Roland (name)

Roland is a masculine Frankish given name that is also used as a family name. Forms in other languages include: Orlando (Italian), Rolando (Italian, Portuguese, Spanish), Roldán (Spanish), Lorand (Hungarian).

Origin
The name Roland originates from Frankish. Its meaning has usually been identified as "famous land," "from the famous land," or "fame of the land", derived from the stems "Hrōð" or "χrōþi" meaning fame, and "land" (Hrōþiland). Some claim that "land" was derived from "nand," meaning "brave.",

The name became widespread after the semi-legendary military hero Roland who served in the Frankish army under Charlemagne circa 778 A.D. and whose exploits were celebrated in the Chanson de Roland or Song of Roland.

Variations include "Rollo" in British English and "Rolle" in Scandinavian languages.

Given name

 * Roland (bishop of Treviso) (fl. 1073–1089), Italian prelate
 * Roland of Cremona (1178–1259), Italian Dominican friar and theologian
 * Roland of Sicily (1296–1361), Sicilian nobleman and general

A–E

 * Roland Bäckman (born 1960), Swedish politician
 * Roland Bailey, American football cornerback known as "Champ"
 * Roland Barthes (1915–1980), French literary critic and theorist
 * Roland Borsa (died 1301), voivode of Transylvania for 3 periods in the late 13th century
 * Roland Burris (born 1937), American politician
 * Roland Busch (born 1964), German business executive and physicist
 * Roland Butcher, Barbados born English cricketer
 * Roland Van Campenhout (born 1944), Flemish blues musician
 * Roland Chaplain, English author and senior lecturer
 * Roland Clark (born 1965), American house music DJ, producer, songwriter and vocalist
 * Roland Cziurlock (born 1967), German bodybuilder
 * Roland Desné (1931–2020), French writer
 * Roland Dumas (1922–2024), French Socialist politician and lawyer who served as Foreign Minister from 1984 to 1986 and from 1988 to 1993 and President of the Constitutional Council of France from 1995 to 1999
 * Roland Ekenberg (born 1957), Swedish Army major general
 * Roland Emmerich (born 1955), German film director, screenwriter, and producer, United States' 11th-highest-grossing director of all time
 * Roland Étienne (born 1944), French archaeologist

F–M

 * Roland Freisler (1893–1945), jurist and judge of Nazi Germany, State Secretary of the Reich Ministry of Justice, and President of the People's Court
 * Roland of Galloway (d. 1200), Norse-Gaelic king of Galloway
 * Roland Garros (aviator) (1888–1918), French aviator
 * Roland Gibbs (1921–2004), British military officer
 * Roland Gift (born 1961), British singer
 * Roland Grapow (born 1959), German heavy metal guitarist
 * Roland Harrah III (1973–1995), American actor
 * Roland Hattenberger (born 1948), Austrian footballer
 * Sir Rowland Hill, (d. 1561) publisher of the Geneva Bible, possible inspiration for the hero of Shakespeare's As You Like It.
 * Roland Israelashvili, American professional poker player with 9 Circuit rings
 * Roland Joffe (born 1945), British film director
 * Roland Kaiser (born 1952), German singer
 * Roland Kirk (a.k.a. Rahsaan Roland Kirk, 1935–1977), American jazz musician
 * Roland Koch (born 1958), German politician
 * Roland Kun (born 1970), Nauruan politician
 * Roland Michener (1900–1991), Canadian politician, Governor General of Canada
 * Roland S. Morris (1874-1945), American lawyer and diplomat

N–Z

 * Roland Orzabal (born 1961), English musician, songwriter and record producer
 * Roland Penrose (1900–1984), British surrealist artist and poet
 * Roland Pope (1864–1952), Australian cricketer and ophthalmologist
 * Roland I Rátót (died 1277 or 1278), Hungarian influential lord
 * Roland II Rátót (died 1301), Hungarian baron
 * Roland III Rátót (died 1336), Hungarian baron
 * Roland Ratzenberger (1960–1994), Austrian racing driver
 * Roland Rotherham, British historian and lecturer
 * Roland the Farter, 12th century jester
 * Roland Stephen Tennekoon, Sri Lankan Sinhala politician, elected member of the State Council of Ceylon
 * Roland Topor (1938–1997), French illustrator and writer
 * Roland Evelyn Turnbull (1905–1960), British colonial administrator
 * Roland Varga (footballer) (born 1990), Hungarian footballer
 * Roland Wlodyka (1938–2020), NASCAR Cup Series driver
 * Roland Wohlfarth (born 1963), German footballer
 * Roland Woolsey (born 1953), American football cornerback
 * Saint Roland (died 1200), French abbot
 * Roland Tan, Singaporean gangster and fugitive wanted for murder

Surname

 * Blessed Nicolas Roland (1642–1678), Catholic priest
 * Dean Roland (born 1972), American musician
 * Dennis Roland (born 1983), American football player
 * Ed Roland (born 1963), American musician
 * Edwin J. Roland (1905–1985), American Coast Guard commandant
 * Floyd Roland (born 1961), Canadian politician
 * Gene Roland (1921-1981), American jazz composer and musician
 * Gérard Roland (footballer) (born 1981), French football player
 * Gilbert Roland (1905–1994), American actor
 * Hans Roland (born 1931), Australian author and teacher
 * Ida Roland (1881–1951), Austrian actress
 * Jean-Marie Roland (1734–1793), French politician, leader of the Girondist faction in the French Revolution
 * Joe Roland (1920–2009), American jazz musician
 * John Roland (1941–2023), American journalist
 * Johnny Roland (born 1943), American football player
 * Madame Roland (1754–1793), wife of Jean-Marie
 * Pauline Roland (1805-1852), French feminist
 * Pierre Roland (born 1979), Indonesian actor
 * Ruth Roland (1892–1937), American actress
 * Seth Roland (born 1957), American soccer player and coach
 * Walter Roland (1902–1972), American blues, boogie-woogie and jazz musician

Variations

 * Rolando
 * Roldán
 * Role
 * Roli
 * Rolie
 * Rolin
 * Rolo
 * Rolon
 * Rolly
 * Rolo
 * Rowland
 * Rowlands