Show ContentsRolston History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Rolston Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

Early Origins of the Rolston family

The surname Rolston was first found in Staffordshire at Rolleston, a parish, in the union of Burton-upon-Trent, N. division of the hundred of Offlow. Sometimes called Rolleston on Dove, the village is near the River Dove. While there are two other villages named Rolleston, one in Leicestershire and another in Nottinghamshire, the family originates from Staffordshire "which in very early times, and for a long series of generations, belonged to the family." 1

So as to disagree with the aforementioned, Simon de Roluestone was listed in the Pipe Rolls for Leicestershire in 1170. Another Pipe Rolls included an entry for Robert de Rolleston in 1181 and one noted author presumes that these two entries are the progenitors of the family. He also notes that Roldeston meaning 'Hroald's farm', is listed in the Domesday Book of 1086. 2

Rolleston Hall, Staffodshire was built by William de Rolleston in the reign of Henry III. 3 A house had stood on the Rolleston site, owned by the Rolleston family, since the early 13th century. The church has a handsome spire, and is neatly pewed, entirely with oak; it contains some ancient monuments of the Rolleston family, and one of Sir Edward Mosley who purchased the estate in 1622. 3

Early History of the Rolston family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Rolston research. Another 188 words (13 lines of text) covering the years 1093, 1172, 1306, 1439, 1455, 1484, 1487, 1510, 1537, 1600 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Rolston History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Rolston Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Rolleston, Rollston, Rolston, Roleston, Rolstone, Roulston, Roulstone, Rowstone, Rowlerston, Rolliston, Rollistone, Rollaston and many more.

Early Notables of the Rolston family

More information is included under the topic Early Rolston Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Rolston Ranking

the United States, the name Rolston is the 13,939th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 4

Migration of the Rolston family to Ireland

Some of the Rolston family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 103 words (7 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Rolston migration to the United States +



Rolston Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • John Rolston, aged 27, who landed in New York, NY in 1803 5
  • Richard B Rolston, aged 22, who arrived in Mobile County, Ala in 1840 5

Rolston migration to Australia +

Rolston Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • John Rolston, English convict from Middlesex, who was transported aboard the "Asia" on April 1st, 1822, settling in New South Wales, Australia 6
  • William Rolston, aged 23, a labourer, who arrived in South Australia in 1855 aboard the ship "Sea Park"

Contemporary Notables of the name Rolston (post 1700) +

  • Holmes Rolston III (1932-2025), American philosopher, Distinguished Professor of Philosophy at Colorado State University
  • Ron Rolston (b. 1966), American NHL ice hockey coach, current head coach of the Buffalo Sabres
  • Mark Rolston (b. 1956), American actor
  • Matthew Russell Rolston (b. 1955), American photographer and music video director
  • Brian Lee Rolston (b. 1973), American professional NHL ice hockey player, silver Olympic medalist
  • Charles Fisk Rolston, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Tennessee, 1940 7
  • Peter Carson Rolston (1937-2006), Canadian United Church minister and politician who represented Dewdney in the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia from 1972 to 1975
  • Thomas Rolston (1932-2010), Canadian violinist, member of the Philharmonia Orchestra (1951–1958), Associate Conductor of the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra (1960–1964)
  • Tilly Rolston (1887-1953), Canadian politician, second female cabinet minister in British Columbia, Minister of Education
  1. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  2. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  3. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  4. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  5. 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)
  6. State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2016, October 27) Asia 1 voyage to Van Diemen's Land, Australia in 1822 with 190 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/asia/1822
  7. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, January 12) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html

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