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Rochford Family History

Rochford Surname Meaning

English: variant of Ratchford. Irish: of Norman origin probably brought to Ireland by the Normans after 1171 when Henry II acquired Dublin.

However, it is not known if it was an English name (see Ratchford) or a Norman equivalent of the French name Rochefort.

English (of French Huguenot origin): variant of Rochefort.

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022


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Where is the Rochford family from?

You can see how Rochford families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Rochford family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Rochford families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 74 Rochford families living in Lancashire. This was about 23% of all the recorded Rochford's in United Kingdom. Lancashire had the highest population of Rochford families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Rochford surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
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What did your Rochford ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, General Labourer and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Rochford. 25% of Rochford men worked as a General Labourer and 86% of Rochford women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Rochford were Catholic Priest and Housewife.

View Census Data for Rochford | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

Top Male Occupations In 1939

  • General Labourer
    25%
  • Incapacitated
    18%
  • Bricklayer
    11%
  • Catholic Priest
    7%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    86%
  • Teacher
    4%
  • Cook
    3%
  • Housewife
    3%

What Rochford family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 22,000 census records available for the last name Rochford. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Rochford census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Rochford

Passenger Lists

There are 4,000 immigration records available for the last name Rochford. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the UK, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Rochford immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 3,000 military records available for the last name Rochford. For the veterans among your Rochford ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Rochford military records

You've only scratched the surface of Rochford family history

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What is the average Rochford lifespan?

Between 1942 and 2004, in the United States, Rochford life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1945, and highest in 1987. The average life expectancy for Rochford in 1942 was 38, and 78 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Rochford

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Rochford ancestors lived in harsh conditions. A short lifespan might also indicate health problems that were once prevalent in your family. The SSDI is a searchable database of more than 70 million names. You can find birthdates, death dates, addresses and more.

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