The authors agree that the surname derives from the given name of Germanic origin compounded of the elements hrod / hruod ("fame", "glory") and land ("land", "country"). F. Miranda specifies that the Latin form of the name is Hruodolandus and that its meaning can be interpreted as "famous land" or "one who gives glory to his homeland". Both authors note the enormous popularity that the name acquired thanks to the celebrated Carolingian paladin Orlando (or Rolando), fallen at Roncesvalles in the fight against the Moors and protagonist of the great medieval chivalric poems.

A. Bongioanni observes that this popularity makes it very probable that from this name also derive the surnames Landi, Landini, Landoni, Landucci and Rolandi. He notes that the form Rolandi / Rolando predominates in Piedmont, while Orlandi / Orlando extends through the rest of Italy. Miranda confirms the presence of the surname throughout the national territory, with a greater concentration in central-southern Italy, especially in Sicily, Puglia, Campania, Calabria and Lazio, but with notable areas also in Lombardy, Piedmont, Veneto, Tuscany, Abruzzo, Basilicata, Liguria and Friuli-Venezia Giulia.