Find out how popular the last name LaRocca is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named LaRocca.

LaRocca, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the LaRocca surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of LaRocca in America

LaRocca is the 7301st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The LaRocca surname appeared 4,567 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 2 people would have the surname LaRocca.

We can also compare 2010 data for LaRocca to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name LaRocca

The surname LAROCCA is of Italian origin, tracing its roots back to the medieval era. It is derived from the Italian words "la" meaning "the" and "rocca" meaning "fortress" or "stronghold." This suggests that the name originated as a descriptive term for someone who lived near or worked in a fortified structure.

In the early Middle Ages, many Italians bore surnames derived from their occupations, physical characteristics, or places of residence. LAROCCA likely emerged as a surname in this context, referring to individuals associated with a particular fortress or castle.

The earliest known references to the name LAROCCA can be found in historical records from southern Italy, particularly in the regions of Calabria, Campania, and Sicily. These areas were home to numerous fortifications and castles during the Middle Ages, which may have contributed to the name's origins.

One of the earliest documented instances of the surname LAROCCA appears in a manuscript from the 13th century, which mentions a certain "Guglielmo LAROCCA" from the city of Naples. This record suggests that the name was already in use by that time.

Throughout the centuries, several notable individuals have borne the surname LAROCCA. One such figure was Antonio LAROCCA (1436-1492), a renowned sculptor from the city of Palermo in Sicily. His works adorned many churches and palaces in the region, and he is considered a master of the Renaissance style.

Another prominent LAROCCA was Girolamo LAROCCA (1563-1618), a Jesuit priest and theologian from Naples. He authored several influential works on Catholic doctrine and served as a professor at the prestigious Roman College.

In the 19th century, Vincenzo LAROCCA (1820-1894) was a celebrated Italian painter known for his landscape and genre scenes. He studied at the prestigious Academy of Fine Arts in Naples and exhibited his works throughout Europe.

The LAROCCA surname also had a presence in the literary world, with the writer and poet Giuseppe LAROCCA (1876-1942) from Calabria. His works often explored themes of rural life and the struggles of the peasantry in southern Italy.

Lastly, Tommaso LAROCCA (1921-2006) was a distinguished Italian lawyer and politician who served as a member of the Italian Parliament for several terms in the late 20th century, representing the Christian Democratic party.

These examples illustrate the rich history and diverse backgrounds of individuals who have carried the surname LAROCCA throughout the centuries, originating from its roots as a descriptive term for those associated with fortified structures in medieval Italy.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name LaRocca

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname LaRocca.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for LaRocca was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of LaRocca has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name LaRocca was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of LaRocca, please contact us.

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