Show ContentsRocher History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Rocher family

The surname Rocher was first found in Limousin where this eminent family held a family seat in the honour of the seigneurie of Lapeyrouse.

Jean de La Rochelle, John of Rupella, and Johannes de Rupella (c. 1200-1245), was a French Franciscan and theologian. Born in La Rochelle, a seaport on the Bay of Biscay, France, he was a pupil of Alexander of Hales and was the first Franciscan to receive a bachelor's degree of theology from the University of Paris.

An important branch of this family moved to Maine and provided many of the migrants to North America. Notable amongst this family was Alexis-Marie Rochon, an astronomer, explorer, and member of the Academy of Sciences in 1771, who died in 1817, of note was his "Voyage à Madasgar". Chavannes de Rochon, dramatic author in 1730 to 1800, who wrote the opera "Les Pretendus" in 1789.

Early History of the Rocher family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Rocher research. The years 1730, 1771, 1789, 1800, and 1817 are included under the topic Early Rocher History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Rocher Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Rochon, Le Rochon, Du Rochon, Lerochon, Durochon and many more.

Early Notables of the Rocher family

More information is included under the topic Early Rocher Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Rocher Ranking

In France, the name Rocher is the 436th most popular surname with an estimated 9,905 people with that name. 1


United States Rocher migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Rocher Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Rene Du Rocher, aged 16, who landed in Louisiana in 1719 2
Rocher Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Michael Rocher, aged 42, who arrived in Maryland in 1813 2
  • Samuel Rocher, who arrived in Kentucky in 1881 2
  • Gottf Rocher, aged 22, who settled in America, in 1892
Rocher Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Elise Rocher, aged 26, who settled in America from Paris, in 1903
  • Amelia Rocher, aged 26, who landed in America from Dept du Cher, France, in 1908
  • Florimond Rocher, aged 27, who immigrated to the United States from Anboue, France, in 1908
  • Ida Rocher, aged 23, who immigrated to the United States from Paris, France, in 1910
  • Irene Rocher, aged 1, who landed in America from Paris, France, in 1910
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Rocher (post 1700) +

  • Pierre Rocher (1776-1856), French-born, South African veterinarian and farmer, eponym of the Rocherpan Nature Reserve, Western Cape Province, South Africa
  • Yves Rocher (1930-2009), French businessman, founder of the cosmetics company that bears his name
  • Thorsten Röcher (b. 1991), Austrian footballer
  • Guy Rocher CC , CQ (b. 1924), Canadian academic and sociologist
  • Allan Rocher (b. 1936), Australian politician


  1. http://www.journaldesfemmes.com/nom-de-famille/nom/
  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)


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