Rolleys and Rothwells of Glossop

[ChrissieL]

During the lockdown I have been looking at my ROTHWELL ancestors and I was wondering if someone with local knowledge of the Glossop and surrounding area could answer a question

Why are the ROLLEY/ROTHWELL surnames interchangeable?

I can see families having their children baptised, ROLLEY, only to revert to ROTHWELL later (and visa versa).  I looked at baptisms at All Saints Church, Glossop and many families seem to use ROLLEY up to about 1825 then use ROTHWELL.
My family were baptised ROTHWELL, then were ROLLEY in the 1841 census

Any ideas why these names were interchangeable?

Many thanks
Chris

[GrahamH]

I was born in Glossop in 1950 and knew both Rolley and Rothwell families (none directly connected to my own ancestry). I have never come across the names being interchangeable though.

[ChrissieL]

Thank you GrahamH. It is a mystery. There was one chap who was married as Rolley, then signed his name Rothwell!

Thanks again
Chris

[GrahamH]

I've asked a friend named Rothwell (family historian though not, as far as I know, a member of this forum) if he has ever come across something similar. I'll pass on anything he can tell me.

[ChrissieL]

Thanks so much. I really appreciate that. I'd love to solve the mystery.

Chris

[Marmalady]

It could be an indication of a Rolley / Rothwell illegitimacy somewhere

I have a person who was illegitimate and used his mother's and father's surnames interchangeably throughout his life. (To add more confusion he also used two forenames interchangeably!!) Even his children could not agree on which name to use -- some used one name, some the other when grown up.

[ChrissieL]

Thank you Marmalady
That's certainly a thought, although at the moment, the families who interchange their names don't appear to be connected.  I will have to go back further to see if I can find anything that might give me a clue
Many thanks
Chris

[GrahamH]

I've been in touch with Stewart Rothwell and he confirms that the names are interchangeable. He has a Facebook group for the Rothwell family history and knows of many different ways the name has been spelt.
Stewart has posted details of the query on his group page, to try to stimulate provision of more information, and will welcome anyone who wishes to join in - https://www.facebook.com/groups/184644638219412/

[ChrissieL]

Thank you for your help Graham. It will be great if we can get some feedback from the Facebook post
Chris