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

Roach, 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 Roach surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Roach in America

Roach is the 764th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Roach surname appeared 45,019 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 15 people would have the surname Roach.

We can also compare 2010 data for Roach 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 Roach

The surname "Roach" is believed to have originated in England, where it first appeared in records during the 13th century. It is thought to have derived from the Old English word "rohha," which referred to a small, elongated fish, or the Middle English word "roche," meaning a rock or rocky outcrop.

One of the earliest documented instances of the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Worcestershire from the year 1275, which mention a person named Adam le Roche. The name was likely an occupational surname, given to someone who lived near a rocky area or worked with fish.

In the 14th century, the surname appears in various forms, such as "de la Roche," "atte Roche," and "Roche," reflecting the evolving spelling and usage of the name over time. One notable reference is found in the Chancery Rolls of 1386, which record a John de la Roche from Gloucestershire.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the name underwent further changes, with spellings like "Roache," "Roach," and "Roche" becoming more common. One prominent individual from this era was Sir William Roach (c. 1580-1647), an English diplomat and Member of Parliament.

Another noteworthy figure was John Roach (1815-1887), an Irish-American shipbuilder and industrialist who established the renowned Roach Shipyard in Chester, Pennsylvania. He played a significant role in the development of the American shipbuilding industry during the 19th century.

In the realm of literature, Max Roach (1924-2007) was an influential American jazz drummer, percussionist, and composer who made significant contributions to the development of bebop and modern jazz.

Other individuals with this surname include Darren Roach (born 1972), an English former professional footballer, and Andrew Roach (born 1980), an American actor known for his roles in television series such as "Desperate Housewives" and "Supernatural."

While the surname "Roach" has evolved over the centuries and spread to various parts of the world, its origins can be traced back to the rocky landscapes and fishing communities of medieval England.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Roach

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

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 Roach 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 Roach 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 Roach was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!