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The irish surname Roche is of French origin but has long and distinguished associations with Ireland. It is local in origin, derived from the place where the original bearer once lived or held land. In this case, Roche is of Norman extraction, coming from the term "de la roche" (of the rock), indicating that the original bearer resided near a rock.
This surename came to Ireland during the Norman invasion in the twelfth century and became associated with Wexford and Munster but can now be found all over Ireland. The place name Rochestown occures six times in County Wexford, twice each in Counties Cork and Kilkenny and once in Counties Tipperary, Kildare, Meath, Westmeath and Dublin, giving some indication of the influence of the Roches in Ireland.
They are particularily associated with Co. Cork, as a powerful familyof Roches resided in the Fermoy locality, where a large areawas known as "Roche s Country".
Roche s street in Limerick honours the association of the family with that city while they are commemorated in Dublin by Rocheshill.
Historical Roches
Historical figures bearing this name include Father Philip Roche of Co. Wexford, hanged for his part in the rebellion of 1798, in which one Edward Roche also participated.
Several bearers of this name were noted literary figures, including James Jeffry Roche (1847-1908), the poet, who went to the United States and became the American minister to Switzerland.