Surname Rocha - Meaning and Origin

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F. Rocha

Rocha: What does the surname Rocha mean?

The surname Rocha is of Portuguese origin and it translates to "rock" or "boulder" in English. This name was often given to individuals who lived near a notable rock formation or terrain, symbolizing strength and stability. It is a topographic surname, a type of Habitational name that was given to someone who lived in or near a noteworthy physical geographic feature. It is also possible that it may have been a metonymic occupational name given to someone who worked with stone, perhaps a mason or a stonecutter. The name Rocha is quite widespread in regions with Portuguese influence, notable in Portugal, Brazil, and other parts of the world with significant Portuguese diaspora.

Rocha: Where does the name Rocha come from?

The surname Rocha originally derives from the Portuguese and Galician word "rocha," which means "rock" or "boulder". It is considered a toponymic surname, referring to someone who lived near a prominent rock or hill. It evolved as a familial identifier during the Middle Ages in Portugal.

Today, Rocha is common primarily in Portugal and Brazil due to Portuguese immigration. Besides these countries, it is also found among people of Portuguese descent in various regions worldwide such as the United States, Canada, and other countries in South America. It is reported to be the 19th most common surname in Portugal and 21st in Brazil. Within these regions, the prevalence of the name can vary, depending on the influence and migration patterns of the Portuguese. So, while it is common, the frequency of the name Rocha can greatly differ from one area to another. Though it originated in Portugal, the spread of the Rocha surname is a worldwide phenomenon, reflecting the global influence of Portuguese exploration, colonization, and immigration.

Variations of the surname Rocha

The surname Rocha originates from Spain and Portugal and numerous variants of the name exist due to regional dialects and phonetic spellings. Variants include Roca, Roch, Roche, Rochas, Rocas, Rojas, Rojo, Rojas and Rocca. The variant Roche is typical in France while in Italy, it is Rocca. The variant Rojas or Rojo can be found in Spanish-speaking countries.

For many people, it transformed into a more phonetic spelling later on, depending on what language or nationality they identified with. In some cultures, the name might have been changed to a translation of the word 'rock', such as Petit-Rocher (French) or Smallrock (English).

The surname has variants with additional endings including Rochal, Rochale, Rochales, Rochi, Rochea and Rocks.

Other variants include Rochat, Rochet, Rochon, Rochin, Rocht, Roacht, Ruch, Ruche, Rucha, Ruchay, Ruchy, Rocho, Orozco or delarocha (de la rocha). Many of these are augmented with prefixes like 'de', 'del' or 'dela', meaning 'of the'. These forms would indicate a geographic location, as in, 'of the rock'. In some cases, the surname can also be hyphenated with another surname.

The surname Rocha remains quite popular especially within Portuguese and Spanish-speaking countries.

Famous people with the name Rocha

• Coco Rocha: Canadian model known for her work in the fashion industry.
• John Rocha: Hong Kong born fashion designer based in Ireland.
• Simone Rocha: An Irish fashion designer and daughter of John Rocha.
• Kelly-Rae Keith (nee Rocha): Canadian former professional ice hockey defender.
• Anselmo Ralph: Born Anselmo Cordeiro da Mata, but known as Anselmo Ralph, is an Angolan singer and record producer.
• Mikey Rocha: Brazilian male painter.
• Nuno Rocha: Cape Verdean professional footballer.
• Joana Rocha: Portuguese professional canoeist.
• Mary Ellen Rocha: Model and former girlfriend of Grammy-winning country artist Randy Travis.
• Gregorio Rocha: An American documentary filmmaker.
• Paulo Rocha: Portuguese film director and writer.
• Raquel De Rocha: Miss World Brazil 2011.
• Sonny Rocha: Filipino actor from the 1970s.
• Zyra Rocha: Canadian-based actress.
• Sophia Abrahão: Full name Sophia Sampaio Abrahão, is a Brazilian actress, singer and model who is married to actor Sergio Malheiros Rocha.

Other surnames

RochRochardRocheRochelRochellRochelleRochellesRochester