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

Rodda, 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 Rodda surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Rodda in America

Rodda is the 20076th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Rodda surname appeared 1,331 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 Rodda.

We can also compare 2010 data for Rodda 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 Rodda

The surname Rodda is of Cornish origin, tracing its roots back to the southwestern region of England known as Cornwall. This name is derived from the Cornish word "rho" or "rhon," which means a rough, bramble-covered slope or hillside.

The earliest recorded instances of the Rodda surname can be found in ancient Cornish records dating back to the 13th century. One notable example is the mention of a Robertus de Rodda in the Assize Rolls of Cornwall in 1284.

The name Rodda was primarily concentrated in the parishes and villages of Cornwall, particularly in areas like St. Austell, Truro, and the Lizard Peninsula. It is believed that the surname may have originated as a descriptive name for someone who lived near or worked on a rough, bramble-covered hillside.

In the 16th century, the surname Rodda appears in the Protestation Returns of 1641-1642, a document listing those who swore allegiance to the Protestant faith during the English Civil War. This record includes names such as Richard Rodda from St. Germans and John Rodda from St. Martin-in-Meneage.

One of the earliest known bearers of the Rodda surname was Thomas Rodda, born around 1580 in Cornwall. He was a merchant and landowner who played a significant role in the local community.

Another notable figure with the surname Rodda was William Rodda (1753-1828), a renowned Cornish mathematician and astronomer. He made significant contributions to the field of navigation and was recognized for his work on calculating the solar eclipse of 1766.

In the 19th century, the Rodda family gained prominence in the mining industry of Cornwall. John Rodda (1815-1882) was a successful mine owner and entrepreneur who established the Rodda's Cornish Clotted Cream Company, which became a well-known brand throughout the region.

Another individual of note was Samuel Rodda (1845-1920), a Cornish poet and author who wrote extensively about the local culture and traditions of his homeland. His works, such as "Cornish Ballads and Other Poems," helped preserve the rich literary heritage of Cornwall.

The surname Rodda has also been associated with various place names in Cornwall, such as Rodda's Town, Rodda's Mill, and Rodda's Croft, further emphasizing its deep-rooted connection to the region.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Rodda

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

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

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

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