Roche is a surname of French origin, derived from the word “roche” meaning rock or stone. It was likely used to describe someone who lived near a prominent rock formation or worked with stone. The name can be found throughout the world, particularly in French-speaking regions. Notable Roche’s include French chemist and microbiologist Louis Pasteur’s wife Marie Pasteur, and Irish cyclist Stephen Roche, who won the Tour de France in 1987.