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

Rockett, 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 Rockett surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Rockett in America

Rockett is the 11158th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Rockett surname appeared 2,836 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 Rockett.

We can also compare 2010 data for Rockett 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 Rockett

The surname Rockett is believed to have originated in England during the late medieval period. It is thought to be a locative surname, derived from a place name referring to a location near a rocky outcrop or cliff. The earliest known spelling variations include Rockett, Rokitt, Rockit, and Rokett.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Feet of Fines for Suffolk, dating back to 1310, where a person named Robert Rokette is mentioned. The Testa de Nevill, an ancient survey of land ownership in England, also references a William Rockett in Yorkshire in the late 12th century.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the Rockett surname appears in various parish records across England, particularly in counties such as Norfolk, Suffolk, and Yorkshire. One notable individual from this era was Edward Rockett (c. 1575-1642), an English clergyman and author who served as the Rector of St. Andrew's Church in Norwich.

In the 18th century, the Rockett family gained prominence in the village of Martham, Norfolk. John Rockett (1712-1794), a wealthy landowner and farmer, played a significant role in the local community and is buried in the churchyard of St. Mary's Church in Martham.

As the British Empire expanded, the Rockett surname spread to other parts of the world. Notable individuals bearing this name include James Rockett (1810-1857), an Irish-born Australian explorer and surveyor, and Thomas Rockett (1832-1914), a wealthy businessman and philanthropist from New Zealand.

Another notable figure was John Rockett (1919-2009), an American World War II veteran and recipient of the Distinguished Service Cross for his actions during the Battle of the Bulge. He later became a successful businessman and philanthropist in his hometown of Akron, Ohio.

The Rockett surname has also been associated with various professions and trades over the centuries, including farming, clergy, military service, and business. While the origin of the name can be traced back to medieval England, it has since become a part of the cultural and historical fabric of several countries around the world.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Rockett

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

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

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

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