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

Rocker, 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 Rocker surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Rocker in America

Rocker is the 15104th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Rocker surname appeared 1,953 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 Rocker.

We can also compare 2010 data for Rocker 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 Rocker

The surname "ROCKER" is believed to have originated in Germany, with its earliest recorded use dating back to the 16th century. It is thought to be derived from the German word "Rocker," which means "a person who weaves or spins." This suggests that the name was likely associated with those involved in the textile industry or related trades.

One of the earliest documented instances of the "ROCKER" surname can be found in the records of the city of Nuremberg, where a family by the name of Rocker was mentioned in the late 1500s. These records suggest that the Rockers were a prominent family in the region, possibly involved in the production or trade of textiles.

Throughout the 17th and 18th centuries, the name "ROCKER" began to spread across various regions of Germany, with families bearing this surname appearing in records from cities such as Cologne, Hamburg, and Berlin. It is possible that some Rockers migrated to other parts of Europe during this period, as the name can also be found in scattered records from countries like the Netherlands and Switzerland.

Interestingly, the "ROCKER" surname has also been associated with certain place names in Germany. For example, the village of Rockenhausen, located in the state of Rhineland-Palatinate, is believed to have derived its name from the term "Rocker," possibly indicating a connection between the surname and this particular region.

Some notable historical figures who bore the "ROCKER" surname include:

1. Johann Rocker (c. 1570-1632), a German composer and organist known for his contributions to the development of Lutheran church music.
2. Friedrich Rocker (1801-1879), a German politician and lawyer who served as a member of the Prussian Landtag.
3. Maximilian Rocker (1856-1923), a German artist and painter known for his landscapes and portraiture.
4. Rudolf Rocker (1873-1958), a renowned anarchist writer and thinker who was influential in the development of anarcho-syndicalism.
5. Karin Rocker (1919-2009), a German actress and singer who enjoyed a successful career in both film and theater.

While the "ROCKER" surname may have evolved and dispersed over time, its origins can be traced back to the textile industry and the German regions where it first emerged, reflecting the rich history and cultural heritage associated with this name.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Rocker

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

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

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

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