Find out how popular the last name Roland is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Roland.

Roland, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Roland surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Roland in America

Roland is the 1860th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Roland surname appeared 19,311 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 7 people would have the surname Roland.

We can also compare 2010 data for Roland to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Roland

The surname Roland has its roots in France, originating from the Old French personal name Rollant or Rolant, which is derived from the Germanic elements "hrod" meaning "fame" and "land" meaning "land" or "territory." This name was popular during the Middle Ages and gained widespread recognition through the legendary figure of Roland, a French hero celebrated in the medieval epic poem "The Song of Roland."

The earliest recorded instances of the surname Roland can be traced back to the 12th century in various regions of France, particularly in Normandy and the surrounding areas. In the Domesday Book, a census record commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086, there are several entries mentioning individuals with variations of the name, such as Rodland and Rolant.

One of the most notable historical figures bearing the surname Roland was Hugues Roland, a prominent French jurist and theologian who lived from 1088 to 1164. He played a significant role in the development of canon law and served as the Bishop of Autun.

Another notable individual was Philippe Roland, a French poet and dramatist born in 1539 in Normandy. He is best known for his satirical plays and contributions to the literary scene during the Renaissance period in France.

In England, the name gained popularity after the Norman Conquest in 1066, as many French settlers brought their surnames with them. One of the earliest documented instances of the surname in England can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Lincolnshire from 1176, which mentions a William Roland.

During the medieval period, the surname Roland was also associated with various places, such as the village of Rolland in Normandy, France, and the town of Rolland in Somerset, England. These place names may have influenced the spelling and variations of the surname over time.

Other notable bearers of the surname Roland throughout history include Jean Roland (1675-1736), a French Protestant pastor and theologian; Philippe Roland (1786-1856), a French sculptor and engraver; and Charles P. Roland (1918-2011), an American historian and author known for his works on the American South and the Civil War.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Roland

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Roland.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Roland was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Roland has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Roland was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Roland, please contact us.

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