Surname Le Roy - Meaning and Origin

Le Roy: What does the surname Le Roy mean?

The surname Le Roy is of French origin and literally translates to 'The King' in English. This surname was often bestowed as a nickname to people who carried themselves with a kingly aura or had played the role of a king in a medieval pageant. It may also be an occupational name for someone in the service of a king. It doesn't imply royal lineage or aristocracy per se, but more of an association with king-like qualities or service. Over time, it has transformed into various forms such as Leroy, Leroi, L'Roy, among others, due to its spread in different regions. Like many other surnames, its origins can be traced back to the medieval times in France, and it has since spread to various parts of the globe due to migration.

Le Roy: Where does the name Le Roy come from?

The last name Le Roy is quite common in France, especially in the northern French region of Picardy where there are still numerous families that trace their origins back to this ancient family name. It is also common in the Netherlands, particularly in the province of Zeeland. Outside of traditional French and Dutch regions, Le Roy is also common in former French colonies around the world, like in Canada, Haiti, and the United States.

In the United States, Le Roy is most common in New York and Louisiana as a result of French settlers in the area. In the mid-1700s, a Le Roy from Picardy, Francois Le Roy, arrived in the Louisiana area with the French army from France and many of his descendants stayed there. In total, the last name Le Roy can be found in many large U.S. metropolises, like New York City, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Miami, as well as in smaller cities and towns throughout Louisiana, California, and Texas.

In the 20th century, migration patterns have sent Le Roys all around the world, with concentrated populations in London, Paris, Amsterdam, Brussels, Madrid, Caracas, and Toronto. Today, Le Roy can be found in almost every corner of the globe, a testament to the perseverance of this ancient family name.

Variations of the surname Le Roy

The surname Le Roy is commonly encountered in French-speaking regions, with various spellings, variants, and alternate surnames ranging from the singular to the plural form.

The most common variants of the name Le Roy include L'Roy, De Roy, Du Roy, La Roy, Roy, and LeRoy. Other variants include L Roy, D Roy, D'Roy, Le Roi, Le Roie, Leroi, Leroie, Rhoi, and L'Roi.

The plural forms of Le Roy include Les Roy, Le Roys, and LeRoys, while the surname Roy is also found in plural form as Rois, De Rois, and Lerois. Likewise, the surname Le Roy is also sometimes found with accent marks as Lé Roy, Lé Roi, De Lé Roy, Léroi, Léroie, and LéRois.

The surname Le Roy is also found in variations with alternate spellings, such as Lery, Lerye, Lawery, LeRue, and Leru. Other alternate spellings include Leroa, Leroay, Lerou, LeRo, Leroux, DeRoux, DeRoe, LaRue, LaRoi, and Lerae.

The surname Le Roy is also found in various regional spellings, such as Leroye in Normandy, Leroyau in Burgundy, Leroux in southern France, and Leray in Anjou. In addition, various regional surnames of the same origin have derived from this surname, such as Lerache in Poitou, and Le Rac in Auvergne.

Famous people with the name Le Roy

• Perez Le Roy: French actor
• Iván Le Roy: Bolivian footballer
• Sabine Le Roy: French Actress
• Mollie Le Roy: Novelist
• Michael Le Roy: Canadian Politician
• Gregory Le Roy: French Actor
• Edmond Le Roy: French Film director
• Marc-Antoine Le Roy: French Painter
• Anne Le Roy: French Judge
• Louis Le Roy: French Journalist
• Henri Le Roy: French Olympic Fencer
• Silvano Le Roy: Swiss Racing Driver
• Lorraine Le Roy: American Film producer
• George Le Roy: French Poet
• Amand Le Roy: French Art Historian
• Claire Le Roy: French Runway Model
• Hugo Le Roy: French Producer
• Antoine Le Roy: French Visual Artist
• Jules Le Roy: French Philosopher
• Constant Le Roy: French Cellist and Conductor

Other surnames

Le RoiLe Roux