NameCensus.

UK surname

Rollo

A Norman French nickname derived from the Old Norse "Hrólfr," meaning "wolf" or "famous wolf."

In the 1881 census there were 688 people recorded with the Rollo surname, ranking it #5,256 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,041, ranked #5,601, down from #5,256 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Govan Combination, Edinburgh and Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Whitfield, Longside and Rattray and Rosehearty and Strathbeg.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Rollo is 1,054 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 51.3%.

1881 census count

688

Ranked #5,256

Modern count

1,041

2016, ranked #5,601

Peak year

2010

1,054 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Rollo had 688 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,256 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,041 in 2016, ranked #5,601.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 879 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities.

Rollo surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Rollo surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Rollo 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 485 #5,144
1861 historical 497 #5,262
1881 historical 688 #5,256
1891 historical 831 #4,890
1901 historical 879 #5,227
1911 historical 184 #15,742
1997 modern 963 #5,658
1998 modern 985 #5,742
1999 modern 1,013 #5,656
2000 modern 999 #5,693
2001 modern 968 #5,734
2002 modern 995 #5,714
2003 modern 973 #5,718
2004 modern 989 #5,648
2005 modern 985 #5,616
2006 modern 982 #5,636
2007 modern 997 #5,624
2008 modern 1,007 #5,621
2009 modern 1,037 #5,608
2010 modern 1,054 #5,634
2011 modern 1,039 #5,640
2012 modern 979 #5,840
2013 modern 1,010 #5,774
2014 modern 1,024 #5,747
2015 modern 1,027 #5,686
2016 modern 1,041 #5,601

Geography

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Where Rollos are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Govan Combination, Edinburgh, Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry, Tynemouth (Chirton, Preston, Murton, Whitley, Monkseaton), Earsdon (Earsdon) and Perth. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Whitfield, Longside and Rattray, Rosehearty and Strathbeg, Lesmahagow and Law. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Govan Combination Lanark
2 Edinburgh Edinburgh
3 Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry Forfar
4 Tynemouth (Chirton, Preston, Murton, Whitley, Monkseaton), Earsdon (Earsdon) Northumberland
5 Perth Perth

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Whitfield Dundee City
2 Longside and Rattray Aberdeenshire
3 Rosehearty and Strathbeg Aberdeenshire
4 Lesmahagow South Lanarkshire
5 Law Dundee City

Forenames

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First names often paired with Rollo

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Rollo

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

Legacy Communities

Group

Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities

Nationally, the Rollo surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities, within Legacy Communities. This does not mean every Rollo household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Households in these areas often include divorced or separated parents and commonly include children and young adults. The age structure is heavily skewed towards the most advanced age groups. Individuals identifying as members of ethnic minorities are not present in large numbers. Flats predominate, with some terraced, semi-detached, and detached units. Multiple car ownership is low, and housing is predominantly in the private and social rented sectors. Employment is less skewed towards traditional routine industrial occupations. Levels of educational attainment are generally low. The Group occurs principally in the Central Lowlands of Scotland and other Scottish towns.

Wider pattern

These neighbourhoods characteristically comprise pockets of flats that are scattered across the UK, particularly in towns that retain or have legacies of heavy industry or are in more remote seaside locations. Employed residents of these neighbourhoods work mainly in low-skilled occupations. Residents typically have limited educational qualifications. Unemployment is above average. Some residents live in overcrowded housing within the social rented sector and experience long-term disability. All adult age groups are represented, although there is an overall age bias towards elderly people in general and the very old in particular. Individuals identifying as belonging to ethnic minorities or Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups are uncommon.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Central Connected Professionals and Managers

Group

Senior Professionals

Within London, Rollo is most associated with areas classed as Senior Professionals, part of Central Connected Professionals and Managers. 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 very central neighbourhoods house residents whose ages are more skewed towards older age cohorts than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Few households have young children. Rates of illness are low. Indian ethnicity is rare compared to the Supergroup mean. Property under occupation is more common, despite the centrality of neighbourhoods, and more residents live in communal establishments than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Adult residents of these neighbourhoods are typically aged 25 to 44, working full-time in professional, managerial or associate professional occupations. There are few families with dependent children. The predominantly Inner London neighbourhoods have an international character, including many residents born elsewhere in Europe alongside high numbers of individuals identifying as of Chinese ethnicity. Many individuals are never married, childless and/or living alone. Above average numbers of individuals, likely to be full-time students, live in communal establishments. Elsewhere, privately rented flats are the dominant housing type. Residents of these areas are well-qualified, with a significant number holding Level 4 or above qualifications. There is a correspondingly high level of individuals employed full-time in professional, managerial and associated professional or technical occupations. Employing industries are financial, real estate, professional, administration, and, to a lesser degree, transport and communications. Unemployment is uncommon.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Rollo is most concentrated in decile 2 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.

2
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Rollo falls in decile 5 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.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Rollo is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of Over 70 mbit/s.

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

10
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Rollo

The surname Rollo originated in Normandy, France during the 10th century. It is derived from the Old Norse name Rögnvaldur, which means "mighty ruler." The name was brought to Normandy by Viking settlers, particularly a Norse leader named Rollo, who became the first Duke of Normandy in 911 after negotiating with the French King Charles the Simple.

Rollo, also known as Rolf Ganger or Rollon, was a Viking chieftain who led his people to settle in the region of Normandy. He was granted lands by King Charles in exchange for his protection against other Viking raids. Rollo is considered the ancestor of the Norman rulers of England, including William the Conqueror.

One of the earliest recorded references to the surname Rollo can be found in the Domesday Book, a survey of land and property commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The name appears in various forms, such as Rollo, Rollof, and Rollon, indicating the variations in spelling during that time.

In the 12th century, a notable figure named Rollo de Beaumont was a Norman nobleman and one of the principal leaders of the Second Crusade. He was born around 1100 and died in 1151.

Another prominent individual with the surname Rollo was Robert Rollo, a Scottish mathematician and theologian who lived from 1534 to 1605. He was a professor at the University of Edinburgh and made significant contributions to the field of mathematics.

In the 18th century, Bartholomew Rollo was a British army officer who served during the American Revolutionary War. He was born in 1737 and died in 1809. Rollo is credited with introducing the practice of using lemon juice as a cure for scurvy among British sailors.

In the 19th century, James Rollo was a Scottish inventor and engineer who lived from 1808 to 1878. He is known for developing the first successful steam-powered printing press, which revolutionized the printing industry.

Throughout history, the surname Rollo has been associated with various place names, particularly in Normandy and England. Examples include Rolleville, Rolleston, and Rollesby, which may have derived from individuals bearing the name Rollo.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Rollo families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Rollo 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. Angus leads with 161 Rollos recorded in 1881 and an index of 25.89x.

County Total Index
Angus 161 25.89x
Fife 118 29.70x
Lanarkshire 99 4.56x
Midlothian 66 7.34x
Perthshire 66 21.91x
Aberdeenshire 59 9.49x
Northumberland 23 2.30x
Stirlingshire 14 5.66x
Lancashire 10 0.13x
West Lothian 10 9.89x
Middlesex 9 0.13x
Inverness-shire 7 3.49x
Renfrewshire 7 1.35x
Wiltshire 6 1.01x
Cheshire 4 0.27x
Kent 4 0.17x
Kinross-shire 4 23.57x
Surrey 4 0.12x
Essex 3 0.23x
Roxburghshire 2 1.65x
Berwickshire 1 1.23x
Cornwall 1 0.13x
Devon 1 0.07x
Dumfriesshire 1 0.67x
Dunbartonshire 1 0.55x
Hampshire 1 0.07x
Kirkcudbrightshire 1 1.03x
Lincolnshire 1 0.09x
Morayshire 1 0.96x
Royal Navy 1 1.25x
Sussex 1 0.09x
Yorkshire 1 0.02x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Dundee in Angus leads with 93 Rollos recorded in 1881 and an index of 40.07x.

Place Total Index
Dundee 93 40.07x
Liff Benvie 45 47.68x
Govan 42 7.82x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 33 9.12x
Wemyss 30 178.47x
Glasgow 28 7.27x
Barony 24 4.37x
Cupar 15 86.81x
Aberdour 13 265.31x
Westgate 12 19.40x
Aberdeen Old Machar 11 8.48x
Lochee 11 198.20x
Perth Middle Church 11 97.09x
Abdie 9 398.23x
Perth West Church 9 62.98x
South Leith 9 8.90x
Alyth 8 98.64x
Errol 8 143.37x
Forgan 8 105.12x
Meigle 8 357.14x
Inverness 7 13.89x
Logie 7 777.78x
Aberdeen St Nicholas 6 5.16x
Beath 6 47.81x
Blairgowrie 6 50.38x
Lintrathen 6 405.41x
Monquhitter 6 93.31x
Paisley High Church 6 14.49x
Peterhead 6 18.25x
St Ninians 6 24.45x
Stirling 6 19.22x
Strathmiglo 6 126.32x
Swindon 6 13.03x
Great Crosby 5 23.03x
Kirkliston 5 84.89x
North Leith 5 12.02x
North Shields 5 25.09x
Bothwell 4 6.80x
Crail 4 98.77x
Creich 4 449.44x
Dunbarney 4 229.89x
Gravesend 4 20.63x
Kettle 4 83.86x
Liscard 4 14.99x
Longside 4 53.91x
Lonmay 4 70.92x
Orwell 4 85.47x
Perth East Church 4 14.08x
Temple 4 112.04x
Arbroath 3 14.56x
Barnes 3 21.69x
Bethnal Green London 3 1.03x
Edinburgh Greenside 3 25.25x
Edinburgh High Church 3 53.19x
Edinburgh St Georges 3 16.08x
Fraserburgh 3 17.14x
Largo 3 58.14x
Leuchars 3 59.76x
Linlithgow 3 23.15x
Monifieth 3 13.66x
Newcastle On Tyne St 3 5.80x
Perth St Pauls 3 43.04x
Pittenweem 3 61.22x
Strichen 3 55.56x
Tynemouth 3 5.61x
West Ham 3 1.03x
Balmerino 2 130.72x
Collessie 2 43.76x
Dysart 2 7.48x
Edinburgh Old Church 2 27.70x
Falkland 2 32.00x
Kirkcaldy 2 10.15x
Kirkdale 2 1.49x
Melrose 2 19.03x
Over Darwen 2 3.14x
Rathen 2 30.72x
St Andrews 2 11.06x
St George Hanover 2 2.28x
Tibbermore 2 46.30x
Torphichen 2 56.82x

Top female names

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

Name Count
John 5
James 4
William 4
George 3
David 2
Wm. 2
(Lord) 1
Archibald 1
Benjamin 1
Bernard 1
Char.R. 1
Christopher 1
Dougal 1
Edward 1
Eric 1
Geo. 1
Malcolm 1
Norman 1
Peter 1
Robert 1
W.M. 1

FAQ

Rollo surname: questions and answers

How common was the Rollo surname in 1881?

In 1881, 688 people were recorded with the Rollo surname. That placed it at #5,256 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Rollo surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,041 in 2016. That gives Rollo a modern rank of #5,601.

What does the Rollo surname mean?

A Norman French nickname derived from the Old Norse "Hrólfr," meaning "wolf" or "famous wolf."

What does the Rollo map show?

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