Contents [hide]

Roland History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

Ireland United States Canada Australia New Zealand

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Suggested Reading Citations

Roland History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
France
Scotland
Ireland

The Roland surname comes from the Norman personal name Rol(l)an, which derives from the Germanic elements "hrod," meaning "renown," and "land," meaning "territory." Much of the Medieval popularity of this name was as a result of Roland (d. 778), a Frankish military leader under Charlemagne who was defeated at the Battle of Roncevaux Pass in 778. The Song of Roland thought to have been written between 1040 and 1115 is an epic poem based the battle.

Early Origins of the Roland family

The surname Roland was first found in Bedfordshire (Old English: Bedanfordscir), located in Southeast-central England, formerly part of the Anglo-Saxon kingdom of Mercia, where a record in the Domesday Book of 1086 lists Rolland as being a landholder in Beeston (Bistone). 1

They were in neighboring Huntingdonshire from the early 12th century. The Domesday Book also lists Ralunt (Rowland) in Derbyshire.

One source states "A baptismal name as in 'the son of Roland.' Roland or Orlando was the nephew of the great Charles, who fell at Roncesvalles." 2 This latter reference is derived from The Miscellaneous Prose Works of Sir Walter Scott (Vol IV) and we shall now provide it in a more complete context. "No reader can have forgotten, that when the decisive battle of Hastings commenced, a Norman minstrel, Taillefer, advanced on horseback before the invading host and gave the signal for onset, by singing the 'Song of Roland,' that renowned nephew of Charlamagne, of whom the chivalry of Charles the Great in the pass of Roncesvalles, has given rise to such clouds of romantic fiction, that its very name has been for ever associated with it. The remarkable passage has been often quoted from the 'Brut of Wace,' an Anglo-Norman metrical chronicle. 'Taillefer, who sung both well and loud, Came mounted on a courser proud; Before the Duke the minstrel sprung. And loud of Charles and Roland sung, Of Oliver and champions mo, Who died at fatal Roncevaux.'"

Early History of the Roland family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Roland research. Another 121 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1196, 1218, 1221, 1303, 1327, 1500, 1551, 1555, 1565, 1569, 1586, 1599, 1601, 1602, 1606, 1616, 1620, 1621, 1637, 1655, 1660, 1711 and 1723 are included under the topic Early Roland History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Roland Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Rolland, Roland, Rowland, Rowlands, Rowlandson, Rolan and many more.

Early Notables of the Roland family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was

Richard Rowlands alias Verstegen (fl. 1565-1620), an English antiquary, born in the parish of St. Catherine, near the Tower of London, was grandson of Theodore Roland Verstegen, of an ancient Dutch fa...

Roland Ranking

In the United States, the name Roland is the 1,650^th most popular surname with an estimated 19,896 people with that name. 3 However, in France, the name Roland is ranked the 604^th most popular surname with an estimated 7,768 people with that name. 4

Migration of the Roland family to Ireland

Some of the Roland family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. More information about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Roland migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Roland Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Francis Roland, who arrived in Virginia in 1656 5
Thomas Roland, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1682 5

Roland Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Abraham Roland, who arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1750 5
Henrich Roland, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1772 5
Henry Roland, who settled in Pennsylvania in 1772

Roland Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

John Roland, who arrived in Philadelphia in 1804
Monsieur Roland, who landed in New York in 1819 5
J. Roland, who settled in Baltimore in 1820
John Roland, who landed in Mississippi in 1840 5
Johann Christoph Roland, aged 32, who arrived in Missouri in 1845 5
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Roland migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Roland Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Gabriel Roland, son of François and Madeleine, who married Marie-Josephte De Launay, daughter of Charles and Marie-Anne, in Montreal, Quebec on 15th April 1714 6
Philippe-Charles Roland, son of Charles and Geneviève, who married Geneviève Barbot, daughter of Jean and Marie, in Montreal, Quebec on 18th April 1730 6
Pierre Roland, son of François and Marie-Madeleine, who married Cécile Daveluy, daughter of Jean and Françoise, in L'Assomption, Quebec on 3rd February 1734 6
Jacques Roland, son of Vincent and Marie, who married Geneviève Lépine, daughter of Antoine and Angélique-Geneviève, in Quebec in 1735 6
Jacques Roland, son of Jacques and Marie, who married Hélène Dufaye, daughter of Étienne and Madeleine, in Pointe-aux-Trembles, Quebec on 8th October 1742 6
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Roland migration to Australia +

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

Roland Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

G. Roland, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Cheapside" in 1849 7
M.A. Roland, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Senator" in 1849 8
Mr. Luke Roland, British Convict who was convicted in Rangoon, Chennai (Madras), India for life, transported aboard the "Clara" on 19th March 1857, arriving in Western Australia, Australia 9

Roland 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:

Roland Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

John Roland, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Ann Wilson" in 1857
E.W. Roland, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Ann Wilson" in 1857
Mary A. Roland, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Ann Wilson" in 1857
Josephine Roland, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Ann Wilson" in 1857
Edward Roland, aged 27, a labourer, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Agnes Muir" in 1872 10
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Roland (post 1700) +

John Roland (1941-2023), American news presenter and reporter from Pittsburgh who covered high-profile events such as the Robert F. Kennedy assassination and the Charles Manson trial
Charles Pierce Roland (1918-2022), American historian and professor emeritus of the University of Kentucky, known for his research field of the American South and the U.S. Civil War
Ruth Roland (1892-1937), American stage and film actress and film producer
Johnny Earl Roland (b. 1943), American NFL football running back, inductee into the College Football Hall of Fame
Joe Roland (b. 1920), American jazz vibraphonist
Gilbert Roland (1905-1994), Mexican-born, American two-time Golden Globe Award nominated actor
Gene Roland (1921-1981), American jazz composer and musician
Edwin J. Roland (1905-1985), American twelfth Commandant of the United States Coast Guard (1962 to 1966)
Edgar "Ed" Eugene Roland III (b. 1963), American musician and vocalist of the alternative rock band Collective Soul
Dennis Roland (b. 1983), American football offensive tackle
... (Another 12 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Roland family +

HMS Prince of Wales

Mr. Roland, British Stoker 2nd Class, who sailed into battle on the HMS Prince of Wales (1941) and survived the sinking 11

SS Atlantic

Wm. Roland, who was traveling aboard the ship "SS Atlantic" when it struck rocks off Nova Scotia in 1873, survived the sinking
William Roland, who was traveling aboard the ship "SS Atlantic" when it struck rocks off Nova Scotia in 1873, survived the sinking

Citations +

Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
http://www.journaldesfemmes.com/nom-de-famille/nom/
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
Internoscia, Arthur E., and Claire Chevrier. Dictionnaire National des Canadiens Français 1608-1760. Vol. 2, Institut Drouin, 1958.
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) The CHEAPSIDE 1849. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1849Cheapside.htm
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) The SENATOR 1849. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1849Senator.htm
Convict Records of Australia. Retrieved 11th February 2021 from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/clara
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
HMS Prince of Wales Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listprincecrew.html