Surname Rockey - Meaning and Origin
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Rockey: What does the surname Rockey mean?
The surname Rockey is of English origin and is derived from a topographic name for someone who lived by a notable crag or outcrop, from Old English "rocc" (influenced by Old Norse "rokk") meaning "rock". It is also possible that in some cases it could be from a habitational name from Rocca, a place in Cambridgeshire named with this word. The surname may also be a variant of Roche, a name for someone who lived by a rock or crag, from Middle English, Old French "roche", or "rocher". The spelling variations include Rocky, Rock, Rocke, among others. Hence, this surname essentially represents a connection to a geographical feature, highlighting the association of the family's ancestors with a region distinguished by rocks. It implies the ancient trend of adopting surnames based on local landmarks or geographical features.
Order DNA origin analysisRockey: Where does the name Rockey come from?
The last name Rockey is not especially common today; however, it is widely distributed around the United States and beyond. In the US, the most common locations for people with the Rockey surname are Pennsylvania, Ohio, and West Virginia.
Outside the US, Rockey is most common in Canada, typically in the provinces of Ontario and Quebec. The surname is also present in other countries around the globe, including regions of Europe, the Middle East, South America, and Africa.
It is believed that the Rockey surname is of English origin, derived from a family who lived in the town of Rocca or Roche, located southwest of Oxford. It is also possible that the surname originated as a nickname for someone who resembled a rock or lived near a prominent rock formation.
For generations, many members of the Rockey family have been devoted to the commercial and maritime trades, including seafaring and fishing. Throughout their history, members of the Rockey family have held remarkable positions in the business world such as ship owners, merchants, and fishers.
Today, the Rockey family remains a well-respected surname in many parts of the world and continues to be proud of its unique history.
Variations of the surname Rockey
The surname Rockey has several variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin. These include Rockie, Rockey, Rockeye, Rockye, Rockiee, Rockeye, Rockae, Rockay, Rocgames, Rocky, Rocko, Rockees, Rocquit and Rockham.
The most common form is Rockie, a spelling variant of the surname Rockey. This variant originates from the Old German word "rocke", meaning rocky or craggy hill. The surname is found in Ireland, the United States, England, Scotland and Germany. It was used as a nickname to identify someone who lived near a rocky hill or cliff.
The variants Rockie, Rocky and Rocko have been found in Ireland and England, while Rockham is a Scottish variant. Rockae and Rocquit are Irish spellings, while Rockees, Rockeye, Rockay and Rockye are United States variants. Rocgames is found mainly in Germany.
The spellings Rocky and Rocko are used interchangeably to refer to the same surname. The variants and spellings of Rockey are a testament to the ways in which surnames have been changed and adapted over time in different parts of the world. Nevertheless, all variants are linked to the same ancestral origin—the Old German word ‘rocke’.
Famous people with the name Rockey
- Ryan Rockey: Co-founder and CEO at Excel Gaming, a gaming organizatione focusing on creating competitive and non-competitive teams.
- Nahla Rockey: a former champion gymnast, who has competed internationally and won numerous awards including gold medals.
- Rachel Rockey: a professional dancer and choreographer who’s been featured in an array of productions and television shows.
- John Francis Rockey: the founder of the Rockey Printing Company, a successful printing services firm in Colorado.
- Eric Rockey: a professional tennis player and Wimbledon champion.
- Greg Rockey: a multi-award-winning producer and composer known for his work on the “Lord of the Rings” film trilogy.
- Stuart Rockey: a renowned wildlife photographer and filmmaker.
- Amanda Rockey: an award-winning American classical violinist and string musician.
- Blake Rockey: an American singer-songwriter and lead vocalist for a rock band.
- Kimberly Rockey: a successful contemporary artist featured in many art galleries and exhibitions around the world.