Old Furnace, Gibraltar etc (General)

by rookancestrybest , United Kingdom, Monday, August 23, 2010, 20:59 (5211 days ago) @ m p griffiths

Could anyone explain the naming of the area as Gibraltar? Is there any connection with the naming of this place and Vice Admiral Rooke who took Gibraltar for the British in the late 1600s and who had an estate in the Forest of Dean? Though there is much about Vice Admiral Rooke on the Internet e.g. about the battles he was in and his early life I would be interested to hear if anyone knows much about him in terms of his connections with the Forest of Dean and whether any of his family remained in the area? My family is called Rook/Rooke and though I can make no direct connection (mine seem to be humble in comparison but I don't know back as far as 1600s and people's fortunes can change) there seem to be a number of interesting coincidences, e.g. possible connection with Bordeaux (where he also had an estate); possibly he or other members of his family were recusants; possible connections with the State of New York ... I've known about Vice Admiral Rooke for a while and have already Googled him and looked into what's available on him in general but there's only reference to his connections with the Forest of Dean and not the detail I would like.