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

Roath, 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 Roath surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Roath in America

Roath is the 26630th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Roath surname appeared 915 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 Roath.

We can also compare 2010 data for Roath 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 Roath

The surname "ROATH" is believed to have originated in Wales during the Middle Ages. It is thought to be derived from the Old Welsh word "rhos," meaning "moor" or "moorland." This suggests that the earliest bearers of the name likely resided in or near a marshy or boggy area.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Rohaut." This entry likely refers to a location or settlement in Wales, possibly named after an individual or family with the surname.

During the 13th century, the name was often spelled as "Rohaute" or "Rohaught," reflecting the Welsh pronunciation and spelling conventions of the time. By the 15th century, the spelling had evolved closer to the modern form, with variations such as "Roath" and "Roathe" appearing in historical records.

In the 16th century, a notable figure bearing the name was William Roath (c. 1510–1572), a Welsh landowner and member of the gentry from Monmouthshire. Another notable individual was John Roath (1594–1655), a clergyman and author who served as the Vicar of Eardisley in Herefordshire.

The name can also be found in connection with various place names in Wales, such as Roath Park in Cardiff and the district of Roath itself, which was likely named after an early settler or landowner with the surname.

Other notable individuals with the surname include:

1. Thomas Roath (1720–1795), a British naval officer who served during the American Revolutionary War.
2. Mary Roath (1793–1867), a Welsh diarist and author known for her detailed accounts of life in 19th-century Wales.
3. John Roath Jones (1814–1891), a Welsh industrialist and entrepreneur who founded the Roath Brewery in Cardiff.
4. Evan Roath (1856–1925), a Welsh historian and writer who published several works on the history and culture of Wales.
5. Gwyneth Roath (1892–1978), a Welsh artist and painter known for her landscapes and portraits depicting rural life in Wales.

Over the centuries, the name "ROATH" has maintained its Welsh roots and connections, with many bearers of the surname tracing their ancestry back to the historic counties and regions of Wales.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Roath

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

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

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

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