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

Roles, 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 Roles surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Roles in America

Roles is the 15635th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Roles surname appeared 1,869 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Roles.

We can also compare 2010 data for Roles 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 Roles

The surname Roles is of English origin and can be traced back to the medieval period, around the 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "rol," meaning a roll or scroll, suggesting a potential occupational connection to someone who worked with parchments or documents.

In its earliest recorded instances, the name appeared as "le Rolle" or "Rolle" in various historical records, such as the Hundred Rolls of 1273, where it referred to individuals residing in counties like Oxfordshire and Wiltshire. This spelling variation highlights the influence of the French language on English names during the Norman Conquest.

One of the earliest documented bearers of the name was John Rolle, a prominent English judge and Chief Justice of the King's Bench, who lived from 1284 to 1355. His legal expertise and service to the Crown likely contributed to the widespread recognition of the surname.

Another notable figure was Samuel Rolle (1588-1670), an English merchant and politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Callington in Cornwall during the 17th century. His involvement in trade and governance further established the name's presence in English history.

In the realm of literature, the surname gained prominence through the writer and philosopher Henry Rolle (1585-1656), known for his philosophical works and his association with the Cambridge Platonists. His writings and academic contributions left a lasting impact on the intellectual discourse of his time.

The Roles surname also found its way into the annals of military history with Sir Henry Rolle (1589-1625), an English soldier who served in the Thirty Years' War and achieved distinction for his bravery on the battlefield.

Additionally, the name has been associated with various place names and locations throughout England, such as Rolle in Devon, which may have influenced the surname's evolution and regional distribution.

It is important to note that while these historical figures and references provide insights into the surname's origins and legacy, the availability of comprehensive records from earlier periods can be limited, leaving room for further research and discoveries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Roles

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

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 Roles 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 Roles 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 Roles was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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