Rockefeller
A surname derived from a place name, likely referring to someone from a rocky hill or cliff.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 1,508 Americans carry the last name Rockefeller. That puts it at #20,449 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.44 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 227,291 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Rockefeller 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
1.5K
1 in 227,291
Census rank
#20,449
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.4
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
1.3K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 1,299 bearers of the surname Rockefeller in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.44 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 20449th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Rockefeller, the largest self-reported group is White at 94.8%. The next largest groups are Black (1.9%) and Two or More Races (1.5%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Rockefeller
The surname Rockefeller originated in Germany during the 16th century. It is derived from the German words "Rocke" meaning a simple garment or cloak, and "feller" meaning a dealer or seller. The name was likely given to someone who traded in such cloaks or garments.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the Rockefeller name can be found in the church records of the village of Neuwied, located in the Rhineland region of Germany, dating back to 1569. Here, a Johann Peter Rockefeller is mentioned as a resident of the village.
In the 17th century, the name began to appear in various areas across Germany, including the Palatinate region. A notable early bearer of the name was Johann Matthias Rockefeller, born in 1675 in the town of Oppau, who was a respected tailor and cloth merchant.
The Rockefellers began migrating to America in the early 18th century, with one of the first recorded arrivals being Johann Peter Rockefeller, who settled in Pennsylvania in 1723. He was followed by several other Rockefeller families who established themselves in various parts of the American colonies, particularly in New York and Pennsylvania.
One of the most famous individuals with the Rockefeller surname was John D. Rockefeller (1839-1937), the American business magnate and philanthropist who founded the Standard Oil Company and became one of the wealthiest individuals in modern history.
Other notable Rockefellers throughout history include:
1. William Rockefeller (1810-1906), an American businessman and co-founder of the Standard Oil Company, and the brother of John D. Rockefeller.
2. John D. Rockefeller Jr. (1874-1960), an American businessman, philanthropist, and the only son of John D. Rockefeller. He played a prominent role in the family's philanthropic endeavors.
3. Nelson Rockefeller (1908-1979), an American businessman, philanthropist, and politician who served as the 41st Vice President of the United States under President Gerald Ford.
4. Winthrop Rockefeller (1912-1973), an American businessman, philanthropist, and politician who served as the 37th Governor of Arkansas from 1967 to 1971.
5. David Rockefeller (1915-2017), an American banker and philanthropist who served as the chairman and chief executive of Chase Manhattan Corporation. He was the eldest son of John D. Rockefeller Jr.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Rockefeller
Among Census respondents with the surname Rockefeller, the largest self-reported group is White at 94.8%. The next largest groups are Black (1.9%) and Two or More Races (1.5%).
The bar chart below shows how Rockefeller 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 Rockefeller surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White94.8%
- Black or African American1.9%
- Two or more races1.5%
- Unknown or suppressed0.9%
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.9%
Year on year
2000 vs 2010 Census
How has the Rockefeller 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 | #20,111 | #20,449 | -1.7% |
| Count | 1,233 | 1,299 | 5.4% |
| Per 100K | 0.46 | 0.44 | -4.3% |
Between the 2000 and 2010 Census, the number of Rockefeller bearers went from 1,233 to 1,299 (+5.4% change). The surname moved down 338 positions in the national ranking, going from #20,111 to #20,449.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Rockefeller
FAQ
Rockefeller surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Rockefeller?
The surname Rockefeller holds position #20,449 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 1,508 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.44 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Rockefeller surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Rockefeller, the largest self-reported group is White at 94.8%. The next largest groups are Black (1.9%) and Two or More Races (1.5%). 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.