The name Rockwold first arose amongst the Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. It is derived from their having lived in a wooded area with distinct rocky terrain. Rockwold is a topographic surname, which was given to a person who resided near a physical feature such as a hill, stream, church, or type of tree. Habitation names form the other broad category of surnames that were derived from place-names. They were derived from pre-existing names for towns, villages, parishes, or farmsteads. Other local names are derived from the names of houses, manors, estates, regions, and entire counties.
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Early Origins of the Rockwold family
The surname Rockwold was first found in Norfolk where they held a family seat from early times and their first records appeared on the census rolls taken by the ancient Kings of Britain to determine the rate of taxation of their subjects.
Early History of the Rockwold family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Rockwold research. Another 93 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1578, 1600, 1606, 1664 and 1696 are included under the topic Early Rockwold History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Rockwold Spelling Variations
One relatively recent invention that did much to standardize English spelling was the printing press. However, before its invention even the most literate people recorded their names according to sound rather than spelling. The spelling variations under which the name Rockwold has appeared include Rockwood, Rookwood and others.
Early Notables of the Rockwold family
Ambrose Rookwood or Rokewood (c. 1578-1606), English conspirator, the eldest son of Robert Rookwood (d. 1600), of Stanningfield, Suffolk. The family had been possessed of the manor of Stanningfield since the time of Edward I, and its members had frequently represented Suffolk in parliament; it remained staunchly Roman Catholic, and many of its members, including Ambrose's parents, suffered fines and imprisonment for their faith.
His son, Ambrose Rookwood (1664-1696), entered the army, in which he rose to be brigadier under... Another 80 words (6 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Rockwold Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
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Migration of the Rockwold family
At this time, the shores of the New World beckoned many English families that felt that the social climate in England was oppressive and lacked opportunity for change. Thousands left England at great expense in ships that were overcrowded and full of disease. A great portion of these settlers never survived the journey and even a greater number arrived sick, starving, and without a penny. The survivors, however, were often greeted with greater opportunity than they could have experienced back home. These English settlers made significant contributions to those colonies that would eventually become the United States and Canada. An examination of early immigration records and passenger ship lists revealed that people bearing the name Rockwold arrived in North America very early: Anthony Rockwood who settled in Virginia in 1635; C. Rockwood settled in New Orleans in 1823; William Rockwood settled in Trinity Bay, Newfoundland in 1772.
