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

Roll, 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 Roll surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Roll in America

Roll is the 6732nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Roll surname appeared 5,011 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 2 people would have the surname Roll.

We can also compare 2010 data for Roll 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 Roll

The surname Roll has its origins in Germany, where it first emerged in the medieval period. It is derived from the Old German word "rollen," which means "to roll" or "to turn." This suggests that the name may have initially been an occupational surname given to someone who worked as a miller or a worker in a profession that involved rolling or turning objects.

The earliest recorded instances of the Roll surname can be traced back to the 13th century, with references found in various historical documents and records from German-speaking regions. One notable example is the mention of a person named Henricus Rolle in a document from the city of Cologne, dated 1284.

In the following centuries, the Roll surname spread across different parts of Germany and neighboring countries. It is believed that the name may have also been influenced by the place name Rolle, a town in the Canton of Vaud in Switzerland, which could have contributed to the surname's development and variations in spelling.

Several notable individuals with the Roll surname have made their mark throughout history. One such figure was Johann Heinrich Roll (1609-1684), a German composer and organist from Nuremberg, who was renowned for his contributions to church music during the Baroque period.

Another prominent bearer of the Roll surname was Georg Ludwig Roll (1778-1846), a German philosopher and educator who worked as a professor at the University of Bonn. His writings on ethics and moral philosophy were influential in his time.

In the realm of literature, the Roll surname is associated with Walter H. Roll (1886-1942), an American author and playwright known for works such as "The Admirals" and "The House of Connelly." His plays explored themes of family dynamics and social issues.

The Roll surname also has connections to the world of art, with the Austrian painter and engraver Johann Michael Roll (1736-1800) being a notable figure. His works, which included portraits and religious scenes, were highly regarded during the late 18th century.

Another individual of note was Carl Ferdinand Roll (1800-1879), a German architect who designed numerous buildings in Berlin, including the Alte Nationalgalerie, a renowned art museum that still stands today.

While the Roll surname has its roots in Germany and surrounding regions, it has since spread to various parts of the world through migration and cultural exchange.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Roll

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

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

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

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