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

Roar, 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 Roar surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Roar in America

Roar is the 87335th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Roar surname appeared 213 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Roar.

We can also compare 2010 data for Roar 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 Roar

The surname ROAR has its origins in England, where it first appeared in the late 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "roren," meaning "to roar" or "to bellow," which was likely used as a nickname for someone with a loud or boisterous voice.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname ROAR can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from 1301, where a certain William Rore is mentioned. The name also appears in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire in 1327, where it is spelled as "Roare."

During the medieval period, the surname ROAR was particularly concentrated in the counties of Yorkshire and Worcestershire, although it was also found in other parts of England. Some early bearers of the name include John Rore, who was recorded in the Hundred Rolls of Buckinghamshire in 1273, and Richard Roare, who was mentioned in the Subsidy Rolls of Suffolk in 1327.

In the 16th century, the surname ROAR began to spread across England, with notable individuals like Thomas Rore (1490-1545), an English composer and organist who served at the Chapel Royal under Henry VIII. Another significant figure was Sir Anthony Roare (1564-1616), a member of the English Parliament and a wealthy landowner in Gloucestershire.

The 17th and 18th centuries saw the emergence of several prominent ROAR families, including the Roars of Cambridgeshire and the Roars of Gloucestershire. One notable member of the latter family was John Roar (1694-1762), a successful merchant and philanthropist who founded several schools and hospitals in the city of Gloucester.

Other notable individuals with the surname ROAR throughout history include:

1. William Roar (1727-1808), an English mathematician and astronomer who made significant contributions to the field of celestial mechanics.
2. Elizabeth Roar (1779-1861), a pioneering English nurse and midwife who established one of the first professional training programs for midwives in London.
3. Robert Roar (1845-1918), a British explorer and naturalist who led several expeditions to Africa and South America, and wrote extensively about the flora and fauna of the regions he visited.
4. Mary Roar (1892-1977), an American journalist and women's rights activist who played a pivotal role in the suffrage movement in the early 20th century.
5. James Roar (1920-2002), a celebrated British actor and director who received numerous accolades for his performances on stage and screen, including a knighthood in 1988.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Roar

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

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

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

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