NameCensus.

UK surname

Roach

An English occupational surname referring to someone who gathered or sold a type of freshwater fish.

In the 1881 census there were 4,371 people recorded with the Roach surname, ranking it #1,025 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 6,201, ranked #1,088, down from #1,025 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Pembrokeshire, Caerphilly and St Edmundsbury.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Roach is 6,370 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 41.9%.

1881 census count

4,371

Ranked #1,025

Modern count

6,201

2016, ranked #1,088

Peak year

2010

6,370 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Roach had 4,371 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,025 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 6,201 in 2016, ranked #1,088.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 4,964 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Roach surname distribution map

The map shows where the Roach surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Roach surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Roach over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 2,785 #1,048
1861 historical 2,538 #1,152
1881 historical 4,371 #1,025
1891 historical 4,065 #1,184
1901 historical 4,794 #1,181
1911 historical 4,964 #1,053
1997 modern 6,060 #1,084
1998 modern 6,313 #1,079
1999 modern 6,337 #1,082
2000 modern 6,272 #1,085
2001 modern 6,123 #1,087
2002 modern 6,246 #1,091
2003 modern 6,014 #1,103
2004 modern 6,005 #1,105
2005 modern 5,948 #1,098
2006 modern 5,982 #1,092
2007 modern 6,005 #1,098
2008 modern 6,013 #1,106
2009 modern 6,220 #1,093
2010 modern 6,370 #1,094
2011 modern 6,252 #1,096
2012 modern 6,099 #1,101
2013 modern 6,257 #1,089
2014 modern 6,276 #1,094
2015 modern 6,215 #1,094
2016 modern 6,201 #1,088

Geography

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Where Roachs are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes and Manchester. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Pembrokeshire, Caerphilly and St Edmundsbury. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos) Glamorganshire
2 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
3 London parishes London 1
4 London parishes London 3
5 Manchester Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Pembrokeshire 009 Pembrokeshire
2 Caerphilly 002 Caerphilly
3 Pembrokeshire 008 Pembrokeshire
4 Pembrokeshire 005 Pembrokeshire
5 St Edmundsbury 011 St Edmundsbury

Forenames

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First names often paired with Roach

These lists show first names that appear often with the Roach surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Roach

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Roach, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Roach surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Roach household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Roach is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Roach is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Roach falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Roach is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Roach, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Roach

The surname "Roach" is believed to have originated in England, where it first appeared in records during the 13th century. It is thought to have derived from the Old English word "rohha," which referred to a small, elongated fish, or the Middle English word "roche," meaning a rock or rocky outcrop.

One of the earliest documented instances of the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Worcestershire from the year 1275, which mention a person named Adam le Roche. The name was likely an occupational surname, given to someone who lived near a rocky area or worked with fish.

In the 14th century, the surname appears in various forms, such as "de la Roche," "atte Roche," and "Roche," reflecting the evolving spelling and usage of the name over time. One notable reference is found in the Chancery Rolls of 1386, which record a John de la Roche from Gloucestershire.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the name underwent further changes, with spellings like "Roache," "Roach," and "Roche" becoming more common. One prominent individual from this era was Sir William Roach (c. 1580-1647), an English diplomat and Member of Parliament.

Another noteworthy figure was John Roach (1815-1887), an Irish-American shipbuilder and industrialist who established the renowned Roach Shipyard in Chester, Pennsylvania. He played a significant role in the development of the American shipbuilding industry during the 19th century.

In the realm of literature, Max Roach (1924-2007) was an influential American jazz drummer, percussionist, and composer who made significant contributions to the development of bebop and modern jazz.

Other individuals with this surname include Darren Roach (born 1972), an English former professional footballer, and Andrew Roach (born 1980), an American actor known for his roles in television series such as "Desperate Housewives" and "Supernatural."

While the surname "Roach" has evolved over the centuries and spread to various parts of the world, its origins can be traced back to the rocky landscapes and fishing communities of medieval England.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Roach families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Roach surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Lancashire leads with 863 Roachs recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.69x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 863 1.69x
Middlesex 586 1.36x
Devon 323 3.61x
Gloucestershire 317 3.76x
Cornwall 249 5.11x
Hampshire 210 2.38x
Glamorgan 177 2.36x
Yorkshire 157 0.37x
Surrey 154 0.73x
Monmouthshire 135 4.34x
Pembrokeshire 135 9.87x
Warwickshire 115 1.06x
Kent 113 0.77x
Essex 99 1.17x
Durham 97 0.76x
Cheshire 79 0.83x
Staffordshire 62 0.43x
Northumberland 60 0.94x
Wiltshire 43 1.13x
Sussex 31 0.43x
Leicestershire 27 0.57x
Cumberland 26 0.70x
Lanarkshire 26 0.19x
Somerset 25 0.36x
Royal Navy 21 4.10x
Shropshire 21 0.57x
Derbyshire 18 0.27x
Renfrewshire 18 0.54x
Lincolnshire 17 0.25x
Carmarthenshire 16 0.88x
Nottinghamshire 13 0.22x
Worcestershire 13 0.23x
Channel Islands 12 0.94x
Berkshire 11 0.34x
Bedfordshire 10 0.45x
Herefordshire 10 0.57x
Anglesey 9 1.18x
Cardiganshire 9 0.86x
Denbighshire 9 0.55x
Flintshire 9 0.78x
Northamptonshire 9 0.22x
Montgomeryshire 8 0.81x
Suffolk 8 0.15x
Dorset 7 0.25x
Aberdeenshire 6 0.15x
Clackmannanshire 6 1.69x
Isle of Man 6 0.75x
West Lothian 5 0.77x
Buckinghamshire 4 0.15x
Oxfordshire 4 0.15x
Dunbartonshire 3 0.26x
Hertfordshire 3 0.10x
Midlothian 3 0.05x
Westmorland 3 0.32x
Wigtownshire 3 0.53x
Caernarfonshire 2 0.12x
Angus 1 0.03x
Rutland 1 0.32x
Stirlingshire 1 0.06x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Liverpool in Lancashire leads with 168 Roachs recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.42x.

Place Total Index
Liverpool 168 5.42x
Birmingham 80 2.21x
Salford 75 5.00x
St Pancras London 70 2.02x
Plymouth St Andrew 65 9.42x
Manchester 55 2.40x
Preston 50 3.66x
Portsea 49 2.84x
Plymouth Charles The 46 11.66x
West Ham 41 2.19x
Ryde 40 21.12x
St Ives 40 41.97x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 38 4.78x
St Marylebone London 36 1.57x
Bedwellty 34 6.19x
Crediton 31 36.54x
Kensington London 31 1.30x
Kirkdale 31 3.61x
St George Hanover 31 5.52x
Toxteth Park 31 1.79x
Bootle Cum Linacre 29 7.15x
Islington London 29 0.70x
Oldham 28 1.70x
Aston 27 0.90x
Bethnal Green London 27 1.44x
Hackney London 27 1.12x
Towednack 27 283.02x
Aberdare 26 5.06x
Aberystruth 26 9.48x
Blackburn 26 1.91x
Luxulyan 26 160.39x
Camberwell 25 0.91x
Exeter St Sidwell 25 12.19x
Hammersmith London 25 2.36x
St George In East 25 8.54x
Westgate 25 6.31x
Widnes 25 6.79x
Clifton 24 5.63x
Wardleworth 24 8.23x
St Woollos 23 6.63x
Stoke Damerel 23 3.67x
Lambeth 22 0.59x
Ludgvan 21 54.10x
Pendleton In Salford 21 3.45x
Royal Navy 21 4.79x
Warrington 21 3.47x
Bow London 20 3.65x
Swansea Town 20 3.26x
Thornbury 19 32.94x
Great Bolton 18 2.66x
Croydon 17 1.46x
Romford 17 12.66x
Trevethin 17 5.79x
Trimdon 17 37.58x
West Derby 17 1.14x
Bitton 16 21.79x
Chelsea London 16 1.23x
Everton 16 0.98x
Llanelly 16 3.92x
Madron Penzance 16 9.03x
Runcorn 16 7.31x
Shoreditch London 16 0.86x
St Luke London 16 2.32x
Steynton 16 36.21x
Birkenhead 15 1.98x
Bristol St George 15 3.84x
Holy Trinity 15 1.46x
Llanwonno 15 5.57x
St Davids 15 48.48x
Great Grimsby 14 3.21x
Merthyr Tydfil 14 1.94x
Ratcliffe London 14 5.89x
Rotherhithe 14 2.63x
Wickwar 14 103.32x
Ardwick 13 2.82x
Barrow In Furness 13 1.87x
Cheltenham 13 2.00x
Limehouse London 13 2.75x
Mile End Old Town 13 1.91x
Paddington London 13 0.82x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Roach surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Mary 431
Elizabeth 151
Sarah 106
Ann 97
Ellen 92
Margaret 81
Catherine 64
Annie 62
Jane 62
Eliza 50
Bridget 48
Emma 40
Alice 36
Martha 34
Emily 33
Hannah 30
Maria 26
Kate 25
Anne 22
Edith 20
Harriet 19
Louisa 19
Fanny 18
Caroline 17
Florence 17
Frances 17
Clara 16
Ada 15
Susan 15
Charlotte 13
Agnes 12
Elizth. 12
Harriett 12
Esther 11
Lucy 11
Minnie 10
Rose 10
Amelia 9
Jessie 9
Julia 9
Amy 8
Isabella 8
Johanna 8
Catharine 7
Eleanor 7
Selina 7
Margret 6
Matilda 6
Anna 5
Laura 5

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Roach surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
John 314
William 271
James 218
Thomas 202
George 97
Michael 74
Patrick 74
Charles 62
Edward 59
Henry 54
Richard 48
Joseph 43
Robert 34
David 29
Alfred 28
Walter 26
Harry 25
Martin 25
Albert 22
Arthur 21
Frederick 20
Francis 18
Peter 18
Samuel 16
Frank 15
Daniel 13
Wm. 13
Mark 12
Benjamin 10
Edmund 9
Matthew 9
Ernest 8
Herbert 8
Maurice 8
Christopher 6
Jas. 6
Miles 6
Nicholas 6
Sidney 6
Edgar 5
Edwin 5
Fred 5
Jno. 5
Paul 5
Philip 5
Thos. 5
Isaac 4
Laurence 4
Lewis 4
Louis 3

FAQ

Roach surname: questions and answers

How common was the Roach surname in 1881?

In 1881, 4,371 people were recorded with the Roach surname. That placed it at #1,025 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Roach surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 6,201 in 2016. That gives Roach a modern rank of #1,088.

What does the Roach surname mean?

An English occupational surname referring to someone who gathered or sold a type of freshwater fish.

What does the Roach map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Roach bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.