NameCensus.

UK surname

Rotaru

A Romanian surname derived from "rotar" meaning wheelwright or cartwright.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Barking and Dagenham, South Gloucestershire and Central Bedfordshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Rotaru is 260 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

260

2016, ranked #16,349

Peak year

2016

260 bearers

Map years

1

2016 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 260 in 2016, ranked #16,349.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established Multi-Ethnic Communities.

Rotaru surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Rotaru surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Rotaru 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
1997 modern 1 #38,839
1998 modern 1 #38,814
1999 modern 1 #38,820
2000 modern 2 #38,472
2001 modern 3 #38,091
2002 modern 4 #37,921
2003 modern 5 #37,750
2004 modern 9 #37,213
2005 modern 12 #36,936
2006 modern 16 #36,601
2007 modern 26 #35,932
2008 modern 38 #35,262
2009 modern 42 #35,148
2010 modern 60 #34,205
2011 modern 73 #33,230
2012 modern 146 #23,681
2013 modern 167 #21,984
2014 modern 197 #19,903
2015 modern 219 #18,406
2016 modern 260 #16,349

Geography

Back to top

Where Rotarus 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 Barking and Dagenham, South Gloucestershire, Central Bedfordshire, Braintree and Harrow. 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 Barking and Dagenham 019 Barking and Dagenham
2 South Gloucestershire 011 South Gloucestershire
3 Central Bedfordshire 028 Central Bedfordshire
4 Braintree 009 Braintree
5 Harrow 028 Harrow

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Rotaru

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Rotaru

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Rotaru, 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 Rotaru surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established Multi-Ethnic Communities, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Rotaru 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, Rotaru 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

Rotaru 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

Rotaru falls in decile 2 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.

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Rotaru is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Other

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

Meaning and origin of Rotaru

The surname Rotaru has its origins in Romania, tracing back to the 16th century. It is derived from the Romanian word "rotar," which means "wheelwright" or "cartwright," referring to someone who builds or repairs wheels for carts and carriages. This occupational surname was likely given to individuals who worked as wheelwrights or cartwrights.

The earliest recorded instance of the surname Rotaru can be found in the 1592 census records of the town of Sibiu, located in present-day Transylvania, Romania. In these records, a person named Ion Rotaru is listed as a resident of the town, indicating the presence of this surname in the region at that time.

Throughout the centuries, the Rotaru surname has been associated with various notable individuals. One of the earliest mentions is that of Mihai Rotaru, a prominent merchant and landowner who lived in the late 17th century in the region of Moldavia, which is now part of modern-day Romania and Moldova.

In the 18th century, Gheorghe Rotaru, a respected scholar and historian, was born in 1725 in the town of Iași, Moldavia. He made significant contributions to the preservation of historical records and manuscripts from that period.

During the 19th century, Vasile Rotaru (1820-1879) was a prominent Romanian politician and statesman who served as the Minister of Justice and played a crucial role in the unification of the Principalities of Moldavia and Wallachia, which later became the Kingdom of Romania.

Another notable figure with the Rotaru surname was Dumitru Rotaru (1888-1957), a renowned Romanian painter and art educator. His works, particularly his landscapes and portraits, are highly regarded and can be found in various museums and private collections across Romania.

More recently, in the 20th century, Alexandru Rotaru (1918-1995) was a celebrated Romanian writer and journalist. He is best known for his novels and short stories that explored the lives and struggles of rural communities in Romania during the mid-20th century.

While the surname Rotaru has its roots in Romania, it has since spread to other parts of the world due to migration and diaspora communities. However, the historical records and notable individuals mentioned above highlight the rich heritage and significance of this surname within Romanian culture and history.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Rotaru surname: questions and answers

How common is the Rotaru surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 260 in 2016. That gives Rotaru a modern rank of #16,349.

What does the Rotaru surname mean?

A Romanian surname derived from "rotar" meaning wheelwright or cartwright.

What does the Rotaru map show?

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