Roche Family Crest and Surname Origin
A short guide to the Roche surname: its meaning, its roots in France, and its heraldry.
Order your pack and our heraldry team researches and paints the Roche coat of arms for you.
Origin of the Roche name
Roche is a topographic name for someone who lived by a rock or crag, from Old French roche, or a habitational name from one of many places called La Roche. It is common throughout France, especially in the south and centre. Norman families named de la Roche also took the name to England and Ireland, where it is common in Cork and Wexford.
Our historical archives hold much more on the Roche name: dates, names and records of early bearers.
This overview covers the Roche name in France. We also hold records of the name in other countries, such as Ireland, Canada and Switzerland; your full pack is researched for your family's country of origin.
Get your full Roche family history
The researched Roche pack traces meaning, early bearers and migration routes, and includes a personalized Roche coat of arms.
Roche name FAQ
What does the Roche name mean?
Rock, crag. Common variants include Laroche, Roches, Rocher.
Where does the Roche surname come from?
It originates in France, and is also found in Ireland, Canada and Switzerland.
Is there a Roche coat of arms?
Arms were granted to individuals, not whole surnames, so there is no single Roche crest. Herald Lab paints a personalized Roche coat of arms based on historic heraldry.
Researched by Herald Lab Research Studio, since 1993. Sources: Albert Dauzat & Marie-Thérèse Morlet, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille et prénoms de France; MacLysaght, The Surnames of Ireland; Dictionary of American Family Names (Oxford).