Updated June 9, 2019 Share: Family name origins & meanings English : from a pet form of the personal name Rollo or Rolf.German : patronymic from the personal name Role, a reduced form of Rudolf.German : habitational name from any of several places called Rolling in Silesia.(Rölling) : variant of 2 and 3, or a nickname for a lecher, from Rölling ‘tom cat’.