Surname Röllchen - Meaning and Origin
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Röllchen: What does the surname Röllchen mean?
The last name Röllchen is a German surname, derived from the word “rollen", which means to roll. It is thought to have originally meant a very small roll or a tiny ball, or even a small wheel or cogwheel. This could denote a profession or pastime such as a baker, miller or train driver, or someone who made small cylindrical objects such as pulleys, bearings or gears.
There is no one definitive answer to the origin of the surname, however it may derive from a place name, such as Röllchen in Saxony, Germany, which was associated with the manufacture of cogs and pins. Alternatively, it could be derived from the Middle High German name of “Rolle”, which was the German spelling for the English name of “Rollo”, and could have been adopted by a family who originally hailed from Scandinavia.
The more common modern spelling of the German surname Röllchen is Rollen, which is much more common in many countries. However, there are still many individuals with the more traditional spelling throughout Germany, Austria and Switzerland.
Finally, the surname is often associated with those of Jewish heritage, where it is thought to have been adopted from the Hebrew spelling of “Rolle” or “Rolla”. This could indicate an origin within the Jewish community, where the emphasis would have been on the person's righteousness rather than a trade.
Order DNA origin analysisRöllchen: Where does the name Röllchen come from?
Though the spelling of Röllchen is uncommon today, the name is more commonly found as Rollin, Rollen, Rollon, Rolin, Rolon, and Rowland.
Today, the surname is most commonly found throughout Europe, particularly in countries such as Germany, France, and England. It is also found in the United States and Canada, though it is less common there due to the more recent settling of those areas.
In Germany, the last name is primarily concentrated in Berlin, Brandenburg, Sachsen, and Schleswig-Holstein. It is also found in relatively large numbers in France, particularly in the Alsace-Lorraine region. In England, the name is scattered throughout the country, but most common in the east, especially in Suffolk and Essex.
In terms of ethnicity, the name Röllchen is generally associated primarily with Germanic and Scandinavian peoples. It is also occasionally seen among other European ethnicities, such as the French or the English.
In the US, the name is most likely to be encountered among people of German descent, as the immigrants who brought the name to the United States in the 19th and 20th centuries were mainly from Germany.
Variations of the surname Röllchen
The surname Röllchen is of German origin first used as a nickname for someone who was known for having a rotund figure. It is also a burgher surname for someone who lived in a house with a small courtyard, which can be translated either as 'Rollchen' or 'roller'. This surname is also sometimes spelled as Rollbrink, Rollman, Rollmann, Röller, Röllken, Röllmann, and Röllmayer, though the most common variants are Rollbrink and Röllchen.
The spelling of the name can vary depending on the dialect or linguistic region of its origin. For example, in the northern regions of Germany it is often spelled as Röller, Röllmann, or Rölkemann. In the south, on the other hand, it is often spelled as Röllmayer.
Another variation is Rollbrink, which can be traced to the Lower Saxony region. It is derived from rollen, which means 'to roll', and brink, which translates to ‘bank’. This combination likely referred to a person who owned land that was bounded on one side by a riverbank.
Variations of the name found in other countries include the Russian Rolle(Ролле), the Jewish surname Rowely, the Polish Rolle, the Danish Rolli, the Italian Rolle, and the Portuguese Rolli.
In addition to these variants, it is also possible to find other surnames that have an etymological link to Röllchen. Some examples are Roelle, Roelleck, Roellen, Roellke, Roller, Rollmann, and Rollhut.
Famous people with the name Röllchen
- Xander Röllchen: A Dutch footballer who is currently playing for Sparta Rotterdam.
- Joachim Röllchen: A German actor best known for his roles in films like "Ein großer Sommer" and "Wayfarers".
- Jeannette Röllchen Gallasch: A German artist who has exhibited her work internationally.
- Christian Röllchen: A German historian and author.
- Hettchen Röllchen: A German theater actress active in the 20th century.
- Andreas Röllchen: German entrepreneur and businessman.
- Bruno Röllchen: German zoologist and conservationist who pioneered modern zoological research in Germany.
- Simon Röllchen Senior: German banker and philanthropist who established the first universal banking system in Germany.
- Trudel Röllchen: A German physician and academic who was a founding member of the International Federation of Women's Medical Societies.
- Auguste Röllchen: German opera singer active in the second half of the 19th century.