This interesting surname with variant spellings Rollingson, Rollinson, Rolinson etc., is a patronymic form "Rowl-in a diminutive of the male given name Rollo, itself a latinized form of the Norman "Roul", equivalent to the middle English personal name Rolf. The ultimate origin lies in the Germanic "Hrolf", a compound of the elements "hrod" meaning "renown" plus "wulf" "wolf". This surname seems to have reached English by two separate channels; partly through its popularity among the Normans, partly through its use among Conquest Scandinavian settlers. The name dates back to the early 14th Century, (see below). Further recordings include, Jane Rawlins who married Austin Hanson on February 9th 1547 at St. Antholin, Budge Row, London. One John Rowlingson (1608), "The Lancashire Wills". Elizabetha, daughter of Thomae and Annae Rowlings, was christened on May 14th 1671. The "g" in this case is excrescent. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Adam Roulin, which was dated 1327, "The Subsidy Rolls of Suffolk", during the reign of King Edward 111 - The Father of the navy 1327 - 1377. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.

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