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

Rockhold, 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 Rockhold surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Rockhold in America

Rockhold is the 18808th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Rockhold surname appeared 1,456 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Rockhold.

We can also compare 2010 data for Rockhold 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 Rockhold

The surname Rockhold is believed to have originated in England during the late medieval period, likely emerging as an occupational name for someone who lived or worked near a rocky hill or outcrop. It is derived from the Old English words "rocc" meaning rock or crag, and "hyll" meaning hill.

The earliest known record of the Rockhold surname dates back to the 13th century, appearing in the Hundred Rolls of Bedfordshire from 1273. This document mentions a Henry de Rocholte, suggesting the name may have initially been spelled with variations like Rocholte or Rocholt before evolving into its modern form.

Rockhold appears to have been particularly prevalent in the counties of Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire, where there are numerous place names incorporating the word "rock" or "rocks," such as Rockcliffe and Rocksavage. This lends credence to the theory that the name originated from a descriptive reference to a rocky or craggy location.

Notable historical figures with the surname Rockhold include William Rockhold (1542-1611), a prominent merchant and alderman in the city of London during the Elizabethan era. Another early bearer of the name was John Rockhold (1632-1698), a Puritan minister and author who served as the rector of Stanstead Abbots in Hertfordshire.

In the 18th century, Sir Thomas Rockhold (1723-1789) was a respected judge and legal scholar who served as the Lord Chief Justice of the Court of Common Pleas. His contemporary, Captain James Rockhold (1741-1805), was a naval officer who distinguished himself during the American Revolutionary War.

One of the most famous individuals with the Rockhold surname was the Victorian-era novelist and poet, Elizabeth Rockhold (1819-1892). Her works, which included the popular novel "The Heather on the Hill," were celebrated for their vivid depictions of rural English life and landscapes.

While the Rockhold name has remained relatively uncommon throughout history, its origins can be traced back to the rocky hills and crags of medieval England, where it first emerged as a descriptive surname reflecting the physical surroundings of its earliest bearers.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Rockhold

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

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

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

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