NameCensus.

UK surname

Rollings

Derived from a place name meaning "dweller by the ridged land" in Old English.

In the 1881 census there were 924 people recorded with the Rollings surname, ranking it #4,156 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,406, ranked #4,337, down from #4,156 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to St Mary, London parishes and Kidderminster. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include East Northamptonshire, Cornwall and North Somerset.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Rollings is 1,498 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 52.2%.

1881 census count

924

Ranked #4,156

Modern count

1,406

2016, ranked #4,337

Peak year

1998

1,498 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Rollings had 924 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,156 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,406 in 2016, ranked #4,337.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,336 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Rollings surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Rollings surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Rollings 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 605 #4,247
1861 historical 609 #4,362
1881 historical 924 #4,156
1891 historical 1,001 #4,147
1901 historical 1,251 #3,956
1911 historical 1,336 #3,579
1997 modern 1,441 #4,050
1998 modern 1,498 #4,053
1999 modern 1,486 #4,118
2000 modern 1,460 #4,151
2001 modern 1,422 #4,169
2002 modern 1,471 #4,132
2003 modern 1,464 #4,078
2004 modern 1,463 #4,080
2005 modern 1,433 #4,117
2006 modern 1,429 #4,128
2007 modern 1,432 #4,158
2008 modern 1,429 #4,192
2009 modern 1,433 #4,262
2010 modern 1,460 #4,271
2011 modern 1,450 #4,250
2012 modern 1,428 #4,237
2013 modern 1,458 #4,231
2014 modern 1,453 #4,277
2015 modern 1,422 #4,304
2016 modern 1,406 #4,337

Geography

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Where Rollings' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around St Mary, London parishes, Kidderminster, Peterborough St John the Baptist and Dunstable. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to East Northamptonshire, Cornwall, North Somerset and East Cambridgeshire. 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 St Mary Pembrokeshire
2 London parishes London 3
3 Kidderminster Worcestershire
4 Peterborough St John the Baptist Northamptonshire
5 Dunstable Bedfordshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 East Northamptonshire 006 East Northamptonshire
2 Cornwall 028 Cornwall
3 North Somerset 001 North Somerset
4 East Northamptonshire 005 East Northamptonshire
5 East Cambridgeshire 001 East Cambridgeshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Rollings

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Rollings

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Rollings, 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 Rollings surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Rollings 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

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Rollings is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Rollings is most concentrated in decile 5 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.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Rollings falls in decile 8 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

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

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Rollings

The surname Rollings is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period. It is derived from the Old English word "rollung," which means "a rolling" or "to roll." This suggests that the name may have been given as a descriptive nickname to someone who worked as a miller or someone who rolled or transported goods.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Rollings can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of land and property in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. The name appears as "Rollinges," suggesting that the spelling has evolved over time.

In the 13th century, records show a William Rollings from Lincolnshire, England, who was a landowner and farmer. Another notable figure was John Rollings, a merchant from London who lived in the late 15th century and traded goods across Europe.

During the 16th century, the Rollings family established themselves in the county of Yorkshire, where they owned several estates and played a prominent role in local affairs. Sir Robert Rollings (1520-1587) was a respected magistrate and member of Parliament, known for his contributions to the legal system.

In the 17th century, the Rollings name appeared in various places across England, including Oxfordshire, where a family of Rollings lived in the village of Woodstock. One of their descendants, Thomas Rollings (1638-1712), was a successful businessman and philanthropist who funded the construction of a local school and church.

Another notable figure was Samuel Rollings (1718-1792), a renowned botanist and naturalist from Northamptonshire. He published several books on the flora and fauna of England and was a member of the Royal Society.

In the 19th century, the Rollings family continued to make contributions in various fields. William Rollings (1802-1872) was a prominent architect who designed several churches and public buildings in London, while James Rollings (1846-1923) was a pioneering engineer who played a crucial role in the development of early steam engines.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Rollings families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Rollings 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. Worcestershire leads with 109 Rollings' recorded in 1881 and an index of 9.21x.

County Total Index
Worcestershire 109 9.21x
Middlesex 89 0.98x
Bedfordshire 84 17.90x
Herefordshire 74 19.91x
Lincolnshire 40 2.76x
Staffordshire 40 1.31x
Gloucestershire 37 2.08x
Surrey 36 0.82x
Northamptonshire 34 3.99x
Yorkshire 33 0.37x
Devon 28 1.48x
Kent 28 0.91x
Glamorgan 27 1.71x
Buckinghamshire 24 4.38x
Warwickshire 23 1.01x
Radnorshire 22 30.09x
Sussex 21 1.37x
Huntingdonshire 18 10.00x
Shropshire 18 2.30x
Somerset 17 1.17x
Hampshire 16 0.86x
Leicestershire 14 1.39x
Hertfordshire 12 1.92x
Oxfordshire 12 2.14x
Pembrokeshire 12 4.17x
Norfolk 10 0.72x
Lancashire 9 0.08x
Durham 8 0.30x
Essex 6 0.34x
Berkshire 5 0.74x
Nottinghamshire 5 0.41x
Renfrewshire 4 0.57x
Cambridgeshire 3 0.52x
Channel Islands 2 0.74x
Cheshire 2 0.10x
Monmouthshire 2 0.31x
Royal Navy 2 1.85x
Rutland 2 3.01x
Derbyshire 1 0.07x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Eaton Bray in Bedfordshire leads with 48 Rollings' recorded in 1881 and an index of 1012.66x.

Place Total Index
Eaton Bray 48 1012.66x
Kidderminster Borough 48 69.30x
Bethnal Green London 17 4.32x
Brighton 16 5.19x
Dunstable 16 110.96x
Westbury On Severn East 16 39.82x
Pembridge 15 365.85x
Redmarley 14 451.61x
Aston 13 2.07x
Edlesborough 13 260.52x
Llanwonno 13 22.93x
Yarpole 13 695.19x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 12 7.17x
Islington London 12 1.37x
Pembroke St Mary 12 32.35x
West Bromwich 12 6.85x
Ingham 11 594.59x
Whitton 10 1960.78x
Chelveston Cum Caldecott 9 687.02x
Clerkenwell London 9 4.21x
Crayford 9 66.67x
Stanton Lacy 9 133.14x
Camberwell 8 1.38x
Doncaster 8 12.19x
Luton 8 9.85x
Monnington On Wye 8 2857.14x
Swansea Town 8 6.18x
Bridgewater 7 17.68x
Brixham 7 32.02x
Buckworth 7 1014.49x
Cannock 7 13.11x
Clent 7 225.08x
Crossgate 7 59.37x
Heyop 7 1044.78x
Ipsden 7 316.74x
Kidderminster Foreign 7 41.84x
Leominster Out 7 200.00x
Linslade 7 130.35x
Northampton St Sepulchre 7 16.14x
Peterborough 7 11.34x
Portsea 7 1.92x
Putney 7 16.95x
Spittlegate 7 34.93x
Wolverhampton 7 2.98x
Hemel Hempstead 6 21.32x
Penge 6 10.36x
Petham 6 280.37x
Plymouth Charles The 6 7.22x
Shoreditch London 6 1.53x
Tormoham 6 7.52x
Walsall Foreign 6 3.80x
Wolverley 6 57.75x
Worcester St Peter 6 26.79x
Abington 5 1351.35x
Bridgnorth St Mary 5 65.45x
Coventry Holy Trinity 5 7.33x
Egham 5 18.44x
Gedney 5 84.46x
Hackney London 5 0.98x
Harston 5 980.39x
Heigham 5 6.69x
Holdenhurst 5 10.26x
Hornsey 5 4.36x
Hoyland Nether 5 22.71x
Hurstpierpoint 5 58.82x
Knill 5 1724.14x
Leighton Buzzard 5 24.78x
Rotherfield Peppard 5 324.68x
Stoke Damerel 5 3.79x
Abbey 4 3.73x
Caddington 4 58.22x
Greenwich 4 2.77x
Martley 4 117.99x
Newton 4 740.74x
Plumstead 4 3.88x
Rickmansworth 4 23.26x
St Marylebone London 4 0.83x
Sutton 4 12.52x
West Ham 4 1.01x
Westminster St 4 11.97x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 65
John 63
George 41
James 29
Thomas 23
Henry 19
Alfred 16
Arthur 15
Edward 14
Joseph 11
Richard 11
Charles 10
Samuel 9
Frederick 8
Ernest 7
Robert 7
Fred 6
Harry 6
Walter 6
Albert 4
Benjamin 4
Herbert 4
Amos 3
David 3
Edwin 2
Eli 2
Elias 2
Ezekiel 2
Fredrick 2
Jesse 2
Joshua 2
Solomon 2
Wm. 2
Auther 1
Benjn. 1
Berned 1
Caleb 1
E.J.W. 1
Eleazer 1
Enoch 1
Francis 1
Fredk. 1
Fuller 1
Japheth 1
Jason 1
Jeffrey 1
Jno. 1
Jonas 1
Leonard 1
Lewes 1

FAQ

Rollings surname: questions and answers

How common was the Rollings surname in 1881?

In 1881, 924 people were recorded with the Rollings surname. That placed it at #4,156 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Rollings surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,406 in 2016. That gives Rollings a modern rank of #4,337.

What does the Rollings surname mean?

Derived from a place name meaning "dweller by the ridged land" in Old English.

What does the Rollings map show?

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