15 14.71x
Tipton 15 15.40x
Islington London 14 1.53x
Kingswinford 12 10.39x
Stourbridge 12 37.90x
West Ham 12 2.92x
Edgbaston 10 13.57x
St Pancras London 10 1.32x
Frome 9 24.81x
Bethnal Green London 8 1.95x
Wednesbury 8 10.06x
Bilston 7 11.36x
Leicester St Margaret 7 2.75x
The Hill 7 88.61x
Amblecote 6 66.15x
Battersea 6 1.73x
Kings Norton 6 5.44x
Lambeth 6 0.73x
Mylor 6 83.92x
St Marylebone London 6 1.19x
Stoke 6 128.21x
Stoke Upon Trent 6 1.78x
Wappenbury 6 810.81x
Widnes 6 7.44x
Kenilworth 5 37.31x
Lye 5 24.41x
Nuneaton 5 18.16x
Saffron Walden 5 25.45x
Dowles 4 975.61x
Leamington Priors 4 6.84x
Sheffield 4 1.35x
Streatham 4 5.72x
Tunstall 4 28.65x
Wanstead 4 12.28x
Wigston Magna 4 28.86x
Hackney London 3 0.57x
Hastings All Sts 3 20.04x
Keighley 3 3.01x
Pendlebury 3 12.71x
Shustoke 3 141.51x
St Bartholomew Great 3 35.01x
Warwick St Nicholas 3 17.21x
Bromsgrove 2 4.83x
Derby St Werburgh 2 2.35x
Enfield 2 3.23x
Everton 2 0.56x
Handsworth 2 8.10x
Hastings St Clement 2 13.38x
Ipsden 2 87.34x
Newington 2 0.57x
Roath 2 2.68x
Rushall 2 10.68x
Worth 2 17.35x
Kensington London 1 0.19x
Maidstone 1 1.04x
Pendleton In Salford 1 0.75x
Plymouth St Andrew 1 0.66x
Portland 1 3.01x
Shrewsbury St Mary 1 3.11x
Southampton St Mary 1 0.82x
Walsall Borough 1 4.05x
Walsall Foreign 1 0.61x
Wandsworth 1 1.10x
Watford 1 1.99x
Westbury On Trym 1 1.60x
Westoe 1 0.63x
Wollaston 1 12.80x
Yardley 1 3.18x

Top female names

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

Name Count
John 47
Joseph 38
William 37
Thomas 33
James 26
Henry 21
George 20
Arthur 19
Frederick 16
Samuel 11
David 10
Charles 9
Walter 9
Albert 7
Alfred 7
Benjamin 7
Isaac 7
Enoch 6
Harry 6
Mark 6
Stephen 6
Job 5
Ernest 4
Willm. 4
Daniel 3
Edward 3
Edwin 3
Fredrick 3
Jonah 3
Jonathan 3
Richard 3
Abel 2
Edgar 2
Enock 2
Felix 2
Frank 2
Hance 2
Harold 2
Isaiah 2
Joshua 2
Josiah 2
Leslie 2
Nando 2
Noah 2
Reuben 2
Reubin 2
Robert 2
Chas 1
Elijah 1
Exra 1

FAQ

Rollason surname: questions and answers

How common was the Rollason surname in 1881?

In 1881, 965 people were recorded with the Rollason surname. That placed it at #4,025 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Rollason surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,314 in 2016. That gives Rollason a modern rank of #4,569.

What does the Rollason surname mean?

A surname originating from a diminutive form of the male given name Roland.

What does the Rollason map show?

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