Surname Roys - Meaning and Origin
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Roys: What does the surname Roys mean?
The surname Roys is of Norman origin, introduced into England after the Norman Conquest of 1066. It is derived from the old Norman personal name "Roi," which means "king". It was often bestowed as a nickname for a person who behaved in a regal manner or one who had played the role of a King in a medieval play. It represents someone who is regal, powerful, and noble. In some instances, it may have been a habitational name derived from Roi, a place in Normandy. Thus the last name Roys essentially denotes 'son of Roy,' or 'descendant of the king.' Over time, various spelling variations of this surname have evolved, including Roy, Le Roy, Leroy, among others. Even though similar surnames can be found in other European countries, their meanings can differ based on local languages and traditions.
Order DNA origin analysisRoys: Where does the name Roys come from?
The surname Roys is of French origin. It is believed to have first appeared in the region now known as Normandy in Northern France. It is most commonly found in the United States, Canada, France, the United Kingdom, India, and Australia.
In the United States, the Roys surname is most prominently found in Louisiana, California, and New York. In France, it is concentrated in the country's northern and eastern regions. In India, it is found mainly in the state of Uttar Pradesh. The United Kingdom's Roys surname is distributed fairly evenly across the country.
In Canada, the Roys surname is found primarily in Quebec, Alberta, and British Columbia. Similarly, in Australia, it is most often seen in the states of New South Wales, Victoria, and Queensland.
The Roys surname is a variant of Roy, which is derived from the French word 'roi,' meaning king. The surname may have also originated from various places in Normandy that had similar sounding names to Roy.
Given its French origin and prevalence in countries colonized by France, the Roys surname has no doubt spread widely across the world. While it is most common in the countries and regions mentioned above, it is likely that Roys families could be found in many other parts of the world, too.
Variations of the surname Roys
The surname Roys is derived from the Old French name Roy. It is thought to have been originally a baptismal name meaning "son of Roy". Variations of the surname include Royce, Roycee, Roye, Royes, Roi, Royse, and Roysse.
The surname Roy can be traced back to the French kingdom of Charlemagne, where it was used as a hereditary surname. It has a significant medieval history associated with the Norman Conquest. Variants of the surname Roy spread throughout Europe and eventually to America and other parts of the world.
The name Roy may have been derived from the Old French name Reis, which means "ruler". Other possible origins of the name Roy include Middle English roi ("king"), Old French rois ("king") and Old French roy ("kingly").
The variant spellings of Roy also include Roi, Royse, Royce, Roycee, Roye, and Roysse. The name can also be seen in other forms such as Royce, Royston, and Royster.
The surname Roys is quite unusual and can be found within families who originate from the French-speaking regions of the world. The surname is also found within the Celtic population of Britain and Ireland.
Overall, the surname Roy is believed to be derived from the Old French name Roy and its variants. It has a significant medieval history and is associated with Norman rule. Variants of the surname exists including Royce, Roycee, Roye, Royes, Roi, Royse, and Roysse.
Famous people with the name Roys
- David Roys: Former Vice President of ESPN and the National Hockey League (NHL)
- Sam Roys: Former Rugby Union player for the All Blacks
- Julian Roys: British Actor
- Johnny Roys: Popular television host of the 1960s and '70s
- Leon Roys: Founding Director of the University of London's Institute of Commonwealth Studies
- Kyle Roys: Professional hockey player for the Minnesota Wild
- Max Roys: German historian and collector of Italian humanism literature
- Lisa Roys: American film and television actress
- Terry Roys: London-based fashioner photographer and image-maker
- Monish Roys: Indian business executive, Former MD and CEO of Hindustan Unilever