NameCensus.

UK surname

Rohan

Derived from the French town of Rohan, likely referring to someone from that place.

In the 1881 census there were 65 people recorded with the Rohan surname, ranking it #24,420 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 243, ranked #17,131, up from #24,420 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Mid Sussex, Ryedale and County Durham.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Rohan is 243 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 273.8%.

1881 census count

65

Ranked #24,420

Modern count

243

2016, ranked #17,131

Peak year

2016

243 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Rohan had 65 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #24,420 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 243 in 2016, ranked #17,131.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 84 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Rohan surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Rohan surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Rohan 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 40 #26,118
1861 historical 84 #23,058
1881 historical 65 #24,420
1891 historical 82 #26,494
1901 historical 59 #27,609
1911 historical 73 #25,541
1997 modern 204 #17,409
1998 modern 220 #17,074
1999 modern 225 #16,931
2000 modern 226 #16,840
2001 modern 218 #17,017
2002 modern 221 #17,206
2003 modern 217 #17,176
2004 modern 214 #17,435
2005 modern 220 #17,078
2006 modern 215 #17,441
2007 modern 218 #17,477
2008 modern 208 #18,171
2009 modern 223 #17,735
2010 modern 237 #17,368
2011 modern 239 #17,138
2012 modern 237 #17,132
2013 modern 241 #17,202
2014 modern 241 #17,338
2015 modern 239 #17,322
2016 modern 243 #17,131

Geography

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Where Rohans are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Mid Sussex, Ryedale, County Durham, Bury and Ashford. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Mid Sussex 009 Mid Sussex
2 Ryedale 008 Ryedale
3 County Durham 026 County Durham
4 Bury 019 Bury
5 Ashford 012 Ashford

Forenames

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First names often paired with Rohan

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Rohan

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

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Diverse Educated Urban Singles

Nationally, the Rohan surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Rohan 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 includes many never-married individuals not living with dependent children. Many were born in EU countries and are now aged between 25-44. This Group is characterised by its ethnic group diversity, although those identifying as Asian are not well represented. Affiliation with the Christian religion amongst residents is low. Reported disability rates are low. Neighbourhoods include some central locations in London and other major cities. Private renting is the norm, and there is some overcrowding. Many individuals are educated to degree level, and full-time employment is common, particularly in managerial and professional occupations.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Rohan 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

Rohan 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

Rohan falls in decile 9 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Rohan 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 - Irish

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

Meaning and origin of Rohan

The surname Rohan is believed to have originated in France, specifically in the region of Brittany. It is derived from the Breton word "roc'han," meaning "little rock" or "small cliff." This suggests that the name may have initially referred to someone who lived near or was associated with a rocky or cliff-like area.

The name Rohan can be traced back to the 11th century, when it first appeared in historical records. One of the earliest documented instances of the name is in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of land ownership in England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The book mentions a Rohan family holding lands in various parts of the country.

In the Middle Ages, the House of Rohan was a prominent noble family in Brittany. Members of this family held titles such as Duke of Rohan and Prince of Soubise. Notable figures from this family include Henri II, Duke of Rohan (1579-1638), a skilled military leader and Huguenot statesman, and his son Benjamin de Rohan (1583-1642), who served as a field marshal in the French army.

Another significant figure with the surname Rohan was Armand Gaston Maximilien de Rohan (1674-1749), a French cardinal and ambassador to the Holy See. He was involved in a notorious scandal known as the "Affair of the Diamond Necklace," which contributed to the downfall of the French monarchy.

In literature, the name Rohan was immortalized by J.R.R. Tolkien in his celebrated work "The Lord of the Rings." Rohan was the name of a fictional kingdom in Middle-earth, known for its skilled horsemen and warriors. This literary reference has further popularized the name in modern times.

Other notable individuals with the surname Rohan include:

1. Henri, Duke of Rohan (1579-1638), a prominent Huguenot leader and military commander during the French Wars of Religion. 2. Benjamin de Rohan (1583-1642), a French nobleman and military leader who served as a field marshal in the French army. 3. Armand Gaston Maximilien de Rohan (1674-1749), a French cardinal and ambassador to the Holy See, known for his involvement in the "Affair of the Diamond Necklace" scandal. 4. Louis René Édouard, Prince of Rohan-Guéméné (1734-1803), a French nobleman and courtier during the reign of Louis XVI. 5. Alexis Paul Henri, Duke of Rohan-Chabot (1786-1848), a French peer and diplomat who served as the Ambassador to the Holy See.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Rohan families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Rohan 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 38 Rohans recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.30x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 38 5.30x
Cheshire 8 5.99x
Yorkshire 5 0.83x
Middlesex 4 0.66x
Hampshire 2 1.61x
Cumberland 1 1.92x
Gloucestershire 1 0.84x
Leicestershire 1 1.49x
Midlothian 1 1.23x
Northamptonshire 1 1.76x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Salford in Lancashire leads with 8 Rohans recorded in 1881 and an index of 37.91x.

Place Total Index
Salford 8 37.91x
Liverpool 7 16.06x
Manchester 7 21.69x
Birkenhead 5 46.99x
Preston 5 26.04x
Cheetham 3 56.07x
Congleton 3 129.87x
Hampstead London 3 31.85x
Leeds 3 8.87x
Oswaldtwistle 3 118.11x
Warrington 3 35.25x
Aldershot 2 48.19x
Goole 2 200.00x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 1 8.95x
Chorlton On Medlock 1 8.77x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 1 3.07x
Farlam 1 303.03x
Glen Parva 1 625.00x
Newchurch 1 17.04x
Peterborough 1 24.27x
St George Bloomsbury 1 28.82x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 9
Bridget 3
Catherine 3
Fanny 2
Julia 2
Margaret 2
Anna 1
Annie 1
Elizabeth 1
Ellen 1
Harriet 1
Isabella 1
Lillian 1
Margt. 1
Maude 1
Rebecca 1
Theresa 1

Top male names

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

Top occupations

Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Rohan households.

FAQ

Rohan surname: questions and answers

How common was the Rohan surname in 1881?

In 1881, 65 people were recorded with the Rohan surname. That placed it at #24,420 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Rohan surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 243 in 2016. That gives Rohan a modern rank of #17,131.

What does the Rohan surname mean?

Derived from the French town of Rohan, likely referring to someone from that place.

What does the Rohan map show?

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