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Irish surname

Roche: Irish Surname History & Coat of Arms

de Róiste · Norman 'de la Roche', Latin 'de Rupe', i.e. 'of the rock', from residence beside some prominent rock

Roche is an old Norman surname, not a Gaelic one: Woulfe (1923) gives the Irish form de Róiste, from Norman 'de la Roche', 'of the rock'. Families of the name settled in different parts of Ireland, the best known in Cork, Limerick and Wexford. In 1890, 183 Roche births (including spelling varieties) were registered in Ireland, chiefly in Cork and Wexford.

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Coat of arms associated with the Roche surname
Irish formde Róiste
MeaningNorman 'de la Roche', Latin 'de Rupe', i.e. 'of the rock', from residence beside some prominent rock
CountiesCork, Wexford, Limerick, Dublin
Other spellings2

Origin of the Roche name

An old Norman surname (Norman 'de la Roche', Latin 'de Rupe'). Families settled in different parts of Ireland. Best known: the Roches of Cork, who obtained by marriage the district about Fermoy called Críoch Róisteach, or Roche's Country, headed by Viscount Fermoy; a wealthy merchant family in Limerick; and Roche of Rochesland in Wexford.[1]

  1. 1598Roche of Rochesland one of the principal gentlemen of Wexford.[1]
  2. 1651Alderman Jordan Roche and Edmund Roche exempted from pardon by Ireton at Limerick.[1]
  3. 1689Colonel James Roche carries a despatch to besieged Londonderry, June.[5]
  4. 1782Boyle Roche created a baronet.[8]
  5. 1890183 births registered in Ireland, chiefly Cork, Wexford, Dublin, Limerick, Mayo.[3]

Where in Ireland

Co. CorkRoche's Country about Fermoy, headed by Viscount Fermoy; first county named for 1890 births.[1][3]
Co. WexfordRoche of Rochesland, a principal gentleman of Wexford in 1598; 31 Roche entries in 1890.[1][4][3]
Co. Limerick'A wealthy and respectable merchant family' (Woulfe); named by Matheson for 1890 births.[1][3]
Co. DublinNamed by Matheson for 1890 births.[3]
Co. MayoNamed by Matheson for 1890 births.[3]

Notable people named Roche

Colonel James Roche, "The Swimmer"served 1689Of the family of the Lords of Roche and Fermoy; swam to besieged Londonderry with a despatch in 1689.[5]
Sir Boyle Roched. 1807Member of the Irish House of Commons, created a baronet in 1782; many comic 'bulls' are attributed to him.[8]
Regina Maria Roche1765–1845Novelist, author of The Children of the Abbey; spent her last years in Waterford.[7]
James Roche1771–1853Born in Limerick; Cork banker and writer, styled the 'Roscoe of Cork'.[6]

Other spellings

Roache · Rostig[1][2]

The Roche coat of arms

The design shown is a coat of arms associated with the Roche surname. In Irish and British heraldry a coat of arms is granted to one person and passes to their heirs; it does not belong to everyone who shares the surname. Many families still use the arms of their name as a symbol of their heritage.

Roche crest gifts

Clan Roche Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest St Patrick's Day Classic CapXP47 Classic Cap - Roche Coat Of Arms St Patrick's Day Classic Cap Irish Cap Roche Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest St Patrick's Day Classic Cap$42.45

Roche surname: questions

Is Roche an Irish or a Norman name?

Norman. Woulfe calls it 'an old Norman surname', from Norman 'de la Roche'. Its Irish-language form is de Róiste.[1]

What does the surname Roche mean?

Woulfe gives Norman 'de la Roche', Latin 'de Rupe', i.e. 'of the rock', from residence beside some prominent rock.[1]

Where in Ireland is Roche from?

Woulfe says the best known Roche families were those of Cork, Limerick and Wexford. In 1890 the name was found chiefly in Cork, Wexford, Dublin, Limerick and Mayo.[1][3]

What was Roche's Country?

Woulfe says the Roches of Cork obtained by marriage the district about Fermoy known as Críoch Róisteach, or Roche's Country; the head of this family was Viscount Fermoy.[1]

Sources

  1. De Róiste — Irish Names and Surnames (Rev. Patrick Woulfe, 1923), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/names/d/de-roiste.php
  2. Róisteach — Irish Names and Surnames (Rev. Patrick Woulfe, 1923), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/names/r/roisteach.php
  3. Roche — Birth Indexes of 1890 — Special Report on Surnames in Ireland (Robert E. Matheson, 1909), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/matheson/report/births/roche.php
  4. Registration Province of Leinster (leading surnames by county, Births Index 1890) — Special Report on Surnames in Ireland (Robert E. Matheson, 1909), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/matheson/report/leinster-names.php
  5. Colonel James Roche — A Compendium of Irish Biography (Alfred Webb, 1878), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/biography/ColonelJamesRoche.php
  6. James Roche — A Compendium of Irish Biography (Alfred Webb, 1878), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/biography/JamesRoche.php
  7. Regina Maria Roche — A Compendium of Irish Biography (Alfred Webb, 1878), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/biography/MariaReginaRoche.php
  8. Sir Boyle Roche — A Compendium of Irish Biography (Alfred Webb, 1878), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/biography/SirBoyleRoche.php

Note: Matheson's 1890 figures for a surname include its spelling varieties (Matheson, Table Explanation).