NameCensus.

UK surname

Rockey

Derived from a place name meaning "rook island," referring to a location inhabited by rooks or crows.

In the 1881 census there were 154 people recorded with the Rockey surname, ranking it #15,259 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 386, ranked #12,202, up from #15,259 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Burslem, Dowland and Lifton, Bratton Clovelly, Broadwood Widger. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include South Hams, Torridge and Teignbridge.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Rockey is 422 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 150.6%.

1881 census count

154

Ranked #15,259

Modern count

386

2016, ranked #12,202

Peak year

2010

422 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Rockey had 154 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #15,259 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 386 in 2016, ranked #12,202.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 262 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Rockey surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Rockey surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Rockey 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 138 #13,745
1861 historical 139 #16,263
1881 historical 154 #15,259
1891 historical 188 #15,609
1901 historical 249 #13,172
1911 historical 262 #12,501
1997 modern 350 #12,172
1998 modern 370 #12,052
1999 modern 372 #12,076
2000 modern 393 #11,540
2001 modern 370 #11,904
2002 modern 379 #11,913
2003 modern 365 #12,038
2004 modern 370 #11,936
2005 modern 362 #12,066
2006 modern 368 #11,990
2007 modern 376 #11,925
2008 modern 381 #11,918
2009 modern 402 #11,682
2010 modern 422 #11,493
2011 modern 412 #11,593
2012 modern 394 #11,854
2013 modern 388 #12,204
2014 modern 390 #12,239
2015 modern 380 #12,364
2016 modern 386 #12,202

Geography

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Where Rockeys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Burslem, Dowland, Lifton, Bratton Clovelly, Broadwood Widger, Cardiff St John and St Mary and Portsmouth, Portsea. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to South Hams, Torridge, Teignbridge, Cornwall and Cardiff. 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 Burslem Staffordshire
2 Dowland Devon
3 Lifton, Bratton Clovelly, Broadwood Widger Devon
4 Cardiff St John and St Mary Glamorganshire
5 Portsmouth, Portsea Hampshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 South Hams 002 South Hams
2 Torridge 009 Torridge
3 Teignbridge 004 Teignbridge
4 Cornwall 005 Cornwall
5 Cardiff 038 Cardiff

Forenames

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First names often paired with Rockey

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Rockey

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Rockey 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

Rockey is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Rockey

The surname Rockey has its origins in England, dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "roc," which means a rock or a boulder, combined with the diminutive suffix "-y." This suggests that the name may have originally referred to someone who lived near a prominent rock formation or a rocky area.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the Rockey surname can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire, dated around 1273, which lists a person named Robyn de la Rokele. This spelling variation highlights the connection to the Old English word for rock and indicates that the name may have initially been a descriptive term for someone living near a rocky place.

In the 14th century, the Rockey surname appeared in various historical records, such as the Yorkshire Poll Tax Returns of 1379, which listed a John Rokky. This spelling variation further emphasizes the link to the Old English word for rock and suggests the surname's evolution over time.

The Rockey surname is also associated with several notable individuals throughout history. One such person is William Rockey (c. 1625-1677), an English clergyman and author who served as the Rector of Gisleham in Suffolk. Another prominent figure is Edward Rockey (1722-1781), an American merchant and landowner who played a significant role in the early development of Wilmington, Delaware.

John Rockey (1736-1819) was a British naval officer who served in the Royal Navy during the American Revolutionary War and the French Revolutionary Wars. He achieved the rank of Vice Admiral and was awarded the prestigious Order of the Bath for his distinguished service.

Mary Rockey (1751-1835) was a notable English Quaker minister and writer who traveled extensively, sharing her religious teachings and advocating for social reforms, particularly in the areas of education and prison reform.

In the 19th century, James Rockey (1819-1890) was a prominent American businessman and philanthropist from Ohio. He amassed a substantial fortune through various business ventures and dedicated a significant portion of his wealth to charitable causes, including the establishment of educational institutions.

While the Rockey surname has its roots in England and can be traced back to the 13th century, it has since spread to other parts of the world, including the United States, Canada, and Australia, due to migration and immigration patterns over the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Rockey families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Rockey 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. Devon leads with 117 Rockeys recorded in 1881 and an index of 37.18x.

County Total Index
Devon 117 37.18x
Cornwall 19 11.10x
Glamorgan 6 2.28x
Surrey 6 0.81x
Worcestershire 2 1.01x
Hampshire 1 0.32x
Middlesex 1 0.07x
Royal Navy 1 5.55x
Staffordshire 1 0.20x
Warwickshire 1 0.26x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Plymouth St Andrew in Devon leads with 14 Rockeys recorded in 1881 and an index of 57.76x.

Place Total Index
Plymouth St Andrew 14 57.76x
Dowland 11 13750.00x
Germansweek 8 5714.29x
Plymouth Charles The 8 57.72x
Bere Ferrers 7 1346.15x
Winkleigh 7 1111.11x
Braunton 6 560.75x
Cardiff St John 6 69.77x
Scilly Islands 6 1935.48x
Stoke 6 472.44x
Sydenham Damerel 6 2500.00x
Broadwoodwidger 5 1388.89x
North Petherwyn 5 1136.36x
Roborough 4 1904.76x
St Stephen 4 655.74x
St Thomas Apostle 4 754.72x
Kingston On Thames 3 16.95x
Lifton 3 394.74x
Merton 3 1000.00x
Virginstow 3 5000.00x
Whitchurch 3 545.45x
Buckfastleigh 2 137.93x
Claines 2 36.90x
Devonport 2 55.25x
Great Torrington 2 112.36x
Lezant 2 526.32x
Linkinhorne 2 168.07x
Little Torrington 2 714.29x
Newington 2 3.58x
Stoke Damerel 2 9.08x
Beaworthy 1 666.67x
Bideford 1 29.67x
Birmingham 1 0.79x
Clawton 1 434.78x
East Stonehouse 1 16.13x
Gulval 1 90.91x
Highampton 1 666.67x
Langtree 1 263.16x
Richmond 1 9.69x
Royal Navy 1 6.49x
St Pancras London 1 0.82x
Tamerton Foliott 1 163.93x
Titchfield 1 42.74x
Werrington 1 294.12x
Wolstanton 1 6.45x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 11
Elizabeth 6
Jane 5
Emily 4
Emma 4
Ann 3
Eliza 3
Agness 2
Alice 2
Betsey 2
Harriet 2
Maud 2
Susan 2
Anne 1
Annie 1
Bertha 1
Bessey 1
Eleanor 1
Elizth. 1
Ellen 1
Emline 1
Emmeline 1
Esther 1
Fanny 1
Gertrude 1
Grace 1
Hannah 1
Honor 1
Julia 1
Louisa 1
Marian 1
Martha 1
Rhoda 1
Rosina 1
Sarah 1

Top male names

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

FAQ

Rockey surname: questions and answers

How common was the Rockey surname in 1881?

In 1881, 154 people were recorded with the Rockey surname. That placed it at #15,259 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Rockey surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 386 in 2016. That gives Rockey a modern rank of #12,202.

What does the Rockey surname mean?

Derived from a place name meaning "rook island," referring to a location inhabited by rooks or crows.

What does the Rockey map show?

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