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

Rochelle, 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 Rochelle surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Rochelle in America

Rochelle is the 9181st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Rochelle surname appeared 3,553 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 Rochelle.

We can also compare 2010 data for Rochelle 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 Rochelle

The surname Rochelle originates from the French city of La Rochelle, located in the western part of France. The name itself dates back to the 11th century and is derived from the Old French word "roche," meaning "rock" or "rocky place."

La Rochelle was an important port city during the medieval period, known for its strategic location and fortified defenses. The city's name was often recorded in various historical documents, such as the Pipe Rolls of England from the late 12th century, which mentions individuals with the surname Rochelle.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with this surname was Robert de Rochelle, a merchant from La Rochelle who lived in the late 13th century. He was mentioned in several trade records and business transactions, indicating the commercial significance of the city during that time.

Another notable figure was Jean de Rochelle, a French soldier who fought in the Hundred Years' War (1337-1453) and was knighted for his bravery on the battlefield.

In England, the surname Rochelle can be traced back to the 13th century, when it was likely introduced by Norman-French settlers. One of the earliest records of the name in English history is found in the Feet of Fines for Essex in 1277, which mentions a John de Rochelle.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the surname became more widespread in England, as evidenced by its appearance in various parish records and historical documents. One notable individual was Sir John Rochelle (1540-1609), an English politician and Member of Parliament.

In the United States, the surname Rochelle has been present since the early colonial period, with some of the earliest recorded instances dating back to the 17th century. One of the first documented individuals with this surname was Pierre Rochelle (1625-1685), a French Huguenot who settled in New York.

Another notable figure in American history was Edmond Rochelle (1792-1862), a prominent lawyer and politician from South Carolina, who served as a member of the United States House of Representatives.

Throughout history, the surname Rochelle has also been associated with several notable artists, writers, and intellectuals, such as the French philosopher and writer, Raymond Rochelle (1889-1962), and the American painter, Elizabeth Rochelle (1892-1973).

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Rochelle

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

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

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

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