Those who were left behind stayed and fought back against the raids of the Ndebele and they were referred to from that point as "those who remained behind to eat fish", thus this became their name.
Barolong derives their name from their first ruler Morolong, a name which means to forge in Tswana, suggesting one who was a practitioner in the craft of a blacksmith.
The Barolong were already spread widely between the headwaters of the Molopo and the Modder Rivers by the time they were ruled by their eighth king Modiboa.
The rule of the ninth Barolong king Tshesebe (c. 1565 – c. 1595) witnessed the emigration of a group of clans under the sub-king (kgosana) Phuduhutswana, and their southward trek to establish themselves at Dikgatlong near the confluence of the Vaal (Noka-eTshehla or Lekwa) and the Harts (Kolong) rivers.
By 1778, the Batlhaping were making annual trips to trade with the Khoi tribes on the Orange River, bringing copper, iron, knives, axes and assegais as well as tanned skins, ivory spoons and glass beads.
A member of the first European expedition in 1801 reported that the Batlhaping received the copper beads worn by the chief were from the Barolong.
Other travellers highlighted that the copper beads and rings worn by Batlhaping originated from the Damara in Namibia or the Bangwaketsi tribe in the east.