| ![Show Contents]() Rocke History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
The Anglo-Saxon name Rocke comes from the family having resided in the village of Rock found in the various locations that existed in Worcestershire, Devon and also in Northumberland. The surname also has topographic origins in that it describes the area where the original bearers lived. In this case they lived at some residence near a large boulder or rock face. Early Origins of the Rocke familyThe surname Rocke was first found in Worcestershire where they held a family seat from early times and their first records appeared on the early census rolls taken by the early Kings of Britain to determine the rate of taxation of their subjects. Early History of the Rocke familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Rocke research. Another 83 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1378, 1379, 1380, 1407 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Rocke History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Rocke Spelling VariationsRocke has been spelled many different ways. Before English spelling became standardized over the last few hundred years, spelling variations in names were a common occurrence. As the English language changed in the Middle Ages, absorbing pieces of Latin and French, as well as other languages, the spelling of people's names also changed considerably, even over a single lifetime. Spelling variants included: Rock, Rocks, Roch, Rocke, Rocker, Rooker, Rucker and others. Early Notables of the Rocke familyDistinguished members of the family include  Migration of the Rocke family to Ireland
Some of the Rocke family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 103 words (7 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
| Rocke migration to the United States | + |
In an attempt to escape the chaos experienced in England, many English families boarded overcrowded and diseased ships sailing for the shores of North America and other British colonies. Those families hardy enough, and lucky enough, to make the passage intact were rewarded with land and a social environment less prone to religious and political persecution. Many of these families became important contributors to the young colonies in which they settled. Early immigration and passenger lists have documented some of the first Rockes to arrive on North American shores:
Rocke Settlers in United States in the 17th Century- Francis Rocke, who settled in Virginia in 1636
- Fra Rocke, who arrived in Virginia in 1646 1
- John Rocke, who landed in Maryland in 1661 1
Rocke Settlers in United States in the 19th Century- Patrick Rocke, aged 40, who arrived in Virginia in 1812 1
- Cathrin Rocke, aged 22, who arrived in America from Ireland, in 1892
- John Rocke, aged 26, who arrived in America from Dublin, Ireland, in 1892
- F H Rocke, aged 52, who arrived in America, in 1895
- Wilhelm Rocke, aged 42, who arrived in America, in 1895
Rocke Settlers in United States in the 20th Century- F. Rocke, aged 56, who arrived in America from Swansea, Wales, in 1903
- David Rocke, aged 19, who arrived in America from Limerick, Ireland, in 1903
- Kate Rocke, aged 29, who arrived in America from Dublin, Ireland, in 1904
- Nora Rocke, aged 17, who arrived in America from Castleisland, Ireland, in 1907
- Ruth A. Rocke, aged 38, who arrived in America from London, England, in 1908
- ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
| Rocke migration to Australia | + |
Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include: Rocke Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century- James Rocke, aged 22, a farm labourer, who arrived in South Australia in 1851 aboard the ship "Osceola" 2
| Rocke migration to New Zealand | + |
Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include: Rocke Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century- Mr. F. Arthur Rocke, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "William Watson" arriving in New Plymouth, Taranaki, North Island, New Zealand on 30th December 1857 3
- Miss Maria Rocke, (b. 1841), aged 25, British domestic servant travelling from Gravesend, UK aboard the ship "Bombay" arriving in Lyttelton, South Island, New Zealand on 18th August 1866 4
- Julia Rocke, aged 27, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Alumbagh" in 1875 4
| Contemporary Notables of the name Rocke (post 1700) | + |
- Colin Rocke (b. 1968), retired Trinidad-American association football forward
- Fred Rocke, American politician, Candidate for Michigan State Senate 27th District, 1910
- Charles Augustus Rocke (1800-1822), English first-class cricketer who played from 1822 to 1828 for Kent
- Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
- State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) OSCEOLA / ASCEOLA 1851. Retrieved http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1851Osceola-Asceola.htm
- New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
- New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
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Rocke migration to the United States 
Rocke migration to Australia 
Rocke migration to New Zealand 
England
France
Ireland
