NameCensus.

UK surname

Rochford

A habitational surname referring to someone from the town of Rochford in Essex, England.

In the 1881 census there were 293 people recorded with the Rochford surname, ranking it #9,884 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,227, ranked #4,857, up from #9,884 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Cheshunt St Mary, London parishes and Toxteth Park. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Bristol, East Hertfordshire and Slough.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Rochford is 1,227 in 2015. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 318.8%.

1881 census count

293

Ranked #9,884

Modern count

1,227

2016, ranked #4,857

Peak year

2015

1,227 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Rochford had 293 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #9,884 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,227 in 2016, ranked #4,857.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 473 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Rochford surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Rochford surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Rochford 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 140 #13,593
1861 historical 172 #13,619
1881 historical 293 #9,884
1891 historical 367 #9,486
1901 historical 473 #8,395
1911 historical 448 #8,538
1997 modern 1,114 #5,011
1998 modern 1,144 #5,087
1999 modern 1,164 #5,057
2000 modern 1,167 #5,019
2001 modern 1,138 #5,034
2002 modern 1,176 #4,983
2003 modern 1,152 #4,985
2004 modern 1,158 #4,967
2005 modern 1,167 #4,877
2006 modern 1,174 #4,866
2007 modern 1,181 #4,876
2008 modern 1,181 #4,894
2009 modern 1,176 #5,025
2010 modern 1,211 #5,003
2011 modern 1,183 #5,048
2012 modern 1,186 #4,959
2013 modern 1,210 #4,951
2014 modern 1,223 #4,938
2015 modern 1,227 #4,872
2016 modern 1,227 #4,857

Geography

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Where Rochfords are most common

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

The modern local-area list points to Bristol, East Hertfordshire, Slough, Stockton-on-Tees and Cheshire West and Chester. 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 Cheshunt St Mary Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts)
2 London parishes London 1
3 London parishes London 3
4 Toxteth Park Lancashire
5 Manchester Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Bristol 055 Bristol, City of
2 East Hertfordshire 010 East Hertfordshire
3 Slough 012 Slough
4 Stockton-on-Tees 010 Stockton-on-Tees
5 Cheshire West and Chester 013 Cheshire West and Chester

Forenames

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First names often paired with Rochford

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Rochford

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Rochford, 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 Rochford surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Rochford 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

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Rochford is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Rochford 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

Rochford 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 Rochford 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 - British

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

Meaning and origin of Rochford

The surname Rochford originated in England and can be traced back to the 12th century. The name is derived from the place name Rochford, which is located in Essex, England. The place name itself is derived from the Old English words "roc" meaning "rock" and "ford" meaning a shallow river crossing.

Rochford was first recorded as a surname in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a record of landowners and tenants in England. The earliest recorded spelling of the surname was "de Rochefort," which was the Norman French form of the name.

In the 13th century, the name was also recorded as "Rokesford" and "Rokesforde," which were variations of the original spelling. The name was commonly found in Essex and surrounding areas, where the Rochford family held land and property.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Rochford was Sir Ralph de Rochford, who lived in the 13th century and served as a knight during the reign of King Edward I. Another notable person with this surname was John de Rochford, who was a member of the English Parliament in the 14th century.

In the 15th century, the Rochford family gained prominence when Sir Thomas Rochford became a close advisor to King Henry VIII. His daughter, Jane Rochford, was a lady-in-waiting to Anne Boleyn and was later implicated in the charges that led to Anne's execution.

Other notable individuals with the surname Rochford include William Rochford (1605-1675), an English writer and translator, and John Rochford (1769-1840), a British naval officer who served during the Napoleonic Wars.

The surname Rochford has also been associated with various place names, such as Rochford Hall in Essex and Rochford Hundred, which was an administrative division in medieval England. The name continues to be found in various parts of England, particularly in the counties of Essex and Suffolk.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Rochford families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Rochford 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. Middlesex leads with 65 Rochfords recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.31x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 65 2.31x
Lancashire 62 1.85x
Yorkshire 31 1.11x
Warwickshire 26 3.66x
Staffordshire 21 2.21x
Dunbartonshire 15 19.80x
Lanarkshire 15 1.65x
Midlothian 8 2.12x
Leicestershire 7 2.24x
Worcestershire 6 1.63x
Bedfordshire 5 3.43x
Surrey 5 0.36x
Cheshire 4 0.64x
Hampshire 4 0.69x
Berkshire 2 0.95x
Hertfordshire 2 1.03x
Kent 2 0.21x
Sussex 2 0.42x
Derbyshire 1 0.23x
Monmouthshire 1 0.49x
Northamptonshire 1 0.38x
Oxfordshire 1 0.57x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bonhill in Dunbartonshire leads with 15 Rochfords recorded in 1881 and an index of 123.36x.

Place Total Index
Bonhill 15 123.36x
Toxteth Park 15 13.24x
Tottenham 14 31.18x
Bradford 13 19.22x
Aston 10 5.11x
Bradford 10 63.86x
Oldham 10 9.26x
Leeds 9 5.71x
Barony 8 3.47x
Birmingham 8 3.38x
Hammersmith London 8 11.52x
Sutton Coldfield 8 107.10x
Walsall Foreign 8 16.27x
Dewsbury 7 24.43x
Islington London 7 2.56x
Leicester St Leonard 7 236.49x
Liverpool 7 3.45x
Clerkenwell London 6 9.02x
Kings Norton 6 18.18x
Salford 6 6.10x
Hampstead London 5 11.39x
Kempston 5 151.06x
St Marylebone London 5 3.32x
Edinburgh Tron Church 4 225.99x
Glasgow 4 2.47x
Middlewich 4 312.50x
South Leith 4 9.41x
St Botolph Bishopsgate 4 100.25x
St George In East 4 20.86x
St Pancras London 4 1.76x
Acton 3 18.15x
Camberwell 3 1.67x
Everton 3 2.81x
Fradley 3 810.81x
Sharples 3 82.64x
Stoke Upon Trent 3 2.97x
Bilston 2 10.85x
Chorlton On Medlock 2 3.76x
Hamilton 2 7.86x
Haughton 2 416.67x
Layston 2 194.17x
Ninfield 2 344.83x
Portsea 2 1.77x
Portsmouth 2 15.04x
Sandhurst 2 48.78x
St Andrew Holborn 2 20.92x
Bowling 1 3.61x
Broughton In Salford 1 3.27x
Burton Upon Trent 1 4.49x
Cambuslang 1 10.88x
Castle Church 1 17.48x
Clitheroe 1 10.15x
Dartford 1 10.16x
Derby St Werburgh 1 3.92x
Great Bolton 1 2.26x
Lambeth 1 0.41x
Lee 1 7.16x
Manchester 1 0.66x
Nether Hallam 1 2.65x
Newport 1 10.29x
Northampton St Giles 1 9.90x
Southwark Christchurch 1 7.57x
Spitalfields London 1 4.72x
St George Hanover 1 2.72x
Thame 1 31.55x
Walton On Hill 1 5.52x
Wednesbury 1 4.21x
Whiston 1 38.31x
Whitechapel London 1 3.60x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 22
Catherine 9
Sarah 9
Elizabeth 7
Ann 6
Bridget 6
Ellen 5
Margaret 5
Jane 4
Louisa 4
Alice 2
Annie 2
Fanny 2
Florence 2
Gertrude 2
Hannah 2
Lucy 2
Lydia 2
Rose 2
Agusta 1
Amy 1
Anna 1
Anne 1
Catharine 1
Clara 1
Dora 1
Edith 1
Eliza 1
Elizth. 1
Harriett 1
Harriette 1
Helen 1
Josephine 1
Katie 1
M.A. 1
Maggie 1
Margret 1
Maria 1
Martha 1
Maryann 1
Matha 1
Nellie 1
Pauline 1
Rebecca 1
Rhoda 1
Sophia 1
Stephanie 1
Susan 1
Winifred 1
Winnifred 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 23
Thomas 17
James 9
William 9
George 7
Michael 7
Edward 5
Robert 3
Andrew 2
Charles 2
Edmond 2
Henry 2
Joseph 2
Micheal 2
Patrick 2
Richard 2
Thos. 2
Wm. 2
Alfred 1
Arthur 1
Chas. 1
Clarence 1
D. 1
Ed.Thos.Powell 1
Ernest 1
Francis 1
Fred 1
Geo. 1
Joe 1
Julian 1
Martin 1
Mary 1
Nicholas 1
Paul 1
Peter 1
Saul 1
T.F. 1
Tom 1
Walter 1
Willie 1

FAQ

Rochford surname: questions and answers

How common was the Rochford surname in 1881?

In 1881, 293 people were recorded with the Rochford surname. That placed it at #9,884 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Rochford surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,227 in 2016. That gives Rochford a modern rank of #4,857.

What does the Rochford surname mean?

A habitational surname referring to someone from the town of Rochford in Essex, England.

What does the Rochford map show?

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