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

Rocks, 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 Rocks surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Rocks in America

Rocks is the 30222nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Rocks surname appeared 775 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 Rocks.

We can also compare 2010 data for Rocks 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 Rocks

The surname Rocks has its origins in the British Isles, specifically in England and Scotland, dating back to the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from Old English and Old Norse words that referred to a rock or rocky outcropping, indicating that the name was likely an occupational surname or a topographic name.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Rocks can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "de Rokis" and "atte Rokke." This suggests that the name was already established in various parts of England by the late 11th century. In Scotland, the name is thought to have evolved from the place name "Rox" or "Roxburgh," which was derived from the Brythonic word "Rhox" meaning a hill or promontory.

During the 13th century, the surname Rocks appeared in various records, including the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire in 1273, where one Richard de la Rokke was mentioned. Similarly, in the Subsidy Rolls of Yorkshire from 1301, a John de Rokkes was recorded. These entries provide evidence of the name's widespread use across different regions of England.

Notable individuals who bore the surname Rocks throughout history include William de Rokys, a prominent landowner in Warwickshire, England, who lived during the 14th century. Another notable figure was John Rocks, a Scottish poet and philosopher who was born in 1587 and made significant contributions to the literary scene of his time.

In the 16th century, the Rocks surname was associated with the Rocks family of Gloucestershire, England, who held considerable influence and wealth. One member, Sir William Rocks (1525-1598), served as a Member of Parliament and played a crucial role in local politics during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.

During the 17th century, the Rocks surname gained prominence in Ireland, where it is believed to have been introduced by English settlers. One notable figure from this period was Robert Rocks (1635-1701), an Irish clergyman and scholar who served as the Dean of Cork and was known for his extensive writings on theology and philosophy.

As the centuries passed, the Rocks surname continued to be found in various parts of the British Isles, with individuals bearing the name making contributions in various fields, including politics, literature, and academia. Some notable bearers of the name in more recent times include the English author and playwright John Rocks (1878-1944) and the Scottish historian and academic Margaret Rocks (1923-2011).

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Rocks

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

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

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

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