UK surname
A surname derived from the Old English word 'hrof' meaning a roof or shelter.
In the 1881 census there were 127 people recorded with the Roofe surname, ranking it #17,166 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 77, ranked #33,236, down from #17,166 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Woodbastwick, London parishes and Tilney St Lawrence. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Roofe is 145 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 39.4%.
1881 census count
127
Ranked #17,166
Modern count
77
2016, ranked #33,236
Peak year
1901
145 bearers
Map years
4
1881 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Roofe surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Roofe surname density by area, 1881 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 60 | #22,584 |
| 1861 | historical | 77 | #23,975 |
| 1881 | historical | 127 | #17,166 |
| 1891 | historical | 112 | #22,291 |
| 1901 | historical | 145 | #18,426 |
| 1911 | historical | 119 | #20,535 |
| 1997 | modern | 85 | #28,988 |
| 1998 | modern | 85 | #29,439 |
| 1999 | modern | 78 | #30,327 |
| 2000 | modern | 80 | #30,139 |
| 2001 | modern | 78 | #30,168 |
| 2002 | modern | 74 | #31,048 |
| 2003 | modern | 79 | #30,549 |
| 2004 | modern | 80 | #30,679 |
| 2005 | modern | 88 | #29,831 |
| 2006 | modern | 84 | #30,665 |
| 2007 | modern | 86 | #30,808 |
| 2008 | modern | 81 | #31,713 |
| 2009 | modern | 83 | #31,950 |
| 2010 | modern | 83 | #32,396 |
| 2011 | modern | 85 | #32,127 |
| 2012 | modern | 82 | #32,701 |
| 2013 | modern | 82 | #32,903 |
| 2014 | modern | 79 | #33,205 |
| 2015 | modern | 77 | #33,272 |
| 2016 | modern | 77 | #33,236 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Woodbastwick, London parishes, Tilney St Lawrence, Colchester St Botolph, St Mary at the Walls, St Giles, St Mary Magdalen, Holy Trinity, St Runwald, a and Colchester St James. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Woodbastwick | Norfolk |
| 2 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 3 | Tilney St Lawrence | Cambridgeshire |
| 4 | Colchester St Botolph, St Mary at the Walls, St Giles, St Mary Magdalen, Holy Trinity, St Runwald, a | Essex |
| 5 | Colchester St James | Essex |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Roofe surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Roofe, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Roofe surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Roofe household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Roofe is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Roofe is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Roofe, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname ROOFE is of English origin and can be traced back to the 12th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "rof" or "rofe", meaning "roof" or "thatch". This suggests that the name was likely an occupational name for someone who worked as a roofer or thatcher.
ROOFE is a variant spelling of the more common surname "ROFE", which was found in various parts of England, particularly in counties like Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, and Nottinghamshire. The earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from the late 12th century.
One of the earliest known bearers of the name was William Rofe, who was mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Nottinghamshire in 1194. Another early reference to the name can be found in the Assize Rolls of Yorkshire in 1219, which recorded a certain Adam Rofe.
In the 13th century, the name appeared in various forms, including "le Roufer", "le Roofer", and "le Roof". These variations were likely derived from the occupation of the name bearer, indicating their profession as a roofer or thatcher.
The surname ROOFE is also associated with several place names in England, such as Rooftown in Derbyshire and Roofholme in Yorkshire. These place names may have influenced the spelling and pronunciation of the surname over time.
Notable historical figures with the surname ROOFE include:
1. John Roofe (c. 1550-1620), an English poet and playwright from Warwickshire. 2. Thomas Roofe (c. 1580-1640), a merchant and landowner from Suffolk. 3. Elizabeth Roofe (c. 1610-1672), a Puritan author and religious writer from Essex. 4. Samuel Roofe (c. 1675-1738), a prominent clergyman and theologian from Gloucestershire. 5. Mary Roofe (c. 1720-1790), a philanthropist and social reformer from Yorkshire, known for her work in establishing schools and charitable institutions.
While the surname ROOFE is not among the most common in England, it has a rich history dating back to the medieval period and is closely tied to the occupation of roof thatching and the construction trade.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Roofe surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Norfolk leads with 36 Roofes recorded in 1881 and an index of 18.90x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Norfolk | 36 | 18.90x |
| Surrey | 21 | 3.48x |
| Essex | 18 | 7.36x |
| Middlesex | 16 | 1.29x |
| Kent | 13 | 3.08x |
| Cambridgeshire | 8 | 10.20x |
| Suffolk | 6 | 3.98x |
| Nottinghamshire | 5 | 2.99x |
| Lincolnshire | 2 | 1.01x |
| Derbyshire | 1 | 0.52x |
| Durham | 1 | 0.27x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Banningham in Norfolk leads with 9 Roofes recorded in 1881 and an index of 9000.00x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Banningham | 9 | 9000.00x |
| Colchester St James | 9 | 909.09x |
| Bermondsey | 8 | 21.69x |
| Tonbridge | 8 | 52.49x |
| Hackney London | 7 | 10.08x |
| Croydon | 6 | 17.91x |
| Pulham St Mary Magdalen | 6 | 1250.00x |
| Upwell | 6 | 1052.63x |
| Clarborough | 5 | 400.00x |
| Ipswich St Peter | 5 | 246.31x |
| Lambeth | 5 | 4.63x |
| St Pancras London | 5 | 5.02x |
| East Dereham | 4 | 165.98x |
| Foulsham | 3 | 750.00x |
| Marsham | 3 | 1304.35x |
| Norwich St Martin At Oak | 3 | 258.62x |
| Tilney St Lawrence | 3 | 967.74x |
| West Ham | 3 | 5.56x |
| Charlton | 2 | 71.17x |
| Colchester Holy Trinity | 2 | 370.37x |
| Foots Cray | 2 | 246.91x |
| Islington London | 2 | 1.67x |
| Manthorpe Cum Little | 2 | 132.45x |
| Skeyton | 2 | 1538.46x |
| Wandsworth | 2 | 16.78x |
| Birch | 1 | 250.00x |
| Chesterfield | 1 | 13.76x |
| Colchester St Botolph | 1 | 48.08x |
| East Donyland | 1 | 169.49x |
| Elm | 1 | 129.87x |
| Folkestone | 1 | 12.20x |
| Hammersmith London | 1 | 3.28x |
| Little Warley | 1 | 294.12x |
| North Walsham | 1 | 72.99x |
| Ormesby St Margaret W | 1 | 208.33x |
| St Marylebone London | 1 | 1.51x |
| Stranton | 1 | 8.06x |
| Thorpe Next Norwich | 1 | 49.51x |
| Whatfield | 1 | 833.33x |
| Wood Ditton | 1 | 151.52x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Roofe surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
| Name | Count |
|---|---|
| Eliza | 5 |
| Emma | 5 |
| Mary | 4 |
| Ann | 3 |
| Hannah | 3 |
| Maria | 3 |
| Ada | 2 |
| Alice | 2 |
| Ellen | 2 |
| Harriet | 2 |
| Jane | 2 |
| Lilian | 2 |
| Louisa | 2 |
| Margaret | 2 |
| Rosina | 2 |
| Sarah | 2 |
| Susannah | 2 |
| Adelaid | 1 |
| Amy | 1 |
| Annie | 1 |
| Caroline | 1 |
| Celia | 1 |
| Elizabeth | 1 |
| Emily | 1 |
| Frances | 1 |
| Georgiana | 1 |
| Harriett | 1 |
| Ida | 1 |
| Kate | 1 |
| Lavinia | 1 |
| Lucy | 1 |
| Martha | 1 |
| Rose | 1 |
| Ruby | 1 |
| Sophia | 1 |
| Sussanah | 1 |
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Roofe surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
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 Roofe households.
FAQ
In 1881, 127 people were recorded with the Roofe surname. That placed it at #17,166 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 77 in 2016. That gives Roofe a modern rank of #33,236.
A surname derived from the Old English word 'hrof' meaning a roof or shelter.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Roofe bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.