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

Roker, 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 Roker surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Roker in America

Roker is the 49177th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Roker surname appeared 428 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 Roker.

We can also compare 2010 data for Roker 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 Roker

The surname ROKER originated in England, with its roots dating back to the medieval period. It is believed to be a locational name derived from the village of Roker, which is situated near Sunderland in County Durham.

The name is thought to originate from the Old English words "roc" and "ær," meaning "rock" and "stream," respectively. This suggests that the name may have referred to individuals who lived near a rocky stream or a rocky area near a stream.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname ROKER can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Northumberland from the year 1230, where a person named Robert de Roker is mentioned. This historical record provides evidence of the name's existence in the 13th century.

The Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of land ownership in England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086, does not contain any direct references to the surname ROKER. However, it does mention the village of Roker, which was then called "Rocca."

During the 13th century, a notable figure named William de Roker served as a canon of the Augustinian Priory of Brinkburn in Northumberland. His association with the priory suggests that the ROKER family may have held a prominent position in the region at that time.

In the 16th century, a man named John Roker was born in Sunderland, County Durham, around the year 1550. He later became a successful merchant and was involved in the coal trade, which was a significant industry in the area.

Another individual of note was Sir Nathaniel Roker, who was born in 1670 and served as a Member of Parliament for the borough of Sunderland from 1701 to 1710. He was a prominent figure in the local community and played a role in the development of Sunderland's shipping industry.

In the 19th century, a writer and historian named John Roker was born in 1812 in Newcastle upon Tyne. He authored several works, including "A History of the Parish of Sunderland" and "Sunderland Worthies," which documented the lives of notable individuals from the town.

Throughout history, the surname ROKER has been associated with various locations and individuals, reflecting its origins as a locational name rooted in the medieval period. While the name may have evolved over time, its connection to the village of Roker and the surrounding areas of County Durham remains a significant part of its historical narrative.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Roker

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

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

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

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