NameCensus.

UK surname

Rockett

An English occupational surname referring to a maker or seller of distaffs for spinning wool.

In the 1881 census there were 508 people recorded with the Rockett surname, ranking it #6,704 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 927, ranked #6,164, up from #6,704 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include West Dorset, East Riding of Yorkshire and West Devon.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Rockett is 988 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 82.5%.

1881 census count

508

Ranked #6,704

Modern count

927

2016, ranked #6,164

Peak year

1999

988 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Rockett had 508 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,704 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 927 in 2016, ranked #6,164.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 939 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Rockett surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Rockett surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Rockett 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 372 #6,397
1861 historical 347 #7,357
1881 historical 508 #6,704
1891 historical 668 #5,829
1901 historical 796 #5,676
1911 historical 939 #4,779
1997 modern 957 #5,682
1998 modern 982 #5,757
1999 modern 988 #5,767
2000 modern 976 #5,809
2001 modern 947 #5,837
2002 modern 980 #5,794
2003 modern 936 #5,903
2004 modern 938 #5,900
2005 modern 937 #5,845
2006 modern 930 #5,887
2007 modern 944 #5,881
2008 modern 936 #5,946
2009 modern 962 #5,952
2010 modern 984 #5,953
2011 modern 971 #5,953
2012 modern 956 #5,941
2013 modern 957 #6,039
2014 modern 952 #6,114
2015 modern 938 #6,133
2016 modern 927 #6,164

Geography

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Where Rocketts are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes, Devonport Stoke Damerel and Snaith. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to West Dorset, East Riding of Yorkshire, West Devon and Wakefield. 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 Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside Durham
2 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
3 London parishes London 3
4 Devonport Stoke Damerel Devon
5 Snaith Yorkshire, West Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 West Dorset 012 West Dorset
2 East Riding of Yorkshire 040 East Riding of Yorkshire
3 West Devon 004 West Devon
4 East Riding of Yorkshire 041 East Riding of Yorkshire
5 Wakefield 002 Wakefield

Forenames

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First names often paired with Rockett

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Rockett

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Rockett surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Rockett household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Rockett 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

Rockett is most concentrated in decile 8 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Rockett falls in decile 5 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.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Rockett is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 25-30 mbit/s.

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

5
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Rockett

The surname Rockett is believed to have originated in England during the late medieval period. It is thought to be a locative surname, derived from a place name referring to a location near a rocky outcrop or cliff. The earliest known spelling variations include Rockett, Rokitt, Rockit, and Rokett.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Feet of Fines for Suffolk, dating back to 1310, where a person named Robert Rokette is mentioned. The Testa de Nevill, an ancient survey of land ownership in England, also references a William Rockett in Yorkshire in the late 12th century.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the Rockett surname appears in various parish records across England, particularly in counties such as Norfolk, Suffolk, and Yorkshire. One notable individual from this era was Edward Rockett (c. 1575-1642), an English clergyman and author who served as the Rector of St. Andrew's Church in Norwich.

In the 18th century, the Rockett family gained prominence in the village of Martham, Norfolk. John Rockett (1712-1794), a wealthy landowner and farmer, played a significant role in the local community and is buried in the churchyard of St. Mary's Church in Martham.

As the British Empire expanded, the Rockett surname spread to other parts of the world. Notable individuals bearing this name include James Rockett (1810-1857), an Irish-born Australian explorer and surveyor, and Thomas Rockett (1832-1914), a wealthy businessman and philanthropist from New Zealand.

Another notable figure was John Rockett (1919-2009), an American World War II veteran and recipient of the Distinguished Service Cross for his actions during the Battle of the Bulge. He later became a successful businessman and philanthropist in his hometown of Akron, Ohio.

The Rockett surname has also been associated with various professions and trades over the centuries, including farming, clergy, military service, and business. While the origin of the name can be traced back to medieval England, it has since become a part of the cultural and historical fabric of several countries around the world.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Rockett families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Rockett 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. Yorkshire leads with 113 Rocketts recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.28x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 113 2.28x
Devon 101 9.70x
Dorset 59 17.96x
Somerset 41 5.09x
Hampshire 33 3.22x
Surrey 29 1.19x
Gloucestershire 24 2.45x
Middlesex 18 0.36x
Northumberland 13 1.75x
Wiltshire 12 2.71x
Lancashire 10 0.17x
Norfolk 10 1.30x
Durham 9 0.60x
Cambridgeshire 8 2.52x
Essex 7 0.71x
Royal Navy 6 10.06x
Kent 4 0.23x
Suffolk 4 0.66x
Channel Islands 3 2.02x
Cornwall 3 0.53x
Derbyshire 1 0.13x
Glamorgan 1 0.11x
Lincolnshire 1 0.13x
Staffordshire 1 0.06x
Sussex 1 0.12x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Stoke Damerel in Devon leads with 38 Rocketts recorded in 1881 and an index of 52.13x.

Place Total Index
Stoke Damerel 38 52.13x
Hook 31 284.14x
Musbury 17 1868.13x
Dewsbury 16 31.46x
Portsea 15 7.46x
South Stoneham 15 67.42x
Axminster 12 245.90x
Dewlish 11 1392.41x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 10 10.82x
Chardstock 10 440.53x
Huish Champflower 10 1587.30x
Hunslet 9 11.64x
Melcombe Regis 9 66.13x
Narborough 9 1200.00x
Castleford 8 44.30x
Chesterton 8 81.88x
Symondsbury 8 382.78x
Newington 7 3.79x
Tanfield 7 39.55x
Tormoham 7 15.88x
Bedlington 6 24.14x
Bridport 6 88.76x
Byker 6 16.30x
Clifton 6 12.09x
Fisherton Anger 6 73.26x
Ham 6 550.46x
Royal Navy 6 11.77x
Salford 6 3.44x
Swindon 6 17.48x
Taunton St Mary 6 40.57x
Whitestone 6 759.49x
Wiveliscombe 6 133.63x
Bampton 5 156.74x
Barnsley 5 9.78x
Battersea 5 2.72x
Bermondsey 5 3.36x
Bitton Oldland 5 49.85x
Bradford 5 4.17x
Clatworthy 5 1282.05x
East Ham 5 27.28x
Holbeck 5 15.22x
Holy Trinity 5 4.19x
Ilminster 5 88.81x
Thorncombe 5 264.55x
Weston Super Mare 5 24.58x
Wortley In Bramley 5 12.73x
Barmby On Marsh 4 754.72x
Goole 4 48.13x
Kensington London 4 1.44x
Bristol St Augustine 3 18.94x
Greenwich 3 3.77x
Islington London 3 0.62x
Lambeth 3 0.69x
Liverpool 3 0.83x
Lyme Regis 3 76.34x
St Peter Port 3 10.94x
Yaxley 3 468.75x
Allerton Bywater 2 74.63x
Bothenhampton 2 217.39x
Brampton Bierlow 2 31.50x
Buckland Brewer 2 157.48x
Cleckheaton 2 10.95x
Doncaster 2 5.52x
Enfield 2 6.09x
Glass Houghton 2 111.11x
Gwennap 2 18.71x
Hessle In Sculcoates 2 45.66x
Inwardleigh 2 227.27x
Leeds 2 0.71x
Limehouse London 2 3.64x
Marshwood 2 350.88x
Newton Abbot St Mary 2 22.88x
Plymouth St Andrew 2 2.49x
Portsmouth 2 8.47x
Somerton 2 60.79x
St Marylebone London 2 0.75x
St Pancras London 2 0.50x
Stockland 2 132.45x
Whickham 2 14.60x
Whitchurch Canonicorum 2 109.29x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 32
Elizabeth 21
Sarah 15
Eliza 12
Emma 11
Ann 10
Emily 10
Jane 7
Alice 6
Ellen 6
Margaret 6
Florence 5
Kate 5
Susan 5
Ada 4
Charlotte 4
Edith 4
Fanny 4
Harriet 4
Maria 4
Rosa 4
Annie 3
Catherine 3
Louisa 3
Lucy 3
Amelia 2
Caroline 2
Clara 2
Elizth. 2
Ethel 2
Frances 2
Hannah 2
Jessie 2
Laura 2
Letitia 2
Louise 2
Lydia 2
Marianne 2
Norah 2
Ruth 2
Amy 1
Barbara 1
Bessie 1
Betsey 1
Blanche 1
Cicelia 1
Dinah 1
Josephine 1
Juila 1
Thirza 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 30
John 25
George 24
James 14
Thomas 13
Henry 10
Joseph 10
Charles 7
Frederick 7
Herbert 7
Robert 7
Albert 6
Francis 5
Alfred 4
Arthur 4
Edward 4
Richard 4
Walter 4
Chas. 3
Ernest 3
Amos 2
Cornelius 2
Edwin 2
Eli 2
Harry 2
Hugh 2
Israel 2
Jas. 2
Nathan 2
Samuel 2
Sidney 2
Benjm. 1
Dennison 1
Edwd.Arthur 1
Frank 1
Fredrick 1
Gerald 1
Harris 1
Hildreth 1
Matthew 1
Maurice 1
Michael 1
Owen 1
Pashur 1
Patrick 1
Peter 1
Philip 1
Ralph 1
Reuben 1
Zechariah 1

FAQ

Rockett surname: questions and answers

How common was the Rockett surname in 1881?

In 1881, 508 people were recorded with the Rockett surname. That placed it at #6,704 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Rockett surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 927 in 2016. That gives Rockett a modern rank of #6,164.

What does the Rockett surname mean?

An English occupational surname referring to a maker or seller of distaffs for spinning wool.

What does the Rockett map show?

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