NameCensus.

UK surname

Rocke

A surname derived from the Middle English word "rocke," meaning a rock or boulder.

In the 1881 census there were 127 people recorded with the Rocke surname, ranking it #17,166 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 266, ranked #16,094, up from #17,166 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Wrexham and St Pancras. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Shropshire, Blaenau Gwent and Coventry.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Rocke is 318 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 109.4%.

1881 census count

127

Ranked #17,166

Modern count

266

2016, ranked #16,094

Peak year

1911

318 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Rocke had 127 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #17,166 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 266 in 2016, ranked #16,094.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 318 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Rocke surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Rocke surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Rocke 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 121 #15,049
1861 historical 145 #15,715
1881 historical 127 #17,166
1891 historical 266 #12,169
1901 historical 193 #15,469
1911 historical 318 #10,988
1997 modern 265 #14,692
1998 modern 275 #14,715
1999 modern 272 #14,912
2000 modern 273 #14,828
2001 modern 266 #14,878
2002 modern 279 #14,693
2003 modern 270 #14,825
2004 modern 277 #14,644
2005 modern 271 #14,780
2006 modern 250 #15,749
2007 modern 256 #15,647
2008 modern 260 #15,648
2009 modern 265 #15,756
2010 modern 257 #16,476
2011 modern 244 #16,922
2012 modern 252 #16,424
2013 modern 270 #15,911
2014 modern 273 #15,914
2015 modern 268 #16,007
2016 modern 266 #16,094

Geography

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Where Rockes are most common

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

The modern local-area list points to Shropshire, Blaenau Gwent, Coventry, Herefordshire and Wrexham. 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 Wrexham Denbighshire
3 London parishes London 3
4 St Pancras London (North Districts)
5 Manchester Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Shropshire 015 Shropshire
2 Blaenau Gwent 008 Blaenau Gwent
3 Coventry 039 Coventry
4 Herefordshire 007 Herefordshire, County of
5 Wrexham 005 Wrexham

Forenames

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First names often paired with Rocke

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Rocke

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Rocke, 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 Rocke surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Rocke 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

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Rocke is most associated with areas classed as Settled Semi-Detached Asians, part of Suburban Asian Communities. 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 residents share Supergroup characteristics of large (non-Chinese) Asian populations but those identifying as Bangladeshi are notably absent. Many residents were born in the UK, while other more recent migrants have African birthplaces. Semi-detached housing, much of it owner occupied, prevails in these suburban residential locations.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Rocke 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

Rocke 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 Rocke 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 Rocke, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Rocke

The surname Rocke is of English origin and can be traced back to the late 12th century. It is derived from the Old English words "roc" or "rocc", which referred to a rock or boulder. The name was likely initially given as a descriptive surname to someone who lived near a prominent rock formation or who worked as a stone mason.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire in 1199, where a Roger de Roc is listed. The surname also appears in various spellings such as Rok, Rokk, and Rokke in various medieval records and charters throughout the 13th and 14th centuries.

In the Domesday Book of 1086, a landowner named Tored is recorded in Nottinghamshire, whose name is believed to be a precursor to the modern surname Rocke. This suggests that the name may have originated in the East Midlands region of England.

The name Rocke can also be found in several place names throughout England, such as Rockford in Essex and Rockhampton in Gloucestershire, further indicating its long-standing presence in the country.

One notable figure with the surname Rocke was John Rocke (c. 1490-1537), a Catholic priest and martyr who was executed during the English Reformation for refusing to accept the supremacy of King Henry VIII over the Church.

Another prominent individual was Michael Rocke (1570-1637), an English merchant and member of the Virginia Company, who played a key role in the early colonization of Virginia in the 17th century.

In the literary world, Thomas Rocke (1619-1677) was an English poet and translator who is best known for his translations of classical works by authors such as Horace and Juvenal.

The name Rocke has also been found in the military, with John Rocke (1755-1834) serving as a general in the British Army during the Napoleonic Wars.

Lastly, one of the more recent historical figures with the surname was Richard Rocke (1865-1946), a British actor and playwright who was active in the early 20th century and is known for his works such as "The Intruder" and "The Frenzied Flames".

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Rocke families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Rocke 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 19 Rockes recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.37x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 19 1.37x
Middlesex 18 1.54x
Surrey 16 2.81x
Hampshire 15 6.25x
Denbighshire 11 24.88x
Staffordshire 9 2.28x
Gloucestershire 5 2.18x
Herefordshire 4 8.34x
Kent 4 1.00x
Shropshire 4 3.96x
Somerset 4 2.12x
Radnorshire 3 31.78x
Suffolk 2 1.40x
Berkshire 1 1.14x
Devon 1 0.41x
Lanarkshire 1 0.26x
Northamptonshire 1 0.91x
Sussex 1 0.51x
Worcestershire 1 0.65x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Cheetham in Lancashire leads with 12 Rockes recorded in 1881 and an index of 115.83x.

Place Total Index
Cheetham 12 115.83x
Wrexham Regis 11 335.37x
Lambeth 8 7.84x
Kensington London 7 10.76x
Ventnor 7 307.02x
Cheltenham 5 28.23x
Holdenhurst 5 79.49x
West Bromwich 5 22.10x
Bodenham 4 1142.86x
Clungunford 4 1739.13x
Norton Canes 4 277.78x
Southwark Christchurch 4 72.99x
Streatham 4 46.08x
Toxteth Park 4 8.51x
Glastonbury 3 194.81x
Hampton Wick London 3 348.84x
Knighton 3 394.74x
St Pancras London 3 3.18x
Bury St Edmunds St Mary 2 74.63x
Farningham 2 555.56x
Lydiate 2 465.12x
Portsea 2 4.25x
Aldershot 1 12.44x
Binfield 1 149.25x
Bugbrooke 1 277.78x
Erith 1 25.45x
Everton 1 2.26x
Govan 1 1.07x
Hampstead London 1 5.49x
Kidderminster Foreign 1 46.30x
New Shoreham 1 84.75x
Shoreditch London 1 1.97x
St Clement Danes 1 52.91x
St George Martyr 1 50.76x
St Marylebone London 1 1.60x
Swanscombe 1 55.87x
Tormoham 1 9.70x
Walcot 1 9.97x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 7
Emily 6
Eliza 4
Elizabeth 4
Edith 3
Alice 2
Annie 2
Constance 2
Ellen 2
Florence 2
Gertrude 2
Margaret 2
Norah 2
Agnes 1
Ann 1
Anne 1
Beatrice 1
Catherin 1
Catherine 1
Cecelia 1
Elizth. 1
Emma 1
Ethelwyn 1
Evelyn 1
Fanny 1
Hannah 1
Helen 1
Ida 1
Johanna 1
Lizzie 1
Mabel 1
Maria 1
Marion 1
Matilda 1
May 1
Minnie 1
Phillippa 1
Sarah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
James 7
John 6
Thomas 5
Arthur 3
Charles 3
George 2
Joseph 2
Robert 2
Thos. 2
William 2
Anthony 1
Ed. 1
Edmund 1
Edward 1
Ernest 1
Francis 1
Frank 1
Frederic 1
Fredrick 1
G.W. 1
Godfrey 1
Harold 1
Henry 1
J.H.J. 1
Jas. 1
Knight 1
Richard 1
Samuel 1
W.H. 1
Walter 1

FAQ

Rocke surname: questions and answers

How common was the Rocke surname in 1881?

In 1881, 127 people were recorded with the Rocke surname. That placed it at #17,166 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Rocke surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 266 in 2016. That gives Rocke a modern rank of #16,094.

What does the Rocke surname mean?

A surname derived from the Middle English word "rocke," meaning a rock or boulder.

What does the Rocke map show?

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