The name Rogelio originated from the Latin name Rogerius, which derived from the Germanic name Rodger. The name Rodger comes from the elements "hrod" meaning "fame" and "ger" meaning "spear."

The name Rogelio gained popularity during the Middle Ages in Spain and other parts of the Iberian Peninsula. It is a Spanish form of the name Rogerius, which was the name of several saints and religious figures in the early Christian church.

One of the earliest recorded uses of the name Rogelio dates back to the 12th century, when a Rogelio de Traba was a prominent Galician nobleman and military leader. He fought alongside King Alfonso VII of León and Castile in the Reconquista against the Moors.

In the 13th century, a Rogelio de Lauria was an Italian-Aragonese admiral who served under King Peter III of Aragon. He played a crucial role in the War of the Sicilian Vespers, a conflict between the Angevin French and the Aragonese.

During the Renaissance, a notable figure named Rogelio Tiziano (1489-1576) was an Italian painter and a student of the renowned artist Titian. He was known for his religious and mythological works.

In the 16th century, a Spanish explorer named Rogelio de Villalobos (1500-1546) led an expedition to the Philippines and claimed the islands for Spain. He is credited with naming the islands after King Philip II of Spain.

In the 19th century, a Mexican military leader named Rogelio Cuéllar (1832-1892) fought in the Mexican-American War and the French Intervention in Mexico. He later became a prominent politician and served as a governor of various Mexican states.