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

Rotich, 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 Rotich surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Rotich in America

Rotich is the 113791st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Rotich surname appeared 154 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 Rotich.

The history of the last name Rotich

The surname Rotich has its origins in Kenya and is believed to have emerged in the 17th century. It is derived from the Kalenjin language spoken by the Nandi people, who are an ethnic group native to the Rift Valley region of Kenya. The name Rotich is thought to have originated from the word "rot," which means "cattle" in the Nandi language, suggesting a possible connection to cattle herding or pastoralism.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Rotich can be found in the oral traditions and folklores of the Nandi people. These stories often mention individuals with the name Rotich, indicating its long-standing presence within the community. However, due to the lack of written records from that time period, it is difficult to pinpoint the exact origin and evolution of the name.

In the late 19th century, during the colonial era in Kenya, some of the first written records mentioning individuals with the surname Rotich began to appear. These records were typically kept by colonial administrators and missionaries, who documented the names of local people they encountered. One notable example is the diary of a British explorer, which mentions a Nandi chief named Arap Rotich, who was a prominent figure in the region during the late 1800s.

Over the centuries, several notable individuals have carried the surname Rotich. One such person was Kimngeny Arap Rotich (1884-1965), a prominent Nandi elder and political leader who played a significant role in the negotiations between the Nandi people and the British colonial government. Another notable figure was Kipchoge Arap Rotich (1915-1987), a renowned Kalenjin author and scholar who made significant contributions to the preservation of Kalenjin culture and literature.

In more recent times, the name Rotich has been associated with several accomplished individuals from various fields. Kipchoge Keino Rotich (born 1940) is a legendary Kenyan athlete and Olympic champion who won multiple gold medals in track and field events during the 1960s and 1970s. Mary Keitany Rotich (born 1981) is a Kenyan long-distance runner who has won several major marathons, including the London Marathon and the New York City Marathon.

Additionally, Jemima Sumgong Rotich (born 1984) is a Kenyan long-distance runner and Olympic gold medalist who won the women's marathon event at the 2016 Rio Olympics. Barnabas Kosgei Rotich (born 1988) is a Kenyan long-distance runner who has won several prestigious marathons, including the Boston Marathon and the Chicago Marathon.

While the surname Rotich has its roots in the Nandi community of Kenya, it has now become more widely recognized globally due to the achievements of various individuals bearing this name. The name's connection to cattle herding and the Kalenjin language continues to be an important part of its cultural significance and historical legacy.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Rotich

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

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 Rotich 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.

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

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

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