NameCensus.

UK surname

Roche

A topographic surname of French origin referring to someone who lived near a rock, rocky outcrop, or boulder.

In the 1881 census there were 1,246 people recorded with the Roche surname, ranking it #3,263 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 6,279, ranked #1,074, up from #3,263 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Toxteth Park and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Westminster, Pembrokeshire and Knowsley.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Roche is 6,479 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 403.9%.

1881 census count

1,246

Ranked #3,263

Modern count

6,279

2016, ranked #1,074

Peak year

2010

6,479 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Roche had 1,246 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,263 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 6,279 in 2016, ranked #1,074.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,997 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Roche surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Roche surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Roche 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 611 #4,220
1861 historical 626 #4,275
1881 historical 1,246 #3,263
1891 historical 1,453 #3,016
1901 historical 1,813 #2,892
1911 historical 1,997 #2,490
1997 modern 5,925 #1,108
1998 modern 6,144 #1,106
1999 modern 6,217 #1,101
2000 modern 6,114 #1,116
2001 modern 5,968 #1,113
2002 modern 6,135 #1,104
2003 modern 6,059 #1,096
2004 modern 6,078 #1,095
2005 modern 5,965 #1,096
2006 modern 6,027 #1,085
2007 modern 6,100 #1,078
2008 modern 6,116 #1,080
2009 modern 6,303 #1,073
2010 modern 6,479 #1,069
2011 modern 6,373 #1,073
2012 modern 6,214 #1,077
2013 modern 6,343 #1,076
2014 modern 6,394 #1,072
2015 modern 6,289 #1,078
2016 modern 6,279 #1,074

Geography

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Where Roches are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Toxteth Park, Manchester and Lambeth. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Westminster, Pembrokeshire, Knowsley and County Durham. 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 London parishes London 1
2 London parishes London 3
3 Toxteth Park Lancashire
4 Manchester Lancashire
5 Lambeth London (South Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Westminster 009 Westminster
2 Pembrokeshire 002 Pembrokeshire
3 Knowsley 006 Knowsley
4 County Durham 034 County Durham
5 Westminster 005 Westminster

Forenames

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First names often paired with Roche

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Roche

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

Baseline UK

Group

Challenged Communities

Nationally, the Roche surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Roche household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Residents of these neighbourhoods typically live in households with dependent children, and there are fewer-than-average residents of normal retirement age or over. Identification with ethnic minorities, particularly Black, or Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is common. The rate of Christian religious affiliation is low. Housing predominantly consists of semi-detached houses, along with a significant number of terraced properties and flats. Overcrowded social housing is common, and private renting occurs at average UK levels. Those in employment work mainly in caring leisure and other services; process, plant and machine operation; or elementary occupations. Unemployment is high, and few individuals have degree level qualifications. Many of these neighbourhoods occur in commuter towns or less accessible areas of larger towns and cities.

Wider pattern

This Supergroup exemplifies the broad base to the UK’s social structure, encompassing as it does the average or modal levels of many neighbourhood characteristics, including all housing tenures, a range of levels of educational attainment and religious affiliations, and a variety of pre-retirement age structures. Yet, in combination, these mixes are each distinctive of the parts of the UK. Overall, terraced houses and flats are the most prevalent, as is employment in intermediate or low-skilled occupations. However, this Supergroup is also characterised by above average levels of unemployment and lower levels of use of English as the main language. Many neighbourhoods occur in south London and the UK’s other major urban centres.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Roche is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Roche 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

Roche 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 Roche is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Irish

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

Meaning and origin of Roche

The surname Roche originated in France, specifically in the Auvergne region. It dates back to the early medieval period, around the 9th or 10th century. The name derives from the Old French word "roche," which means "rock" or "rocky terrain." This suggests that the name was likely given to someone who lived near a prominent rock formation or in a rocky area.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Roche can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of land ownership in England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The name appears as "de Rupe," which is the Latin equivalent of "Roche."

In the 12th century, the name Roche was associated with the noble family of Roche, who held lands in Pembrokeshire, Wales. Sir John de la Roche, born around 1180, was a prominent member of this family and served as a knight and military commander during the reign of King John.

Another notable figure with the surname Roche was Peter Roche, born in Ireland in 1390. He was a Franciscan friar and theologian who became the Archbishop of Armagh and served as the Primate of All Ireland from 1436 until his death in 1470.

During the Renaissance period, the name Roche was carried by several prominent artists and writers. François de la Roche, born in 1554, was a French poet and dramatist who wrote plays and poems in the Renaissance style. Étienne de la Roche, born in 1554, was a French painter and engraver known for his religious works and portraits.

In the 18th century, Roche was the surname of Sir Boyle Roche, an Irish politician and member of the Irish House of Commons. He was born in 1743 and is remembered for his amusing and often nonsensical remarks, such as "A man cannot be said to have eaten his dinner until he has had his dessert."

Moving forward to the 19th century, Sophie Roche, born in 1730, was a German novelist and playwright known for her novel "Geschichte des Fräuleins von Sternheim," which was influential in the development of the epistolary novel genre.

These are just a few examples of notable individuals throughout history who carried the surname Roche, showcasing its rich heritage and presence across various countries and fields.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Roche families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Roche 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 308 Roches recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.10x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 308 2.10x
Middlesex 293 2.37x
Surrey 100 1.66x
Kent 63 1.49x
Yorkshire 49 0.40x
Cheshire 32 1.17x
Hampshire 30 1.18x
Lanarkshire 26 0.65x
Northumberland 26 1.41x
Essex 25 1.02x
Gloucestershire 24 0.99x
Sussex 24 1.15x
Glamorgan 22 1.02x
Warwickshire 21 0.67x
Durham 17 0.46x
Channel Islands 13 3.55x
Renfrewshire 13 1.36x
Somerset 13 0.65x
Leicestershire 11 0.80x
Derbyshire 10 0.52x
Norfolk 10 0.53x
Angus 9 0.79x
Devon 9 0.35x
Northamptonshire 8 0.69x
Nottinghamshire 8 0.48x
Royal Navy 8 5.43x
Staffordshire 8 0.19x
Buckinghamshire 7 0.94x
East Lothian 7 4.28x
Suffolk 7 0.47x
Cornwall 6 0.43x
Dumfriesshire 6 2.20x
Flintshire 6 1.81x
Hertfordshire 6 0.70x
Aberdeenshire 5 0.44x
Buteshire 5 6.68x
Monmouthshire 5 0.56x
Shropshire 5 0.47x
Cumberland 4 0.38x
Berkshire 3 0.32x
Pembrokeshire 3 0.76x
Worcestershire 2 0.12x
Argyllshire 1 0.29x
Brecknockshire 1 0.40x
Caernarfonshire 1 0.20x
Dunbartonshire 1 0.30x
Fife 1 0.14x
Herefordshire 1 0.20x
Inverness-shire 1 0.27x
Lincolnshire 1 0.05x
Oxfordshire 1 0.13x
Wiltshire 1 0.09x

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 78 Roches recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.76x.

Place Total Index
Liverpool 78 8.76x
St Marylebone London 43 6.52x
Everton 29 6.20x
West Derby 28 6.53x
Chelsea London 27 7.25x
Manchester 26 3.94x
Hampstead London 24 12.47x
St Pancras London 24 2.41x
Toxteth Park 24 4.83x
Mile End Old Town 21 10.76x
West Ham 21 3.90x
Lambeth 20 1.86x
Camberwell 19 2.41x
Deptford St Paul 19 5.84x
Barony 18 1.78x
Islington London 17 1.42x
Bermondsey 16 4.35x
Portsea 16 3.22x
Widnes 16 15.13x
Leeds 15 2.17x
Poulton Cum Seacombe 15 47.80x
Salford 15 3.48x
Poplar London 14 6.00x
Birmingham 13 1.25x
Bradford 13 4.38x
Hackney London 13 1.88x
Bedminster 12 6.42x
Great Bolton 12 6.18x
Hammersmith London 12 3.94x
Kensington London 12 1.75x
Newington 12 2.63x
Burnley 11 8.91x
Byker 11 12.10x
Leicester St Margaret 11 3.29x
Wallsend 11 18.86x
Paddington London 10 2.20x
Willesden 10 8.58x
Bromley London 9 3.31x
Cheltenham 9 4.81x
Heworth 9 12.42x
Kirkdale 9 3.65x
Lochee 9 88.15x
St George Hanover 9 5.58x
Hulme 8 2.61x
Nottingham St Mary 8 1.86x
St Saviour 8 39.53x
Tyldesley Cum Shakerley 8 18.95x
Brighton 7 1.67x
Bristol St Augustine 7 17.89x
Ipswich St Mathew 7 16.59x
Littlehampton 7 42.07x
Merthyr Tydfil 7 3.38x
Neilston 7 14.56x
Reigate Foreign 7 10.73x
Richmond 7 8.29x
Royal Navy 7 5.56x
St Mary Le Strand 7 178.12x
Abbey 6 4.11x
Aylesbury 6 18.12x
Daventry 6 36.50x
Glasgow 6 0.85x
Greenwich 6 3.05x
Haddington 6 24.82x
Heston 6 14.62x
Higher Bebington 6 34.36x
Kirkmahoe 6 113.21x
Northrepps 6 247.93x
Rotherhithe 6 3.93x
St Asaph 6 91.05x
St Martin In Fields 6 8.11x
Westminster St James 6 4.72x
Ashton Under Lyne 5 1.56x
Dore 5 135.14x
Gate Fulford 5 17.48x
Liscard 5 10.17x
Rothesay 5 13.79x
Southwark St George Martyr 5 2.01x
Swansea Lower 5 45.58x
Walton On Hill 5 6.29x
Whitchurch 5 24.13x

Top female names

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

Name Count
John 90
James 51
William 44
Thomas 39
Michael 28
Patrick 24
Edward 16
Henry 15
Richard 15
Joseph 13
George 10
Charles 9
Walter 9
Maurice 8
Peter 8
Robert 8
Francis 7
David 6
Alfred 5
Frederick 5
Nicholas 5
Albert 4
Andrew 4
Martin 4
Percy 4
Wm. 4
Arthur 3
Daniel 3
Ernest 3
Frank 3
Harry 3
Herbert 3
Jas. 3
Alexander 2
Anthony 2
Danl. 2
Geo. 2
Horace 2
Jno. 2
Laurence 2
Lawrence 2
Mark 2
Michel 2
Richd. 2
Samuel 2
Thos. 2
Timothy 2
Victor 2
Wilson 2
Edwd.H. 1

FAQ

Roche surname: questions and answers

How common was the Roche surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,246 people were recorded with the Roche surname. That placed it at #3,263 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Roche surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 6,279 in 2016. That gives Roche a modern rank of #1,074.

What does the Roche surname mean?

A topographic surname of French origin referring to someone who lived near a rock, rocky outcrop, or boulder.

What does the Roche map show?

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