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

Rocheford, 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 Rocheford surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Rocheford in America

Rocheford is the 66553rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Rocheford surname appeared 297 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 Rocheford.

We can also compare 2010 data for Rocheford 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 Rocheford

The surname Rocheford has its origins in England, dating back to the 11th century. It is derived from the Old French words "roche," meaning rock, and "fort," meaning fortress or stronghold. This suggests that the name was likely borne by someone who lived near a rocky fortification or stronghold.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Rochefort." This was a reference to a place name, likely a village or hamlet near a rocky fortress or castle.

During the Middle Ages, the spelling of the name varied considerably, including variations such as Rocheforte, Rochfort, and Rocheforde. These variations reflect the fluidity of spelling conventions in that era and the regional dialects in different parts of England.

One notable bearer of the name was Sir John Rocheford, a 14th-century English knight who served under King Edward III during the Hundred Years' War. He participated in several battles, including the Battle of Crécy in 1346.

Another historical figure with the surname Rocheford was William Rocheford, a 16th-century English politician and diplomat who served as Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster under King Henry VIII. He was born around 1490 and played a significant role in the English Reformation.

In the 17th century, the name Rocheford was associated with the town of Rocheford in Gloucestershire, England. This town was likely named after a rocky ford or crossing point over a river, further reinforcing the connection between the surname and its geographic origins.

A notable bearer of the name in the 18th century was Sir George Rocheford, a British naval officer who served during the American Revolutionary War. He was born in 1738 and played a role in several notable battles against the American forces.

Another prominent individual with the surname Rocheford was Lady Elizabeth Rocheford, a 19th-century English aristocrat and philanthropist. She was born in 1810 and was known for her charitable work, particularly in supporting educational institutions and hospitals.

Throughout its history, the surname Rocheford has maintained a strong connection to its English origins and the geographic features that likely influenced its development. While the spelling and pronunciations may have varied over time, the underlying meaning and significance of the name have endured.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Rocheford

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

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

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Rocheford, 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!