Rolleston
Major Settlement in the Parish of Rolleston
Historical Forms
- Rovestone 1086 DB
- Rolvestone Hy2 Dugd
- Rolvestona 1156 Ch 1318
- Rolveston' 1198 Cur 1199 Fine 1290 Ch 1359 AD
- Rolvestun 1183x95 Rut 1227 GildR
- Rolvistun 1242 ib
- Rolueston' 1170(p),1171 P c.1215 RegAnt 1227 ClR
- Roluiston Hy3 Crox
- Rolwiston 1240 GildR
- Rolleston 1195 P 1199 MemR 1282 Cl 1292 WoCart 1449
- Rolliston' 1242 GildR 1260 Cl 1286 LCDeeds 1316 FA
- Roleston' 1297 Pat 1302 RTemple 1332 SR 1388 Wyg
- Rolston' 1346(p),1348(p),1379(p),1385 LCDeeds 1535 VE 1605,1615 LML
- Rolson 1513 MktHPR
- Rowleston 1539 MinAccts
- Rowlston 1610 Speed 1624 LML
- Roulston 1619,1620 ib
- Roðulfeston 941 (14) BCS 771 (S 479)
- Rolfestun 1002 × 04 ASWills 46 (S 1536)
Etymology
Either 'Hrōðwulfs village, estate' or 'Hrólfr's village, estate', v. tūn .The dithematic masc. pers.n. Hrōðwulf is OE and although uncommon, appears also in the place-name Rolleston in Staffs. (Roðulfeston 941 (14) BCS 771 (S 479), Rolfestun 1002 × 04 ASWills 46 (S 1536)). Early shortening of an OE dithematic pers.n. (as perhaps here) occurs in adjoining Noseley and possibly also in neighbouring Illston on the Hill.
Formally, the specific of Rolleston could also be the ON masc. pers.n. Hrólfr (ODan Rolf ), in which case an original Anglo-Saxon settlement may have been appropriated and renamed from a Scandinavian of the Viking army which disbanded in the region in 877.
Note the very early example of typical 16th- and 17th-cent. Leics. loss of t from the group -ston in Rolson 1513.