NameCensus.

UK surname

Rolston

A locational surname referring to Rowlston in Lincolnshire, England.

In the 1881 census there were 107 people recorded with the Rolston surname, ranking it #18,982 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 230, ranked #17,812, up from #18,982 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to St George in the East, Walthamstow, Low Leyton and Birmingham Town: Birmingham. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Vale of White Horse, Walsall and Shropshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Rolston is 267 in 2003. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 115.0%.

1881 census count

107

Ranked #18,982

Modern count

230

2016, ranked #17,812

Peak year

2003

267 bearers

Map years

7

1881 to 2016

Key insights

  • Rolston had 107 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #18,982 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 230 in 2016, ranked #17,812.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 112 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Rolston surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Rolston surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Rolston 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 74 #20,443
1861 historical 86 #22,810
1881 historical 107 #18,982
1891 historical 111 #22,421
1901 historical 107 #21,955
1911 historical 112 #21,274
1997 modern 222 #16,508
1998 modern 236 #16,304
1999 modern 237 #16,360
2000 modern 259 #15,390
2001 modern 254 #15,363
2002 modern 256 #15,565
2003 modern 267 #14,950
2004 modern 247 #15,821
2005 modern 239 #16,144
2006 modern 239 #16,224
2007 modern 241 #16,341
2008 modern 245 #16,295
2009 modern 258 #16,050
2010 modern 261 #16,294
2011 modern 244 #16,922
2012 modern 237 #17,132
2013 modern 243 #17,114
2014 modern 237 #17,528
2015 modern 229 #17,846
2016 modern 230 #17,812

Geography

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Where Rolstons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around St George in the East, Walthamstow, Low Leyton, Birmingham Town: Birmingham, Liverpool and Paisley Abbey. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Vale of White Horse, Walsall, Shropshire, Cornwall and Birmingham. 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 George in the East London (East Districts)
2 Walthamstow, Low Leyton Essex
3 Birmingham Town: Birmingham Warwickshire
4 Liverpool Lancashire
5 Paisley Abbey Renfrew

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Vale of White Horse 003 Vale of White Horse
2 Walsall 023 Walsall
3 Shropshire 033 Shropshire
4 Cornwall 001 Cornwall
5 Birmingham 136 Birmingham

Forenames

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First names often paired with Rolston

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Rolston

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

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Rolston 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

Rolston is most concentrated in decile 10 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Rolston 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 Rolston 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 Rolston, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Rolston

The surname Rolston is of English origin, originating in the northern counties of England during the medieval period. It is believed to be derived from the Old English words "rolf" or "rod," meaning a clearing or pasture, and "tun," meaning a farm or settlement. This suggests that the name may have referred to someone who lived in a farm or settlement located in a clearing or pasture.

One of the earliest recorded references to the name Rolston can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of landholdings and property rights in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. The name appears as "Rolvestun," which is believed to be an early spelling variation of Rolston.

In the 13th century, the name was also recorded as "Rolvestune" and "Rolveston" in various historical documents and records. During this time, the name was primarily concentrated in the counties of Yorkshire and Northumberland, where many individuals bearing the Rolston surname lived and worked as farmers or landowners.

One notable individual with the Rolston surname was Sir John Rolston (1470-1535), who was a prominent landowner and Member of Parliament for Yorkshire during the reign of Henry VIII. Another historical figure was Robert Rolston (1592-1662), a Presbyterian minister and author who played a significant role in the religious affairs of Scotland during the 17th century.

In the 18th century, the Rolston surname was also found in the records of the East India Company, with several individuals bearing the name serving as merchants and traders in British India. One such individual was William Rolston (1732-1801), who was a successful merchant and trader based in Calcutta (now Kolkata).

Another notable person with the Rolston surname was James Rolston (1806-1878), who was a prominent Scottish-American businessman and philanthropist. He emigrated to the United States in the mid-19th century and established several successful businesses in the textile industry.

Throughout its history, the Rolston surname has also been associated with various place names and locations, such as Rolston Hall in Northumberland, Rolston Manor in Yorkshire, and Rolston Farm in Cumbria, among others. These place names often reflect the historical presence and significance of individuals bearing the Rolston surname in these areas.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Rolston families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Rolston 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. Devon leads with 22 Rolstons recorded in 1881 and an index of 9.94x.

County Total Index
Devon 22 9.94x
Nottinghamshire 15 10.47x
Lancashire 12 0.95x
Middlesex 11 1.03x
Cornwall 10 8.31x
Essex 8 3.81x
Warwickshire 6 2.24x
Staffordshire 5 1.39x
Cheshire 3 1.28x
Hampshire 3 1.38x
Lanarkshire 3 0.87x
Derbyshire 2 1.20x
Isle of Man 2 10.13x
Somerset 2 1.17x
Kent 1 0.28x
Leicestershire 1 0.85x
Rutland 1 12.80x
Stirlingshire 1 2.55x
Yorkshire 1 0.09x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Stoke Damerel in Devon leads with 12 Rolstons recorded in 1881 and an index of 77.47x.

Place Total Index
Stoke Damerel 12 77.47x
Saltash 10 1075.27x
East Leake 8 2352.94x
St George In East 8 110.65x
Walthamstow 8 105.96x
Sutton In Ashfield 7 225.08x
Birmingham 6 6.72x
Sampford Peverell 5 2173.91x
Toxteth Park 5 11.70x
Kirkdale 4 18.85x
Walsall Foreign 4 21.58x
Barony 3 3.45x
Stockport 3 24.83x
Alverstoke 2 25.35x
Lezayre 2 224.72x
Tormoham 2 21.37x
Worle 2 571.43x
Devonport 1 39.37x
Exminster 1 125.00x
Falkirk 1 10.89x
Greenwich 1 5.91x
Greetham 1 476.19x
Hackney London 1 1.68x
Halifax 1 6.46x
Holdenhurst 1 17.48x
Ibstock 1 116.28x
Little Bolton 1 6.17x
Long Eaton 1 45.45x
Longdon 1 200.00x
Plymouth St Andrew 1 5.87x
Somersall Herbert 1 2500.00x
St Marylebone London 1 1.76x
St Pancras London 1 1.17x
Widnes 1 10.99x
Wigan 1 5.67x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Jane 5
Mary 5
Margaret 4
Sarah 4
Annie 2
Cecilia 2
Clara 2
Elizabeth 2
Elizth. 2
Florence 2
Sabina 2
Ada 1
Alice 1
Anne 1
Barbara 1
Beatrice 1
Bertha 1
Blanche 1
Catherine 1
Eliza 1
Emma 1
Emmerline 1
Esther 1
Fanny 1
Frances 1
Grace 1
Hannah 1
Harriet 1
Hilda 1
Kate 1
Lucy 1
Marion 1
Martha 1
Philis 1
Roda 1
Roseanna 1
Rosetta 1
Susan 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 11
William 10
David 3
George 3
James 3
Thomas 3
Arthur 2
Robert 2
Bill 1
Cecil 1
Charles 1
Frederick 1
Joseph 1
Orde 1
Peter 1
Wm.Thomas 1

FAQ

Rolston surname: questions and answers

How common was the Rolston surname in 1881?

In 1881, 107 people were recorded with the Rolston surname. That placed it at #18,982 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Rolston surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 230 in 2016. That gives Rolston a modern rank of #17,812.

What does the Rolston surname mean?

A locational surname referring to Rowlston in Lincolnshire, England.

What does the Rolston map show?

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