NameCensus.

UK surname

Roch

A surname derived from the French word "roche" meaning rock or stone.

In the 1881 census there were 327 people recorded with the Roch surname, ranking it #9,147 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 242, ranked #17,177, down from #9,147 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to St Mary, Camrose and Dale (incl. Shokham Island). In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Pembrokeshire, Caerphilly and Wolverhampton.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Roch is 355 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 26.0%.

1881 census count

327

Ranked #9,147

Modern count

242

2016, ranked #17,177

Peak year

1861

355 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Roch had 327 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #9,147 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 242 in 2016, ranked #17,177.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 355 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Roch surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Roch surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Roch 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 280 #8,043
1861 historical 355 #7,198
1881 historical 327 #9,147
1891 historical 304 #11,005
1901 historical 261 #12,775
1911 historical 322 #10,873
1997 modern 233 #15,975
1998 modern 236 #16,304
1999 modern 229 #16,744
2000 modern 224 #16,934
2001 modern 210 #17,425
2002 modern 216 #17,447
2003 modern 224 #16,859
2004 modern 227 #16,778
2005 modern 217 #17,217
2006 modern 222 #17,092
2007 modern 222 #17,288
2008 modern 222 #17,442
2009 modern 247 #16,549
2010 modern 248 #16,886
2011 modern 241 #17,057
2012 modern 239 #17,027
2013 modern 248 #16,877
2014 modern 250 #16,905
2015 modern 243 #17,141
2016 modern 242 #17,177

Geography

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Where Rochs are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around St Mary, Camrose, Dale (incl. Shokham Island), St Ishmaels and Steynton, Walwins Castle. 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 Wolverhampton. 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 St Mary Pembrokeshire
2 Camrose Pembrokeshire
3 Dale (incl. Shokham Island) Pembrokeshire
4 St Ishmaels Pembrokeshire
5 Steynton, Walwins Castle Pembrokeshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Pembrokeshire 014 Pembrokeshire
2 Caerphilly 014 Caerphilly
3 Pembrokeshire 008 Pembrokeshire
4 Wolverhampton 021 Wolverhampton
5 Pembrokeshire 015 Pembrokeshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Roch

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Roch

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Roch, 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

Ageing Communities

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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

Central Connected Professionals and Managers

Group

Senior Professionals

Within London, Roch is most associated with areas classed as Senior Professionals, part of Central Connected Professionals and Managers. 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

These very central neighbourhoods house residents whose ages are more skewed towards older age cohorts than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Few households have young children. Rates of illness are low. Indian ethnicity is rare compared to the Supergroup mean. Property under occupation is more common, despite the centrality of neighbourhoods, and more residents live in communal establishments than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Adult residents of these neighbourhoods are typically aged 25 to 44, working full-time in professional, managerial or associate professional occupations. There are few families with dependent children. The predominantly Inner London neighbourhoods have an international character, including many residents born elsewhere in Europe alongside high numbers of individuals identifying as of Chinese ethnicity. Many individuals are never married, childless and/or living alone. Above average numbers of individuals, likely to be full-time students, live in communal establishments. Elsewhere, privately rented flats are the dominant housing type. Residents of these areas are well-qualified, with a significant number holding Level 4 or above qualifications. There is a correspondingly high level of individuals employed full-time in professional, managerial and associated professional or technical occupations. Employing industries are financial, real estate, professional, administration, and, to a lesser degree, transport and communications. Unemployment is uncommon.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Roch 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

Roch falls in decile 6 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Roch 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 Roch, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Roch

The surname ROCH is of French origin, first appearing in the records during the medieval period. It is believed to be derived from the Old French word "roche," meaning "rock" or "rocky terrain." This suggests that the name may have initially been used as a descriptive term for someone who lived near a prominent rock formation or in a rocky area.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name ROCH can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of land ownership commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The entry mentions a landowner named Rodger de la Roche, indicating the presence of the name in Normandy and England during the 11th century.

In the 13th century, a notable figure with the surname ROCH was Pierre de la Roche, a French nobleman and military commander who participated in the Seventh Crusade. He was born around 1225 and served under King Louis IX of France.

During the 14th century, the name appears in various historical records across Europe. In England, for instance, there is a mention of a John Roche who served as a member of Parliament for Wiltshire in 1377.

In the 15th century, the ROCH surname gained prominence in Ireland, particularly in the county of Cork. One of the earliest recorded Irish bearers of the name was David de la Roche, born around 1420, who served as the Seneschal of Imokilly, a historical territory in present-day County Cork.

Another notable figure with the surname ROCH was Étienne de la Roche, a French adventurer and explorer born in 1470. He is known for his travels to the Americas and his involvement in the early colonization efforts in Brazil and the Caribbean.

As the centuries passed, the ROCH surname continued to spread across Europe and beyond. In the 17th century, a French aristocratic family with the surname ROCH played a significant role in the colonization of the Caribbean island of Saint Barthélemy.

During the 18th century, a prominent figure with the ROCH surname was Jean-Baptiste Roch, a French painter and engraver born in 1723. He was renowned for his portraits and historical paintings, and his works can be found in various museums and collections across Europe.

In the 19th century, the ROCH surname gained recognition in the field of medicine. Augustin Roche, born in 1829, was a French physician and medical researcher who made significant contributions to the study of infectious diseases and public health.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Roch families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Roch 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. Pembrokeshire leads with 182 Rochs recorded in 1881 and an index of 179.52x.

County Total Index
Pembrokeshire 182 179.52x
Lancashire 30 0.79x
Glamorgan 19 3.42x
Surrey 17 1.09x
Middlesex 15 0.47x
Somerset 14 2.73x
Renfrewshire 11 4.45x
Monmouthshire 7 3.04x
Durham 5 0.53x
Cheshire 4 0.57x
Warwickshire 4 0.50x
Gloucestershire 3 0.48x
Angus 2 0.68x
Carmarthenshire 2 1.49x
East Lothian 2 4.73x
Hertfordshire 2 0.91x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.52x
Derbyshire 1 0.20x
Hampshire 1 0.15x
Royal Navy 1 2.63x
Shropshire 1 0.36x
Sussex 1 0.19x
West Lothian 1 2.08x
Yorkshire 1 0.03x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Pembroke St Mary in Pembrokeshire leads with 25 Rochs recorded in 1881 and an index of 191.57x.

Place Total Index
Pembroke St Mary 25 191.57x
Dale 21 5833.33x
Castlemartin 12 2790.70x
Monckton 12 662.98x
Lambston 11 5000.00x
Abbey 10 26.51x
St Ishmaels 10 1923.08x
Freystrop 9 2142.86x
Saltford 9 1875.00x
Walton West 9 2250.00x
Warren 9 5625.00x
Bethnal Green London 7 5.05x
Mynyddyslwyn 7 76.92x
Pennard 7 2413.79x
Rotherhithe 7 17.76x
Chadderton 6 32.43x
Llandaff 6 32.47x
Martletwy 6 1463.41x
Narberth North 6 333.33x
Battersea 5 4.26x
Darlington 5 13.65x
Haverfordwest St Martin 5 265.96x
Jordanston 5 2941.18x
Liverpool 5 2.18x
Walcot 5 18.28x
Camrose 4 412.37x
Carew 4 396.04x
Ilston 4 1333.33x
Ince In Makerfield 4 22.71x
Lambeth 4 1.44x
Llanstadwell 4 120.85x
Oldham 4 3.27x
St Dogwells 4 1142.86x
Tranmere 4 15.46x
Aston 3 1.35x
Burton 3 294.12x
Stackpole Elidor 3 937.50x
Tenby St Mary In 3 58.14x
Toxteth Park 3 2.34x
Warrington 3 6.69x
Whitchurch 3 329.67x
Broxbourne 2 45.87x
Cheltenham 2 4.14x
Dundee 2 1.81x
Haddington 2 32.05x
Kensington London 2 1.13x
Llangwm 2 210.53x
Llansadwrn 2 194.17x
St George In East 2 9.22x
Tenby St Mary Out 2 1052.63x
Ardwick 1 2.93x
Birmingham 1 0.37x
Bootle Cum Linacre 1 3.33x
Bristol St James St Paul 1 4.79x
Cardiff St John 1 5.51x
Cardington 1 158.73x
Dalmeny 1 54.35x
Duffield 1 25.38x
Fishguard 1 45.45x
Garston 1 8.95x
Hackney London 1 0.56x
Hastings St Mary 1 7.47x
Haverfordwest St Mary 1 68.49x
Haverfordwest St Thomas 1 49.26x
Haycastle 1 312.50x
Holdenhurst 1 5.83x
Johnston 1 434.78x
Little Bolton 1 2.05x
Mathry 1 114.94x
Milford Haven 1 121.95x
Paisley Middle Church 1 6.95x
Poplar London 1 1.66x
Rhoscrowther 1 434.78x
Royal Navy 1 3.08x
St Issells 1 46.73x
Steynton 1 30.49x
Swansea Town 1 2.20x
Westminster St James 1 3.05x
Worsley 1 4.29x
Wycombe 1 6.95x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 35
William 23
George 21
James 14
Thomas 11
David 4
Edward 4
Joseph 4
Alfred 3
Arthur 3
Walter 3
Edwin 2
Henry 2
Mark 2
Michael 2
Sidney 2
Albert 1
Charls 1
Claud 1
Ernest 1
Francis 1
Frederick 1
Harry 1
Herbert 1
Horace 1
Howard 1
Howel 1
Jeremiah 1
Jesse 1
Lewis 1
Martin 1
Michl. 1
Nicholson 1
Patrick 1
Peter 1
Robert 1
Samuel 1
Thos. 1
Timothy 1
Warren 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Roch surname: questions and answers

How common was the Roch surname in 1881?

In 1881, 327 people were recorded with the Roch surname. That placed it at #9,147 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Roch surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 242 in 2016. That gives Roch a modern rank of #17,177.

What does the Roch surname mean?

A surname derived from the French word "roche" meaning rock or stone.

What does the Roch map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Roch 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.