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

Roff, 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 Roff surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Roff in America

Roff is the 19997th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Roff surname appeared 1,339 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 Roff.

We can also compare 2010 data for Roff 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 Roff

The surname Roff has its origins in England, with records dating back to the 11th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "hrocc," which means "rook" or "crow." This suggests that the name may have initially referred to someone who lived near a rookery or a place frequented by crows.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Rochefeld." This entry refers to a place in Kent, indicating that the name may have originated as a locational surname, describing someone who hailed from a particular place.

In the 13th century, the name appears in various forms, such as "Roc," "Rok," and "Roke." These variations reflect the evolving spelling conventions of the time. It is worth noting that the surname Roff is considered a later spelling variant, which emerged in the 16th century.

One notable bearer of the name was Sir Thomas Roff, a prominent English judge who lived in the 15th century (c. 1420-1490). He served as the Chief Justice of the Common Pleas during the reign of King Edward IV.

Another historical figure was John Roff, a successful merchant and alderman in the city of London during the 16th century (c. 1530-1597). He was known for his philanthropic efforts and contributed to the establishment of several charitable institutions.

In the 17th century, the name appears in connection with the settlement of the American colonies. William Roff (c. 1620-1685) was one of the early settlers in Massachusetts Bay Colony and is considered one of the founding families of the town of Newbury.

Moving forward to the 18th century, we find Elizabeth Roff (1725-1805), an English writer and poet who gained recognition for her works during her lifetime. Her poetry collections were widely circulated and praised for their literary merit.

Another notable bearer of the name was Admiral Sir Thomas Roff (1760-1832), a distinguished officer in the British Royal Navy. He played a significant role in several naval battles during the Napoleonic Wars and was awarded numerous honors for his service.

Throughout its history, the surname Roff has been associated with various locations in England, particularly in the counties of Kent, Surrey, and Sussex, where it has deep roots. While the name has evolved in its spelling and pronunciation over the centuries, it remains a distinctive part of English surname heritage.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Roff

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

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

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

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