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![Show Contents]() Rockewel History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
- Origins Available:
 England
Rockewel is a name that first reached England following the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Rockewel family lived in either of two locations, one in Buckinghamshire, and one in Somerset. The places were originally called Rockholt, from the elements hroc, meaning rock, and holt meaning wood. However, another source claims the name was derived from a "dweller at, or near, the stony spring or stream." 1 Early Origins of the Rockewel familyThe surname Rockewel was first found in either Buckinghamshire or Somerset where this surname was originally a habitation surname. 2 Today, Rockwell Green is a village near Wellington, in the Taunton Deane district of Somerset and Rockwell End is a hamlet in Buckinghamshire which has been used as a film location for two of the Midsomer Murders series. Early History of the Rockewel familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Rockewel research. Another 100 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1300 and 1324 are included under the topic Early Rockewel History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Rockewel Spelling VariationsThe English language only became standardized in the last few centuries. For that reason, spelling variations are common among many Anglo-Norman names. The shape of the English language was frequently changed with the introduction of elements of Norman French, Latin, and other European languages; even the spelling of literate people's names were subsequently modified. Rockewel has been recorded under many different variations, including Rockwell, Rokelle, Rockewell, Rokele, Rokewell and others. Early Notables of the Rockewel familyMore information is included under the topic Early Rockewel Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Migration of the Rockewel familyTo escape the uncertainty of the political and religious uncertainty found in England, many English families boarded ships at great expense to sail for the colonies held by Britain. The passages were expensive, though, and the boats were unsafe, overcrowded, and ridden with disease. Those who were hardy and lucky enough to make the passage intact were rewarded with land, opportunity, and social environment less prone to religious and political persecution. Many of these families went on to be important contributors to the young nations of Canada and the United States where they settled. Rockewels were some of the first of the immigrants to arrive in North America: William, Susannah, Ruth and John Rockwell settled in Nantasket in 1630; Thomas Rockwell settled in Virginia in 1637 along with Mary; Edward Rockwell arrived in San Francisco in 1850.
- Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
- Hanks, Patricia and Flavia Hodges, A Dictionary of Surnames. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1988. Print. (ISBN 0-19-211592-8)
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