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

Rocheleau, 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 Rocheleau surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Rocheleau in America

Rocheleau is the 15397th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Rocheleau surname appeared 1,904 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 Rocheleau.

We can also compare 2010 data for Rocheleau 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 Rocheleau

The surname ROCHELEAU has its origins in France, dating back to the 17th century. It is believed to have originated from the French region of Poitou, which was once known as the historic province of Poitou-Charentes. The name is derived from the Old French word "rochel," meaning a small rock or rocky hill, combined with the suffix "-eau," indicating a diminutive form.

One of the earliest recorded references to the ROCHELEAU surname can be found in the parish records of the town of Maillezais, located in the former province of Poitou-Charentes. These records mention a certain Pierre ROCHELEAU, born in 1638, who was a farmer and landowner in the area.

During the 17th and 18th centuries, many French settlers with the surname ROCHELEAU immigrated to New France, the French colonial territory in North America, which later became part of modern-day Canada and the United States. One notable individual was Jacques ROCHELEAU, born in 1672 in the town of La Rochelle, France. He arrived in Quebec City in 1688 and later settled in the region of Trois-Rivières, where he worked as a fur trader and farmer.

Another prominent figure was Marie-Anne ROCHELEAU, born in 1735 in the town of Terrebonne, near Montreal. She was a renowned midwife and herbalist, known for her expertise in traditional medicine and her dedication to helping the local community.

In the 19th century, the ROCHELEAU surname spread across North America as families migrated westward. One notable individual was Joseph ROCHELEAU, born in 1812 in Lower Canada (now Quebec). He was a farmer and entrepreneur who established a successful business in the logging industry in the state of Vermont, United States.

Another notable ROCHELEAU was Émilie ROCHELEAU, born in 1845 in Quebec. She was a teacher and pioneering educator who established one of the first French-language schools in the state of Massachusetts, playing a crucial role in preserving the French language and culture among the francophone communities in New England.

Throughout history, the ROCHELEAU surname has been associated with various occupations, including farming, logging, fur trading, and education, reflecting the diverse backgrounds and experiences of those who carried this name.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Rocheleau

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

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

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

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