Show ContentsRollo History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Rollo family

The surname Rollo was first found in Perthshire (Gaelic: Siorrachd Pheairt) former county in the present day Council Area of Perth and Kinross, located in central Scotland. Rollo (c. 846-c. 932), baptised Robert, was a Viking who became the first ruler of Normandy, a region of France.

Early History of the Rollo family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Rollo research. Another 110 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1390, 1419, 1471, 1481, 1513, 1565, 1577, 1584, 1600, 1659, 1679, 1700 and 1758 are included under the topic Early Rollo History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Rollo Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Rollo, Rollock and others.

Early Notables of the Rollo family

Notable amongst the Clan from early times was

  • John Rollo, 1st of Duncrub (died 1390)
  • Duncan Rollo, 2nd of Duncrub (died 1419)
  • Andrew Rollo, 3rd of Duncrub (died 1481)
  • Robert Rollo (died 1471), William Rollo, 4th of Duncrub (died 1513)
  • Andrew Rollo, 7th of Duncrub (died 1565)
  • James Rollo, 8th of Duncrub (died 1584)
  • Andrew Rollo, 1st Lord Rollo of Duncrub (1577-1659)

Rollo Ranking

In the United States, the name Rollo is the 8,537th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 1


United States Rollo migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Rollo Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Donald Rollo, who arrived in New York State in 1820

Australia Rollo migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Rollo Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. Matthew Rollo, Scottish convict who was convicted in Perth, Scotland for 7 years, transported aboard the "Eden" on 12th March 1842, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Island) 2

New Zealand Rollo migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Rollo Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Mr. James Rollo, (b. 1832), aged 25, British labourer travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Glentanner" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 3rd October 1857 3
  • Miss Janet Rollo, (b. 1836), aged 21, British farm servant travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Glentanner" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 3rd October 1857 3
  • Mr. David Rollo, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "John Scott" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 7th March 1858 3
  • Mrs. Margaret Rollo, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "John Scott" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 7th March 1858 3
  • Miss Margaret Rollo, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "John Scott" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 7th March 1858 3
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Rollo (post 1700) +

  • Michael H. Rollo, American politician, Representative from Connecticut 2nd District, 1932 4
  • Cynthea Rollo, American Democratic Party politician, Alternate Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Wisconsin, 1996, 2000 4
  • Augustus Rollo, American politician, Member of Connecticut State House of Representatives from Hebron, 1837 4
  • William Rollo (1894-1950), Scottish born, African academic from Glasgow; he taught himself Japanese so he could teach the South African pilots during World War II, Vice-Chancellors and Principal of the University of Zimbabwe (1953-1955)
  • James Shepherd "Jim" Rollo (1937-2012), Scottish football goalkeeper
  • David Rollo (b. 1934), Scottish rugby player
  • Andrew Rollo (1703-1765), 5th Lord Rollo, a Scottish army commander in Canada and Dominica during the Seven Years' War
  • Lieutenant General Sir William Raoul Rollo KCB CBE (b. 1978), British Army officer
  • David Rollo (1891-1963), international Northern Irish footballer
  • Sir Robert Rollo Gillespie (1766-1814), Irish major-general, of an old Scottish family which acquired property in Downshire early in the eighteenth century, and was only child of Robert Gillespie of Comber, co. Down

HMS Royal Oak
  • David Rollo (1920-1939), British Able Seaman with the Royal Navy aboard the HMS Royal Oak (1939) when she was torpedoed by U-47 and sunk; he died in the sinking 5
Winter Quarters coal mine
  • Mr. Antonio Rollo, American mine worker from Salt Lake, Utah who worked in the Winter Quarters coal mine on 1st May 1900, when 10 of the 25lb kegs of black powder exploded; he died in the explosion 6


The Rollo Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: La fortune passe par tout
Motto Translation: The vicissitudes of fortune are common to all.


  1. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  2. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 15th December 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/eden
  3. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  4. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, January 12) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
  5. Ships hit by U-boats crew list HMS Royal Oak (08) - (Retrieved 2018 February, 9th) - retrieved from https://uboat.net/allies/merchants/crews/ship68.html
  6. Miners killed in Winter Quarters (retrieved 28th July 2021). Retrieved from http://www.carbon-utgenweb.com/miners.html


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