NameCensus.

UK surname

Rosca

A surname derived from the Spanish word for spiral or scroll.

In the 1881 census there were 2 people recorded with the Rosca surname, ranking it #33,721 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 183, ranked #20,813, up from #33,721 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Central Bedfordshire, Brent and Barnet.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Rosca is 183 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 9050.0%.

1881 census count

2

Ranked #33,721

Modern count

183

2016, ranked #20,813

Peak year

2016

183 bearers

Map years

1

2016 to 2016

Key insights

  • Rosca had 2 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #33,721 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 183 in 2016, ranked #20,813.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 3 in 1851.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established Multi-Ethnic Communities.

Rosca surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Rosca surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Rosca 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 3 #32,890
1861 historical 1 #34,435
1881 historical 2 #33,721
2004 modern 1 #38,771
2006 modern 8 #37,481
2007 modern 19 #36,450
2008 modern 30 #35,736
2009 modern 40 #35,274
2010 modern 50 #34,833
2011 modern 56 #34,450
2012 modern 103 #29,733
2013 modern 112 #28,675
2014 modern 129 #26,352
2015 modern 143 #24,481
2016 modern 183 #20,813

Geography

Back to top

Where Roscas 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 Central Bedfordshire, Brent, Barnet, Waltham Forest and Thurrock. 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 Central Bedfordshire 020 Central Bedfordshire
2 Brent 001 Brent
3 Barnet 010 Barnet
4 Waltham Forest 025 Waltham Forest
5 Thurrock 017 Thurrock

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Rosca

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Rosca

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

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Established Multi-Ethnic Communities

Nationally, the Rosca surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established Multi-Ethnic Communities, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Rosca household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Parents and young children in this Group are drawn from diverse ethnic backgrounds in broadly similar proportions. Employment is typically in elementary occupations, though workers in professional, intermediate or skilled trades occupations are also present. The residential landscape is dominated by terraced housing, although semi-detached houses and flats are also present. This Group is found in London and in many provincial towns and cities throughout the U.K.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Rosca 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

Rosca 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

Rosca falls in decile 3 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.

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Rosca is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 40-50 mbit/s.

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

7
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Other

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

Meaning and origin of Rosca

The surname Rosca has its origins in Romania, where it first emerged in the 15th century. It is derived from the Romanian word "rosca," which means "coil" or "spiral." This suggests that the name may have originally referred to someone who worked with coils, ropes, or other spiral-shaped objects.

In its earliest recorded instances, the name was spelled "Roscă" in Romanian, which was later adapted to the spelling "Rosca" as it spread to other regions. One of the earliest known bearers of this surname was a Romanian nobleman named Mihai Rosca, who lived in the late 15th century and was a landowner in the region of Transylvania.

The name Rosca can be found in various historical records and manuscripts from Romania and surrounding areas. For example, it appears in a 16th-century census record from the town of Brasov, which was then part of the Kingdom of Hungary.

As the name spread throughout Eastern Europe, it also took on variations in spelling and pronunciation. In some regions, it was written as "Roska" or "Roshka," reflecting local linguistic adaptations.

One notable bearer of the Rosca surname was Ioan Rosca, a Romanian poet and writer who lived from 1836 to 1885. He was known for his romantic poetry and his contributions to the development of Romanian literature.

Another prominent figure with this name was Gheorghe Rosca, a Romanian politician and diplomat who served as a member of the Romanian Parliament and as the country's ambassador to several nations in the early 20th century. He was born in 1867 and died in 1945.

In the 19th century, the name Rosca also appeared in Russia, where it was associated with a noble family that traced its roots back to Romania. One member of this family was Mikhail Rosca, a Russian military officer who fought in the Crimean War and later became a general in the Imperial Russian Army.

While the name Rosca is relatively uncommon outside of Eastern Europe, there have been a few notable individuals with this surname in other parts of the world. For example, Antonio Rosca was an Italian painter who lived in the 17th century and was known for his religious works and portraits.

Another noteworthy figure was Julio Rosca, a Uruguayan poet and writer who was born in 1890 and played a significant role in the literary movement known as the "Generation of '27" in Uruguay.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Rosca families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Rosca 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. Middlesex leads with 2 Roscas recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.37x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 2 10.37x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Kensington London in Middlesex leads with 2 Roscas recorded in 1881 and an index of 186.92x.

Place Total Index
Kensington London 2 186.92x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Esmeraldo 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Frederic 1

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 Rosca households.

Occupation Count
Artist 1

FAQ

Rosca surname: questions and answers

How common was the Rosca surname in 1881?

In 1881, 2 people were recorded with the Rosca surname. That placed it at #33,721 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Rosca surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 183 in 2016. That gives Rosca a modern rank of #20,813.

What does the Rosca surname mean?

A surname derived from the Spanish word for spiral or scroll.

What does the Rosca map show?

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