Rock
An English topographic surname referring to someone who lived near a prominent crag, cliff, or boulder.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 22,450 Americans carry the last name Rock. That puts it at #1,859 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 6.55 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 15,267 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Rock surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
22K
1 in 15,267
Census rank
#1,859
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
6.5
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
19K
uncommon in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 19,313 bearers of the surname Rock in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 6.55 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 1859th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Rock, the largest self-reported group is White at 83.6%. The next largest groups are Black (8.7%) and American Indian/Alaska Native (2.5%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Rock
The surname ROCK is of English origin, derived from the Old English word 'rocca' meaning a rock or boulder. It was initially used as a nickname for someone who lived near a prominent rock formation or came from a rocky area.
The earliest known record of the surname dates back to the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as 'Rocca' and 'Rokka'. This suggests that the name was already in use before the Norman Conquest of 1066 and likely emerged in the 8th or 9th century.
In the 13th century, the surname is found in various spellings such as 'Rokke', 'Rocc', and 'Rok' in various medieval records and charters. One notable early bearer of the name was John de la Rokke, who was mentioned in the Court Rolls of Kent in 1293.
The surname ROCK was also derived from certain place names, such as Rock in Worcestershire and Rockhampton in Gloucestershire. William de la Rok, born around 1250, took his name from the latter location.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the surname ROCK. One of the earliest was Sir John de la Roche, a prominent knight who fought alongside King Edward III during the Hundred Years' War in the 14th century.
During the 16th century, the ROCK surname gained prominence with the birth of John Rock (1490-1561), an English Protestant reformer and chaplain to Thomas Cromwell. He played a significant role in the English Reformation and was known for his vocal opposition to the Catholic Church.
Another notable bearer of the name was Edmund Rock (1600-1677), an English lawyer and author who wrote extensively on legal matters during the reign of Charles II.
In the 18th century, James Rock (1707-1792) was a renowned English painter and engraver, best known for his landscape paintings and etchings of the English countryside.
More recently, the ROCK surname has been associated with Maria Rock (1778-1836), an English novelist and playwright, and Michael Rock (1951-2022), an American graphic designer and educator who co-founded the design firm 2x4.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Rock
Among Census respondents with the surname Rock, the largest self-reported group is White at 83.6%. The next largest groups are Black (8.7%) and American Indian/Alaska Native (2.5%).
The bar chart below shows how Rock bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Rock surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White83.6%
- Black or African American8.7%
- American Indian and Alaska Native2.5%
- Hispanic or Latino2.5%
- Two or more races2.0%
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.7%
Year on year
2000 vs 2010 Census
How has the Rock surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2000 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #1,779 | #1,859 | -4.5% |
| Count | 18,510 | 19,313 | 4.3% |
| Per 100K | 6.86 | 6.55 | -4.5% |
Between the 2000 and 2010 Census, the number of Rock bearers went from 18,510 to 19,313 (+4.3% change). The surname moved down 80 positions in the national ranking, going from #1,779 to #1,859.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Rock
FAQ
Rock surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Rock?
The surname Rock holds position #1,859 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 22,450 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 6.55 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Rock surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Rock, the largest self-reported group is White at 83.6%. The next largest groups are Black (8.7%) and American Indian/Alaska Native (2.5%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.