English
Rochelle
Rochelle comes from Old French rochelle ‘diminutive of roche (“rock”)’, and goes back to Early Medieval Latin rocca.
- Early Medieval Latinmodernroccaearlier origin unknown
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400roche‘rock’
- Old French, derivedc. 842–1400rochelle‘diminutive of roche (“rock”)’diminutive form of roche
- Englishearliest quotation 1971Rochelle
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Early Medieval Latinmodernroccaearlier origin unknown
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400roche‘rock’
- Old French, derivedc. 842–1400rochelle‘diminutive of roche (“rock”)’diminutive form of roche
- Englishearliest quotation 1971Rochelle
Earliest quotation: 1971, E. L. Doctorow, The Book of Daniel: “She was a modern woman. "Rochelle!" I hear my…”
The story
Habitational or topographic name from places in France, La Rochelle, from Old French rochelle diminutive form of roche (‘rock’).
Every English word from Early Medieval Latin rocca
Today it means
name A surname from Old French.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Early Medieval Latin rocca / Rochelle