ROCK
Roche, (Mac) Carrig (Y), Carrick
Although
Rock is not an indigenous Gaelic Irish surname it can nevertheless be regarded
as exclusively Irish today, being found in England only in Irish, and more
rarely French, emigrant families. It
is French in origin- de la roche (of the rock) - and came to Ireland at the time
of the Anglo-Norman invasion in the twelfth century. Like Barry, Burke, Powers and Walsh,
which are in the same category it became one of the commonest names in Ireland,
especially in Munster and Wexford, where most of the original Rock settlers were
located. They are particularly
associated with Co. Cork on account of the pre-dominance of a powerful family of
Roch in the neighborhood of Fermoy where a large area of territory
was long known as Rock Country. The
head of this family is Baron Fermoy. Rock of Rockesland is listed as one of the principal gentleman of Co. Wexford in the sixteenth century. In the Irish language the name is de
R'oiste.
The
place name Rockstown occurs six times in Co. Wexford, twice each in Counties
Cork and Kilkenny and once each in Counties Limerick, Tipperary, Kildare, Meath,
Westmeath and Dublin; in the last name there is also a Rocheshill. Rock's Street in Limerick commemorates
the particular association of the family with the city. In the mediaeval period the name was
often written de Rupe (Latin rupes, a rock).
The
Rock (Roche) multiplied to become five different branches. David Roche who was created first
Viscount Fermoy in 1570, was an ancestor of Princess Diana of Wales. The
Eighth Viscount Roche was one of the leaders of the rebellion of 1641. His wife Lady Roche (Powers) was hanged
for trying to defend Castletown
roche.
Maurice Roche, Mayor of Cork was given a gold chain by Queen Elizabeth I
for his help in suppressing the rebel Earl of Desmound. The Roche had many good churchman
including a bishop of Ferns. The Roche's also had charters such as the ferocious
Tiger Roche, a dandy who tricked innocent heiresses out of their fortunes and
wad quick with his fists. His
brother, the politician, Boyle Roche, was notorious for his Irish Bull, a
particular one that is still quoted, “Why should we do anything for Posterity
- what has posterity ever done for us?” Liam
de Roiste an Irish scholar and a member of the Gaelic League took part in the
fight for independence and sat in Dail Eireann.
This
Clare surname , Mac Concharraigh in Irish (con, hound; carraig, rock) was first
anglicized MacEncarigy, of which many odd variants such as Mac Carrigoyne,
Karracky etc. occur in the ~Inchiquin Manuscript.
In the course of the seventeenth century the initials MacEn, and usually
also the final y, were dropped leaving the abbreviated form Carrig (sometimes Carrigy).
Carrick was used as a synonym of this.
This may also be de Carraig, referring to some notable rock, or, in the
case of the Anglo-Norman family, de Carrick in Ayrahire. Carrig is confined to counties Clare and
Limerick and MacCarrick is found in Ulster and Co. Roscommon.
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