Surname Roelands - Meaning and Origin
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Roelands: What does the surname Roelands mean?
The last name Roelands is of Dutch origin. It is a patronymic surname derived from the given name Roel, which is a Low German variant of the name Rudolph. The name Rudolph is more widely known today, but the origin of this name is the Germanic personal name “Hrodulf,” which translates to “fame-wolf.” This name was popularized by the well-known tale of St. Rudolph, which was written during the 12th century.
The meaning of the name Roelands can be gleaned from its origin. The given name Rudolph is derived from the Germanic phrase “Hrodulf” which means “fame-wolf.” Taking this into consideration, someone with the surname Roelands may be interpreted as having the character trait of being determined, ambitious, and confident; all traits associated with the figure of a wolf. In addition, the first part of the name, “roel” may be correlated to the figure of a famous ruler, as roel was a title given to someone of that status in the Low Countries. As a result, someone with this last name could be viewed as possessing power, influence, and finesse.
Overall, the surname Roelands is associated with traits related to being ambitious, influential, and determined. These qualities make Roelands an apt name that fits the image of someone with an authoritative personality.
Order DNA origin analysisRoelands: Where does the name Roelands come from?
The last name Roelands is most commonly found in the Netherlands and Belgium. It is an occupational surname derived from the old Dutch word, 'roeland', a person who carved images or statues out of wood. The popularity of the name today is mainly thanks to both countries being former Dutch colonies.
The name is most common in the Dutch-speaking Flemish region of Belgium, particularly in the municipalities of Aalst, Lede and Wetteren. The population of people with the last name Roelands is highest in the municipalities of Wether and Lede, located along the Dender river in East Flanders.
In the Netherlands, the name is also most common in the province of Gelderland. It is mainly found in the cities of Arnhem, Nijmegen and Apeldoorn. Records from the late 19th and early 20th centuries show a high concentration of the surname in the Apeldoorn, Ermelo and Bennekom area of Gelderland.
The surname is also relatively common in the United States, particularly around towns that were originally inhabited by Dutch settlers. It is primarily found in the Midwestern states of Illinois, Indiana, Michigan and Wisconsin.
Overall, the last name Roelands is most common in the countries or regions of the Dutch-speaking Low Countries, as well as the Dutch-surnamed parts of the United States.
Variations of the surname Roelands
The surname Roelands has several variants, spellings and surnames stemming from the same origin. Roelands is a Dutch patronymic surname which originated from the medieval given name Roland. The variants or alternate spellings of the surname Roelands include Rooland, Roeland, Roelande, and Rolands.
In some cases, the surname has become anglicized and split into two distinct surnames. The spellings Rooland, Roeland, Roelande and Rolands are typically the Dutch-variants of the surname, whereas the surnames Reylands and Reelands are the Anglicized variants.
In other cases, the surname was split into two separate surnames: the surname Roelands and the surname Roelandse. The Dutch surname Roelands is a patronymic surname that originated from the medieval given name Roland, while the variant surname Roelandse is a toponymic surname that originates from the places called Roelands located in the Netherland region of Friesland.
The surnames Reylands and Reelands are also variants of the same origin as the patronymic surname Roelands. The surname Reylands is an anglicization of the Dutch surname Reelands, which was the original patronymic form of Roelands.
In addition to the traditional Dutch variants and Anglicized variants, the surname Roelands has been further mixed and changed by immigrants to other countries such as The United States and Canada. The surname Rowlands, which is derived from the Welsh patronymic surname Rhywland, is also a variant of this same origin.
So, in sum, the variants, spellings and surnames stemming from the same origin as the Dutch surname Roelands include Rooland, Roeland, Roelande, Rolands, Reylands, Reelands and Rowlands.
Famous people with the name Roelands
- Philippe Roelands (professional cyclist)
- Liesbet Roelands (Flemish actress)
- Geert Roelands (soccer player)
- Kobe Roelands (soccer player)
- Elodie Roelands (artist)
- Sara Roelands (athletics coach)
- Dirk Roelands (coach and trainer)
- Michel Roelands (guitarist)
- Jan Roelands (artist)
- Leen Roelands (operational manager)