Surname Rollo - Meaning and Origin
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Rollo: What does the surname Rollo mean?
The last name Rollo is of German origin and has two possible meanings. The first interpretation is that it derived from a personal name. The original source of this name would have been the old Germanic name "Hrodulf", which was an element in many of the early Germanic first names. It meant "renowned wolf". The second interpretation is that "Rollo" was an occupational-based surname, and it derived from the Middle High German "rolle" meaning "roller". This type of surname indicated someone who made or worked with mills, which would have operated on a roller system.
Some notable individuals who carry the Rollo surname include William Rollo, a British Rabbi who lived in the 19th century and the philosopher, logician and mathematician Edward Rollo, who lived from 1855-1925.
The surname Rollo is still in existence today, and it is found in multiple countries around the world. Rollo is quite a rare name and as of 2017, there were 1,119 people recorded as bearing the Rollo surname in the UK.
Order DNA origin analysisRollo: Where does the name Rollo come from?
Rollo, also known as Rollon, is a relatively common surname with roots in Norse-Viking origin. In recent times, there are significant populations of people with the surname in Denmark, Norway, Sweden, and the United Kingdom. It is also common among those of French Canadian and Acadian descent in Canada. Moreover, it can be found in the American states of Florida, Louisiana, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Virginia.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the Rollo surname ranks 4,636th in popularity for all US citizens, and ranks 736th in popularity among those of French descent. The origin of the name is uncertain, but various references link it to Hrólfr, a Norse-Viking name that translates to ‘red laired wolf.’
The Rollo surname can be found throughout the globe. In Northern Europe and parts of Canada, it is relatively common. The surname is also present in parts of the United States, where many of the original settlers with the name were French Canadians and Acadians.
Those researching their ancestry may well find the Rollo surname in their family tree. Although it is not as popular as it once was, its historical roots trace back to the Norse-Viking era, and the name can still be found today in multiple locations across the world.
Variations of the surname Rollo
The ancestral surname of Rollo can be found in many variants and spellings, all of them with the same origin. The most common spellings are Rollo, Rolles, Roll, Rollo, Roles, Roul, Roull, Roule, Rollus, Rowe and Roleson.
Rollo is a surname of Norse (Nordic) origin, derived from the personal name "Hrolfr" or "Hrollaugr", which contains a proto-Norse element ”hrōth-”, meaning fame and glory, and a Norse element ”ulfr”, meaning wolf.
The surname is found primarily in Scotland, and its first record dates back to 1296, when Rollo de Heiskine appears in Scottish records.
The later variants of Rollo surname have their roots in Norse and Germanic culture. The Germanic variants include "Rolles", "Roll" and "Rulo". The Norse variants include "Rulla" and "Rulle", as well as variants like "Rolle" and "Roulle".
Some of the surnames derived from the Norman French form of "Hrollaugr" include "Roussel", "Rouleau", "Route" and "Roulland", while the Scottish variant "Roulsone" is derived from "Raûlson".
In England, the surname is found in Lincolnshire and East Anglia regions where it was adopted from the Normans after 1066. The other variants, such as "Rowe" and "Roleson" are derived from the Old English elements "hrod", meaning a clearing in woodland, and "son", meaning son, thus resulting in Rowe being a patronymic form meaning "son of the clearers".
In Ireland, the "Roole" surname was anglicized from the Gaelic "Mac Rúaille" meaning ”son of Ruall”, which is an Irish form of ”Hrolfr”.
In the United States, the surname was adopted by Scottish and English settlers in the 17th and 18th centuries. Variants of the surname include "Rola", "Rolla", "Rolles" and "Rollison".
Overall, the surname Rollo is a rich source of different variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin, differing mainly in spelling and throughout its adoption in Scotland, England, Ireland and the United States.
Famous people with the name Rollo
- Rob Rollo: American media personality, best known for owning a professional drone business and as a host on several television programs.
- Lucy Rollo: English actress best known for starring in the 2017 film “Tulip Fever”, in multiple episodes of “EastEnders”, and in Amazon’s “The Grand Tour”.
- John Rollo: Scottish artist and Animator specializing in stop motion and clay animation.
- Ellen Rollo: Australian illustrator, best known for her work in the design field.
- Daniel Rollo: Canadian cinematographer and visual artist.
- John Rollo-Tillar: American actor who appeared in numerous television shows including "The West Wing", "Criminal Minds," "Law & Order: SVU," "Fringe," and "Alias."
- Chloë Rollo: Canadian singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist.
- David Rollo: English stage actor best known for his roles in "The Royal Family," "The Beyonce Show," and "Summer Holiday."
- Jane Rollo-Walker: American businesswoman, lifestyle blogger, and on-air talent.
- Robert Rollo-Monroe: British sculptor and three-dimensional artist.