User-submitted Reference

This topographical type surname does not have a defined origin, but according to old records ( documents, coat of arms, and mentions) all of them founded on Europe, as they point of portuguese origin on 11th century, Italy in a noble family, Spain by mentions and records, or in France as a history.

The surname could be a interpretation of a heroic, brave, solid and loyal title or simply and most probably a reference to someone who lives in mountains, next to rocks.

In the portuguese origin, we have a man named as Arnaldo da Rocha, in 1126. He lived next to a temple of D. Galdin Paes.

The french record are a mention in a book, that describes the surname of someone "de Roche" or "de Rochela" and also means Rocha. This dates from the XIV century and have more people with this same name.

On Spain the surname dated in XII century appears are " Rojas", that also means Rocha.

The Italy noble and much rich family, lived in a cataglian castle being conceilors and military people. In 1360 they began to be financiers, buyers, and sellers of real estate.

The common coat of arms of this family is a shield, sectioned in four quadrants, and decored by simple red feathers with a medieval solid helmet, this coat are a descriptive image of power, endurance, strength, militarism, nobility, and the personality of those who had that name first of all.

In Brazil, a nation where are the majority of the Rocha, the surname comes from the Portuguese who came to live here.

In general lines, the family are associated to strong people, or living near rocks, with various appearances in different countries.