The name Rolando is of Italian origin, derived from the Old Frankish name "Rowolando" or "Rothlando." It is a compound name formed from the Germanic elements "hruod" meaning "fame" and "land" meaning "land" or "territory." The name essentially translates to "famous throughout the land" or "celebrated over the territory."

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Rolando can be traced back to the 8th century epic poem "The Song of Roland." This literary masterpiece, written in Old French, tells the story of a Frankish military leader named Roland who served under Charlemagne. The poem depicts Roland's bravery and heroic death during the Battle of Roncevaux Pass in 778 AD, where he fought against the Basque forces.

The name Rolando gained widespread popularity across Europe during the Middle Ages, particularly in Italy and Spain. In Italy, it was famously borne by Rolando da Piazzola (1196-1262), a renowned Italian jurist and professor of law who taught at the University of Bologna. Another notable Italian figure with this name was Rolando Bandinelli (1087-1159), who became Pope Alexander III and played a significant role in the conflict between the Papacy and the Holy Roman Empire.

In Spain, the name Rolando is often associated with the legendary figure of El Cid, also known as Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar (c. 1043-1099). El Cid was a Castilian nobleman and skilled military leader who played a crucial role in the Reconquista, the Christian reconquest of the Iberian Peninsula from the Moors.

During the Renaissance period, the name Rolando was borne by several notable figures, including the Italian painter Rolando Fiardo (c. 1535-1578) and the Spanish poet and playwright Lope de Vega (1562-1635), whose full name was Félix Lope de Vega y Carpio.

In more recent history, the name Rolando has been carried by individuals such as Rolando Masferrer (1909-1995), a Cuban writer and journalist, and Rolando Blackburn (1941-2022), a Panamanian boxer who won a gold medal at the 1968 Summer Olympics.