Show ContentsRohan History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Rohan family

The surname Rohan was first found in Brittany where this distinguished family held a family seat, and were eminent nobles of that land. In 1008 they were the Comtes de Porrhoet et de Rennes. In 1128 they became the Viscomtes de Rohan. In 1485 they were the Barons de Lanvaux, and in 1572 they were the Princes de Lèon. In 1588 they were Dukes of Montbazon. In 1603 they were Dukes of Rohan. In 1667 they were Princes of Montauban and Soubise. In 1816 they were the Dukes of Bouillon.

Early History of the Rohan family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Rohan research. Another 127 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1570, 1579, 1600, 1635, 1638, 1674, 1679, 1728, 1734 and 1803 are included under the topic Early Rohan History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Rohan Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Rohan, de Rohan, DeRohan, De Rohan and others.

Early Notables of the Rohan family

Notable amongst this name at this time was

  • Marie de Rohan (1600-1679), a French aristocrat, famed for being the center of many of the intrigues, often known simply as Madame de Chevreuse

Rohan Ranking

In the United States, the name Rohan is the 11,464th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 1


United States Rohan migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Rohan Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • H S Rohan, who arrived in San Francisco, California in 1851 2
  • J P Rohan, who landed in San Francisco, California in 1851 2
  • Georges Rohan, aged 17, who landed in New York, NY in 1852 2
  • Tim and Fanny Rohan, who settled in New York State in 1853
  • Fanny Rohan and her son Tim, aged 7, who arrived in New York State in 1853
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Canada Rohan migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Rohan Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • Mrs. Elizabeth Rohan, aged 33 who immigrated to Canada, arriving at the Grosse Isle Quarantine Station in Quebec aboard the ship "Greenock" departing from the port of Liverpool, England but died on Grosse Isle in July 1847 3
  • Miss. Bridget Rohan, aged 4 who was emigrating through Grosse Isle Quarantine Station, Quebec aboard the ship "John Munn" departing 16th June 1847 from Liverpool, England; the ship arrived on 13th August 1847 but she died on board 4
  • Mr. James Rohan, aged 40 who was emigrating through Grosse Isle Quarantine Station, Quebec aboard the ship "Lotus" departing 15th April 1847 from Liverpool, England; the ship arrived on 24th June 1847 but he died on board 4
  • Mrs. Mary Rohan who was emigrating through Grosse Isle Quarantine Station, Quebec aboard the ship "John Munn" departing 16th June 1847 from Liverpool, England; the ship arrived on 13th August 1847 but she died on board 4

Australia Rohan migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Rohan Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Bridget Rohan, aged 18, a servant, who arrived in South Australia in 1855 aboard the ship "Glentanner" 5

New Zealand Rohan 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:

Rohan Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Elisa Rohan, aged 21, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Alumbagh" in 1875 6
  • Michael Rohan, aged 21, a farm labourer, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Rakaia" in 1878
  • Martin Rohan, aged 20, a farm labourer, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Rakaia" in 1878

Contemporary Notables of the name Rohan (post 1700) +

  • Ms. Johanna Alexandra Rohan B.E.M., British Chair for Canterbury Unit of Sea Cadet Corps, was appointed Medallist of the British Empire Medal 29th December 2018 for voluntary service to Young People in Kent 7
  • Michael Scott Rohan (b. 1951), Scottish fantasy and science fiction author
  • Denis Michael Rohan (1941-1995), Australian who attempted to burn down the al-Aqsa mosque in 1969
  • Louis Rohan Tillett (1959-2023), Australian rock music singer-songwriter, keyboardist and saxophonist, front man in Australian bands The Wet Taxis, Paris Green and The Aspersion Caste
  • Gareth Rohan Breese (b. 1976), West Indian cricketer
  • Rohan Rebeiro, Australian drummer, known for his work with the Australian-Irish band Clann Zú
  • Rohan Spong (b. 1981), Australian film director and photographer
  • Rohan Veal (b. 1977), Australian specialist in the International Moth Class dinghy class
  • Rohan Deakin Rivett (1917-1977), Australian journalist, author and editor of the Adelaide newspaper The News (1951 to 1960)
  • Rohan Ricketts (b. 1982), English soccer player


  1. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  2. 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)
  3. Charbonneau, André, and Doris Drolet-Dubé. A Register of Deceased Persons at Sea and on Grosse Île in 1847. The Minister of Canadian Heritage, 1997. ISBN: 0-660-198/1-1997E (p. 53)
  4. Charbonneau, André, and Doris Drolet-Dubé. A Register of Deceased Persons at Sea and on Grosse Île in 1847. The Minister of Canadian Heritage, 1997. ISBN: 0-660-198/1-1997E (p. 94)
  5. South Australia Passengerlists (Retrieved 10th November 2010). Retrieved from https://archives.sa.gov.au/sites/default/files/documentstore/passengerlists/1855/GRG35_48_1_55-35_Glentanner.pdf
  6. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  7. "Birthday and New Year Honours Lists (1940 to 2019)." Issue 62507, 28 December 2018 | London Gazette, The Gazette, Dec. 2018, www.thegazette.co.uk/honours-lists


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