NameCensus.

UK surname

Rollinson

Of English origin, a patronymic surname derived from the given name Rowland or Rollin.

In the 1881 census there were 1,617 people recorded with the Rollinson surname, ranking it #2,639 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,280, ranked #2,848, down from #2,639 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Dudley, Bradford and Sheffield. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Rotherham, York and Sandwell.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Rollinson is 2,373 in 2000. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 41.0%.

1881 census count

1,617

Ranked #2,639

Modern count

2,280

2016, ranked #2,848

Peak year

2000

2,373 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Rollinson had 1,617 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,639 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,280 in 2016, ranked #2,848.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,207 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Young Families in Industrial Towns.

Rollinson surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Rollinson surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Rollinson 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 774 #3,455
1861 historical 1,029 #2,720
1881 historical 1,617 #2,639
1891 historical 1,725 #2,632
1901 historical 1,985 #2,675
1911 historical 2,207 #2,278
1997 modern 2,241 #2,768
1998 modern 2,348 #2,757
1999 modern 2,369 #2,759
2000 modern 2,373 #2,731
2001 modern 2,321 #2,735
2002 modern 2,327 #2,784
2003 modern 2,281 #2,772
2004 modern 2,263 #2,785
2005 modern 2,253 #2,768
2006 modern 2,291 #2,731
2007 modern 2,284 #2,761
2008 modern 2,303 #2,764
2009 modern 2,323 #2,807
2010 modern 2,348 #2,846
2011 modern 2,350 #2,806
2012 modern 2,310 #2,796
2013 modern 2,326 #2,828
2014 modern 2,335 #2,830
2015 modern 2,316 #2,825
2016 modern 2,280 #2,848

Geography

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Where Rollinsons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Dudley, Bradford, Sheffield, London parishes and Bolton-le-Moors. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Rotherham, York, Sandwell and Dudley. 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 Bradford Yorkshire, West Riding
3 Sheffield Yorkshire, West Riding
4 London parishes London 2
5 Bolton-le-Moors Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Rotherham 027 Rotherham
2 York 012 York
3 Rotherham 025 Rotherham
4 Sandwell 014 Sandwell
5 Dudley 006 Dudley

Forenames

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First names often paired with Rollinson

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Rollinson

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Young Families in Industrial Towns

Nationally, the Rollinson surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Young Families in Industrial Towns, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Rollinson household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods house predominantly young, UK-born individuals identifying with a White ethnic group with dependent children. Long-term disability and unpaid care are prevalent, and religious affiliations are uncommon. Housing is terraced or semi-detached and social rented sector housing is the norm. Unemployment is above the Supergroup average, and employment is principally in elementary occupations, as process plant and machine operatives, or in caring and leisure services. Educational attainment is low. The group is scattered throughout former industrial towns in the Midlands and the South Wales Valleys.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Rollinson is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Rollinson is most concentrated in decile 9 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.

9
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Rollinson 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 Rollinson is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Rollinson

The surname Rollinson is of English origin, tracing its roots back to the medieval period. It is believed to have originated as a patronymic name, derived from the personal name Rol or Roll, which were diminutive forms of the name Roland. The suffix "-inson" was commonly added to such names to indicate "son of."

Rollinson is closely related to other surnames such as Rollins, Rollings, and Rawlinson, all of which share a similar etymological foundation. The name is thought to have first emerged in the northern regions of England, particularly in the counties of Yorkshire and Lancashire, where it was well-established by the 13th century.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Lancashire Inquests of 1310, which mentions a John Rolinson. Another early reference is in the Lay Subsidy Rolls of 1332, where a Robert Rollynson is listed in the West Riding of Yorkshire.

The Rollinson name has been associated with various place names across England, including Rollinson in Lancashire and Rollinson's Farm in Lincolnshire. These locations likely took their names from early bearers of the surname who resided there.

Among notable historical figures with the Rollinson surname, one can mention:

1. Thomas Rollinson (c. 1590-1663), an English clergyman and academic who served as the Master of Pembroke College, Cambridge from 1629 to 1663.

2. John Rollinson (1762-1841), a British navy officer who served during the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, and achieved the rank of Admiral.

3. William Rollinson (1762-1842), a prominent British architect who designed several notable buildings in London, including the Church of St. Dunstan-in-the-West.

4. Samuel Rollinson (1807-1876), an English inventor and engineer, best known for his contributions to the development of early agricultural machinery.

5. Mary Rollinson (1845-1922), a British educator and suffragist who campaigned for women's rights and played a significant role in the establishment of higher education opportunities for women in the late 19th century.

While the Rollinson name may have evolved over time and spread to various parts of the world, its origins can be traced back to the medieval English heartlands, where it emerged as a patronymic surname reflecting the rich tapestry of English nomenclature.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Rollinson families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Rollinson 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. Yorkshire leads with 620 Rollinsons recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.97x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 620 3.97x
Lancashire 190 1.02x
Staffordshire 147 2.76x
Lincolnshire 104 4.13x
Derbyshire 91 3.69x
Nottinghamshire 89 4.19x
Suffolk 67 3.49x
Worcestershire 56 2.72x
Middlesex 53 0.34x
Cheshire 45 1.29x
Essex 35 1.12x
Warwickshire 26 0.65x
Kent 15 0.28x
Durham 10 0.21x
Surrey 10 0.13x
Northamptonshire 8 0.54x
Somerset 8 0.32x
Sussex 7 0.26x
Norfolk 6 0.25x
Lanarkshire 5 0.10x
Hampshire 4 0.12x
Leicestershire 4 0.23x
Denbighshire 3 0.50x
Gloucestershire 3 0.10x
Cambridgeshire 2 0.20x
Devon 2 0.06x
Dorset 2 0.19x
Glamorgan 2 0.07x
Isle of Man 1 0.34x
Shropshire 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. Dudley in Worcestershire leads with 47 Rollinsons recorded in 1881 and an index of 18.78x.

Place Total Index
Dudley 47 18.78x
Leeds 47 5.33x
Kingswinford 45 23.29x
Hunslet 42 17.24x
Rowley Regis 42 28.32x
Almondbury 25 33.10x
Sheffield 23 4.62x
West Bromwich 21 6.89x
Barrow In Furness 20 7.86x
Birmingham 20 1.51x
Chesterfield 20 21.62x
Great Bolton 19 7.67x
Macclesfield 18 11.64x
Ilkeston 17 24.57x
Bradford 16 4.23x
Cumberworth 16 201.26x
Little Bolton 16 6.65x
Ordsall 16 98.34x
Pendleton In Salford 16 7.18x
Brightside Bierlow 15 4.90x
East Ardsley 15 110.86x
Ecclesall Bierlow 15 4.72x
Great Thurlow 15 717.70x
Walsall Foreign 15 5.46x
Radford 14 12.97x
West Ham 13 1.89x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 12 8.25x
Armley 11 15.97x
Dewsbury 11 6.87x
Horncastle 11 42.29x
Liversedge 11 15.82x
Manchester 11 1.31x
New Malton 11 58.89x
Templenewsam 11 97.26x
Wortley In Bramley 11 8.89x
Great Baddow 10 90.33x
Hapton 10 85.54x
Holy Trinity 10 2.66x
Ossett Cum Gawthorpe 10 17.92x
Poslingford 10 518.13x
Salford 10 1.82x
South Somercoates 10 436.68x
Wakefield 10 8.34x
Basford 9 9.19x
Boston 9 11.77x
Bradford Girlington 9 128.94x
Hawkedon 9 596.03x
Holbeck 9 8.70x
Hoyland Nether 9 23.49x
Skidbrook 9 401.79x
Soothill 9 15.95x
Wooldale 9 33.98x
Yeadon 9 25.52x
Frome 8 13.18x
Horsforth 8 23.36x
Horton In Bradford 8 3.28x
Limehouse London 8 4.62x
Maldon St Peter 8 50.47x
Marton In Skirlaugh 8 1538.46x
Paull 8 271.19x
Shelley 8 87.53x
Aston Cum Aughton 7 54.77x
Bethnal Green London 7 1.02x
Eckington 7 11.68x
Great Welnetham 7 294.12x
Halesowen 7 38.74x
Hastings St Mary In The 7 12.35x
Heeley 7 14.75x
Knaresborough 7 28.52x
Lound 7 364.58x
Manningham 7 3.64x
Morton In Gainsborough 7 141.41x
Nottingham St Mary 7 1.27x
Oldham 7 1.16x
Potter Newton 7 25.40x
Worsley 7 6.07x
Bury 6 2.81x
Darlaston 6 8.16x
Follifoot 6 223.88x
Windle 6 5.70x

Top female names

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

Name Count
John 96
William 83
George 63
James 51
Thomas 49
Joseph 42
Charles 31
Henry 26
Samuel 20
Alfred 17
Arthur 17
Robert 17
Walter 17
Edward 13
Albert 12
Richard 12
Benjamin 10
Frank 10
Harry 10
Thos. 8
David 7
Edwin 7
Fred 6
Frederick 6
Mark 6
Daniel 5
Enoch 5
Ernest 5
Herbert 5
Joe 5
Tom 5
Ben 4
Stephen 4
Wm. 4
Geo. 3
Sam 3
Saml. 3
Aaron 2
Allen 2
Charlie 2
Dudley 2
Edmund 2
Fred. 2
Horace 2
Isaac 2
Job 2
Matthew 2
Moses 2
Newton 2
Robt. 2

FAQ

Rollinson surname: questions and answers

How common was the Rollinson surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,617 people were recorded with the Rollinson surname. That placed it at #2,639 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Rollinson surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,280 in 2016. That gives Rollinson a modern rank of #2,848.

What does the Rollinson surname mean?

Of English origin, a patronymic surname derived from the given name Rowland or Rollin.

What does the Rollinson map show?

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