NameCensus.

UK surname

Rochelle

A French locational surname referring to someone from the town of La Rochelle in western France.

In the 1881 census there were 14 people recorded with the Rochelle surname, ranking it #31,604 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 366, ranked #12,690, up from #31,604 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Wolverhampton, London parishes and Market Drayton. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Shropshire, Walsall and Leeds.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Rochelle is 372 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 2514.3%.

1881 census count

14

Ranked #31,604

Modern count

366

2016, ranked #12,690

Peak year

2014

372 bearers

Map years

5

1901 to 2016

Key insights

  • Rochelle had 14 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #31,604 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 366 in 2016, ranked #12,690.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 126 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Spacious Rural Living.

Rochelle surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Rochelle surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Rochelle 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 1 #33,412
1861 historical 9 #32,724
1881 historical 14 #31,604
1891 historical 49 #30,349
1901 historical 112 #21,382
1911 historical 126 #19,831
1997 modern 326 #12,811
1998 modern 344 #12,679
1999 modern 353 #12,522
2000 modern 348 #12,614
2001 modern 338 #12,669
2002 modern 347 #12,699
2003 modern 345 #12,549
2004 modern 353 #12,377
2005 modern 344 #12,521
2006 modern 353 #12,363
2007 modern 353 #12,521
2008 modern 348 #12,751
2009 modern 345 #13,107
2010 modern 364 #12,851
2011 modern 369 #12,600
2012 modern 370 #12,417
2013 modern 369 #12,655
2014 modern 372 #12,669
2015 modern 371 #12,567
2016 modern 366 #12,690

Geography

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Where Rochelles are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Wolverhampton, London parishes, Market Drayton, Cannock and Walsall. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Shropshire, Walsall, Leeds, Newcastle-under-Lyme and Teignbridge. 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 Wolverhampton Staffordshire
2 London parishes London 1
3 Market Drayton Shropshire
4 Cannock Staffordshire
5 Walsall Staffordshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Shropshire 034 Shropshire
2 Walsall 003 Walsall
3 Leeds 100 Leeds
4 Newcastle-under-Lyme 007 Newcastle-under-Lyme
5 Teignbridge 005 Teignbridge

Forenames

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First names often paired with Rochelle

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Rochelle

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

Retired Professionals

Group

Spacious Rural Living

Nationally, the Rochelle surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Spacious Rural Living, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Rochelle household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These predominantly ageing households typically have no resident dependent children. Most are owner-occupiers and live in detached houses in low density residential developments (although renting is more common than in the rest of the Supergroup). White ethnicity predominates. Residents are typically beyond retirement age but those still in work have managerial, professional or skilled trade occupations. White ethnicity and Christian religious affiliation predominate. Neighbourhoods are located throughout rural UK.

Wider pattern

Typically married but no longer with resident dependent children, these well-educated households either remain working in their managerial, professional, administrative or other skilled occupations, or are retired from them – the modal individual age is beyond normal retirement age. Underoccupied detached and semi-detached properties predominate, and unpaid care is more prevalent than reported disability. The prevalence of this Supergroup outside most urban conurbations indicates that rural lifestyles prevail, typically sustained by using two or more cars per household.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Rochelle 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

Rochelle is most concentrated in decile 4 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Rochelle falls in decile 4 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.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Rochelle is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Rochelle

The surname Rochelle originates from the French city of La Rochelle, located in the western part of France. The name itself dates back to the 11th century and is derived from the Old French word "roche," meaning "rock" or "rocky place."

La Rochelle was an important port city during the medieval period, known for its strategic location and fortified defenses. The city's name was often recorded in various historical documents, such as the Pipe Rolls of England from the late 12th century, which mentions individuals with the surname Rochelle.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with this surname was Robert de Rochelle, a merchant from La Rochelle who lived in the late 13th century. He was mentioned in several trade records and business transactions, indicating the commercial significance of the city during that time.

Another notable figure was Jean de Rochelle, a French soldier who fought in the Hundred Years' War (1337-1453) and was knighted for his bravery on the battlefield.

In England, the surname Rochelle can be traced back to the 13th century, when it was likely introduced by Norman-French settlers. One of the earliest records of the name in English history is found in the Feet of Fines for Essex in 1277, which mentions a John de Rochelle.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the surname became more widespread in England, as evidenced by its appearance in various parish records and historical documents. One notable individual was Sir John Rochelle (1540-1609), an English politician and Member of Parliament.

In the United States, the surname Rochelle has been present since the early colonial period, with some of the earliest recorded instances dating back to the 17th century. One of the first documented individuals with this surname was Pierre Rochelle (1625-1685), a French Huguenot who settled in New York.

Another notable figure in American history was Edmond Rochelle (1792-1862), a prominent lawyer and politician from South Carolina, who served as a member of the United States House of Representatives.

Throughout history, the surname Rochelle has also been associated with several notable artists, writers, and intellectuals, such as the French philosopher and writer, Raymond Rochelle (1889-1962), and the American painter, Elizabeth Rochelle (1892-1973).

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Rochelle families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Rochelle 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. Staffordshire leads with 8 Rochelles recorded in 1881 and an index of 17.37x.

County Total Index
Staffordshire 8 17.37x
Worcestershire 3 16.84x
Berkshire 1 9.77x
Lancashire 1 0.62x
Shropshire 1 8.48x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Pelsall in Staffordshire leads with 6 Rochelles recorded in 1881 and an index of 4285.71x.

Place Total Index
Pelsall 6 4285.71x
Kidderminster Borough 3 288.46x
New Windsor 1 294.12x
Preston 1 23.09x
Seighford 1 2500.00x
Shrewsbury St Mary 1 212.77x
Stoke Upon Trent 1 20.49x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Louisa 2
Mary 2
Sarah 2
Emma 1
Florence 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
George 2
John 2
Thomas 1
Wm. 1

Top occupations

Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Rochelle households.

FAQ

Rochelle surname: questions and answers

How common was the Rochelle surname in 1881?

In 1881, 14 people were recorded with the Rochelle surname. That placed it at #31,604 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Rochelle surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 366 in 2016. That gives Rochelle a modern rank of #12,690.

What does the Rochelle surname mean?

A French locational surname referring to someone from the town of La Rochelle in western France.

What does the Rochelle map show?

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