This interesting name has at least twelve modern spellings including such wide variations as Rollston, Roulston, Rowleston, Rowston, Rowstone etc. it is of Anglo-Saxon origin and derives from one of the villages called Rollestran, in Notts, Leics, Staffs, or Wilts or Rowlstron in Yorkshire, all of which mean the same 'Rolfs Farm' - from the pre 10th Century. Locational names were often given to the Lord of the Manor, and this applies to all the a early records of the name. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Simon de Rolustona. which was dated 1170, The Leicester Pipe Rolls. during the reign of King Henry II, The Builder, 1154 - 1189. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.