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

Rolla, 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 Rolla surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Rolla in America

Rolla is the 38265th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Rolla surname appeared 579 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Rolla.

We can also compare 2010 data for Rolla 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 Rolla

The surname Rolla has its origins in Italy, tracing back to the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Italian word "rolla," which means "a small wheel or roller." This suggests that the name may have been initially associated with individuals involved in trades or occupations related to wheelwrights or millers.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname Rolla can be found in various Italian historical documents from the 13th and 14th centuries. One notable example is a reference to a "Giovanni Rolla" in a manuscript from the city of Genoa, dated around 1275. The name also appears in records from other regions, such as Tuscany and Lombardy, indicating its widespread use across different parts of Italy.

During the Renaissance period, the Rolla surname gained prominence through several notable individuals. One of the earliest was Gaspare Rolla, a renowned painter from the city of Parma, who lived between 1455 and 1516. His works can be found in various churches and galleries throughout Italy.

Another significant figure was Girolamo Rolla, a military commander and statesman from the Republic of Genoa, who lived from 1568 to 1631. He played a crucial role in the defense of Genoa against the Spanish forces during the Thirty Years' War.

In the 18th century, Giacomo Rolla (1722-1802) was a distinguished Italian mathematician and astronomer. He made significant contributions to the study of celestial mechanics and served as the director of the observatory in Milan.

The name Rolla also has connections to place names in Italy. For instance, the town of Rolla in the province of Reggio Emilia is believed to have derived its name from the surname, suggesting the presence of families with this last name in the region.

Throughout history, the surname Rolla has been associated with various professions, including artisans, military personnel, scientists, and scholars. While not as widespread as some other Italian surnames, it has maintained a presence in various regions of Italy and has been carried by individuals who have made notable contributions in their respective fields.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Rolla

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

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

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

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