The hectare is a unit of area and is a non-SI but metric unit with the symbol ha.
It represents the area equal to that of a square with edges 100m long (ie 1hm² or 10,000m²). This is the equivalent to about 2.47 acres.
Its size is down to its use primary use; that for measuring the size of land.
The rood is a unit of area used in historic England with the symbol ro.
Its unit size is equal to 1/4 of an acre, 10,890 ft² or 1,012m². A rectangle equal to one furlong in length and one rod in width is one rood in area.
Its use was very important in surveying land because of the ease of conversion into acres from smaller sections of land.