NameCensus.

UK surname

Rocks

A topographic surname derived from someone living near rocky terrain or cliffs.

In the 1881 census there were 149 people recorded with the Rocks surname, ranking it #15,551 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 641, ranked #8,262, up from #15,551 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bothwell, Newcastle All Saints and Gateshead. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Kilwinning West and Blacklands, Poole and Paisley South East.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Rocks is 641 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 330.2%.

1881 census count

149

Ranked #15,551

Modern count

641

2016, ranked #8,262

Peak year

2016

641 bearers

Map years

8

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Rocks had 149 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #15,551 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 641 in 2016, ranked #8,262.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 243 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Spacious Rural Living.

Rocks surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Rocks surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Rocks 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 41 #25,926
1861 historical 217 #11,220
1881 historical 149 #15,551
1891 historical 175 #16,467
1901 historical 243 #13,358
1911 historical 172 #16,408
1997 modern 532 #8,887
1998 modern 576 #8,608
1999 modern 576 #8,673
2000 modern 570 #8,700
2001 modern 556 #8,732
2002 modern 563 #8,821
2003 modern 542 #8,947
2004 modern 549 #8,878
2005 modern 551 #8,767
2006 modern 572 #8,587
2007 modern 585 #8,527
2008 modern 591 #8,512
2009 modern 579 #8,814
2010 modern 604 #8,749
2011 modern 594 #8,760
2012 modern 596 #8,658
2013 modern 615 #8,580
2014 modern 614 #8,643
2015 modern 624 #8,460
2016 modern 641 #8,262

Geography

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Where Rocks' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bothwell, Newcastle All Saints, Gateshead, Merrington and Glasgow. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Kilwinning West and Blacklands, Poole, Paisley South East, North Lincolnshire and Sunderland. 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 Bothwell Lanark
2 Newcastle All Saints Northumberland
3 Gateshead Durham
4 Merrington Durham
5 Glasgow Lanark

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Kilwinning West and Blacklands North Ayrshire
2 Poole 007 Poole
3 Paisley South East Renfrewshire
4 North Lincolnshire 008 North Lincolnshire
5 Sunderland 012 Sunderland

Forenames

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First names often paired with Rocks

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Rocks

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Rocks, 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 Rocks surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Spacious Rural Living, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Rocks 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, Rocks 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

Rocks 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

Rocks 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 Rocks is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of Over 70 mbit/s.

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

10
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Irish

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

Meaning and origin of Rocks

The surname Rocks has its origins in the British Isles, specifically in England and Scotland, dating back to the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from Old English and Old Norse words that referred to a rock or rocky outcropping, indicating that the name was likely an occupational surname or a topographic name.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Rocks can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "de Rokis" and "atte Rokke." This suggests that the name was already established in various parts of England by the late 11th century. In Scotland, the name is thought to have evolved from the place name "Rox" or "Roxburgh," which was derived from the Brythonic word "Rhox" meaning a hill or promontory.

During the 13th century, the surname Rocks appeared in various records, including the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire in 1273, where one Richard de la Rokke was mentioned. Similarly, in the Subsidy Rolls of Yorkshire from 1301, a John de Rokkes was recorded. These entries provide evidence of the name's widespread use across different regions of England.

Notable individuals who bore the surname Rocks throughout history include William de Rokys, a prominent landowner in Warwickshire, England, who lived during the 14th century. Another notable figure was John Rocks, a Scottish poet and philosopher who was born in 1587 and made significant contributions to the literary scene of his time.

In the 16th century, the Rocks surname was associated with the Rocks family of Gloucestershire, England, who held considerable influence and wealth. One member, Sir William Rocks (1525-1598), served as a Member of Parliament and played a crucial role in local politics during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.

During the 17th century, the Rocks surname gained prominence in Ireland, where it is believed to have been introduced by English settlers. One notable figure from this period was Robert Rocks (1635-1701), an Irish clergyman and scholar who served as the Dean of Cork and was known for his extensive writings on theology and philosophy.

As the centuries passed, the Rocks surname continued to be found in various parts of the British Isles, with individuals bearing the name making contributions in various fields, including politics, literature, and academia. Some notable bearers of the name in more recent times include the English author and playwright John Rocks (1878-1944) and the Scottish historian and academic Margaret Rocks (1923-2011).

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Rocks families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Rocks 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. Lanarkshire leads with 54 Rocks' recorded in 1881 and an index of 11.49x.

County Total Index
Lanarkshire 54 11.49x
Durham 33 7.63x
Lancashire 12 0.70x
Renfrewshire 10 8.88x
Northumberland 9 4.16x
Glamorgan 8 3.16x
Dorset 6 6.29x
Yorkshire 5 0.35x
Cumberland 4 3.20x
Surrey 4 0.56x
West Lothian 2 9.14x
Fife 1 1.16x
Kent 1 0.20x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Barony in Lanarkshire leads with 22 Rocks' recorded in 1881 and an index of 18.49x.

Place Total Index
Barony 22 18.49x
Glasgow 12 14.38x
Liverpool 10 9.55x
Abbey 9 52.36x
Byker 8 74.84x
Cambusnethan 8 76.63x
Swansea Town 8 38.55x
Bothwell 6 47.06x
Gateshead 6 18.54x
Kinson 6 322.58x
Thrislington 6 15000.00x
Tudhoe 6 158.73x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 5 26.70x
Croydon 4 10.18x
Govan 4 3.44x
Selby 4 132.89x
Wolsingham 4 101.52x
Workington 4 55.87x
Conside Knitsley 3 89.29x
Hamilton 2 15.26x
Uphall 2 82.99x
Birkdale 1 22.94x
Cupar 1 26.74x
Ebchester 1 149.25x
Heworth 1 11.74x
Layton With Warbreck 1 15.80x
Linthorpe 1 11.64x
Minster In Sheppey 1 12.17x
Newcastle On Tyne St John 1 35.21x
Paisley Middle Church 1 15.24x
Whickham 1 25.13x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Margaret 5
Mary 4
Bridget 3
Catherine 3
Elizabeth 3
Sarah 3
Ann 2
Esther 2
Jane 2
Anna 1
Annie 1
Eleanor 1
Ellen 1
John 1
Lydia 1
Rosia 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
James 9
Patrick 7
John 6
Thomas 4
Frederick 3
Alfred 2
Bernard 2
Edward 2
Hugh 2
Peter 2
Albert 1
Felix 1
Francis 1
Frank 1
Sidney 1
Spencer 1
Thos. 1
William 1

FAQ

Rocks surname: questions and answers

How common was the Rocks surname in 1881?

In 1881, 149 people were recorded with the Rocks surname. That placed it at #15,551 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Rocks surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 641 in 2016. That gives Rocks a modern rank of #8,262.

What does the Rocks surname mean?

A topographic surname derived from someone living near rocky terrain or cliffs.

What does the Rocks map show?

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