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

Rocca, 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 Rocca surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Rocca in America

Rocca is the 16450th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Rocca surname appeared 1,748 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Rocca.

We can also compare 2010 data for Rocca 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 Rocca

The surname Rocca finds its origins in Italy, emerging in the medieval period around the 12th century. It is believed to be derived from the Italian word "rocca," which means a rock or fortress, indicating a connection to someone who lived near or worked in a fortified structure.

The earliest known bearers of the name can be traced back to regions such as Tuscany, Emilia-Romagna, and Lazio. In these areas, the Rocca name was associated with noble families who held positions of power and influence within their local communities.

Historical records show that the name appeared in various medieval documents, including the registers of the Republic of Genoa in the 13th century. This suggests that members of the Rocca family were actively involved in the maritime trade and commerce of the time.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name dates back to the 14th century, when a certain Guglielmo Rocca (c. 1320-1385) was a renowned architect and military engineer from Genoa. He was responsible for designing and constructing several fortifications and defensive structures throughout Italy.

Another notable figure was Pier Luigi Rocca (1520-1577), a cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church during the 16th century. He held influential positions within the church and played a significant role in the Council of Trent, a pivotal event in the Counter-Reformation.

In the realm of art, the name Rocca is associated with Tommaso Rocca (1600-1670), a distinguished Italian painter from the Baroque period. His works, which often depicted religious themes, can be found in various churches and galleries throughout Italy.

During the Renaissance, the Rocca family also gained prominence in the field of literature. Antonio Rocca (1585-1653), a poet and writer from Naples, was celebrated for his poetic works, including the epic poem "La Roccheide."

Another noteworthy figure was Massimiliano Rocca (1765-1840), a military leader and statesman from the Kingdom of Sardinia. He played a crucial role in the Napoleonic Wars and later served as the Prime Minister of Sardinia from 1832 to 1835.

The Rocca surname has also been associated with various place names throughout Italy, such as Rocca di Papa, a town in the province of Rome, and Rocca Priora, a municipality in the Metropolitan City of Rome Capital.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Rocca

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

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

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

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