NameCensus.

UK surname

Royall

A surname derived from the word "royal", suggesting an ancestral connection to royalty or nobility.

In the 1881 census there were 190 people recorded with the Royall surname, ranking it #13,270 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 514, ranked #9,806, up from #13,270 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff and Burton-on-Trent. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Newcastle-under-Lyme, South Norfolk and South Oxfordshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Royall is 514 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 170.5%.

1881 census count

190

Ranked #13,270

Modern count

514

2016, ranked #9,806

Peak year

2016

514 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Royall had 190 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #13,270 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 514 in 2016, ranked #9,806.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 489 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Royall surname distribution map

The map shows where the Royall surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Royall surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Royall over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 198 #10,483
1861 historical 165 #14,112
1881 historical 190 #13,270
1891 historical 318 #10,583
1901 historical 363 #10,145
1911 historical 489 #7,959
1997 modern 467 #9,788
1998 modern 512 #9,414
1999 modern 502 #9,634
2000 modern 494 #9,717
2001 modern 486 #9,674
2002 modern 505 #9,563
2003 modern 497 #9,526
2004 modern 505 #9,453
2005 modern 484 #9,659
2006 modern 467 #9,969
2007 modern 469 #10,028
2008 modern 462 #10,223
2009 modern 483 #10,114
2010 modern 491 #10,192
2011 modern 494 #10,042
2012 modern 491 #10,013
2013 modern 502 #9,993
2014 modern 506 #9,991
2015 modern 503 #9,956
2016 modern 514 #9,806

Geography

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Where Royalls are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Burton-on-Trent, London parishes and St Paul Deptford, St Nicholas Deptford. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Newcastle-under-Lyme, South Norfolk and South Oxfordshire. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos) Glamorganshire
2 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
3 Burton-on-Trent Staffordshire
4 London parishes London 3
5 St Paul Deptford, St Nicholas Deptford London (South Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Newcastle-under-Lyme 005 Newcastle-under-Lyme
2 South Norfolk 005 South Norfolk
3 South Norfolk 007 South Norfolk
4 Newcastle-under-Lyme 010 Newcastle-under-Lyme
5 South Oxfordshire 006 South Oxfordshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Royall

These lists show first names that appear often with the Royall surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Royall

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Royall, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Royall surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Royall household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Royall is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Royall is most concentrated in decile 4 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Royall falls in decile 9 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Royall is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Royall, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Royall

The surname Royall originated in England and can be traced back to the 12th century. It is derived from the Old French word "roial" or "royal," meaning "regal" or "of royal descent." The name likely emerged as a nickname or descriptive surname for someone who had a noble or distinguished bearing or appearance.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Royall appears in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire in 1191, where a Roger Royall is mentioned. The name also appears in various medieval records, such as the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire in 1273, where a John Ryal is listed.

In the 14th century, the surname Royall was found in various parts of England, including Kent, Essex, and Oxfordshire. Variations in spelling were common during this time, with the name appearing as Royall, Roiall, Ryall, and Riall.

Notable individuals with the surname Royall include John Royall (c. 1598-1671), an English merchant and colonist who settled in Virginia and established a plantation in what is now Henrico County. Another prominent figure was Isaac Royall Jr. (1719-1781), a wealthy merchant and slave trader from Massachusetts who loyally supported the British during the American Revolution.

Other historical figures bearing the Royall surname include William Royall (1594-1675), an English lawyer and Member of Parliament during the English Civil War, and John Royall (1768-1820), a British naval officer who served during the Napoleonic Wars and rose to the rank of Vice Admiral.

The Royall name is also associated with several place names in England, such as Royall Hill in Kent and Royall Court in Essex, likely derived from or named after individuals with the surname.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Royall families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Royall surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Middlesex leads with 31 Royalls recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.67x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 31 1.67x
Worcestershire 30 12.40x
Norfolk 25 8.77x
Staffordshire 25 4.00x
Kent 19 3.00x
Essex 10 2.73x
Gloucestershire 10 2.75x
Cambridgeshire 8 6.81x
Glamorgan 8 2.48x
Somerset 6 2.01x
Warwickshire 5 1.07x
Hampshire 4 1.05x
Derbyshire 3 1.03x
Suffolk 2 0.89x
Yorkshire 2 0.11x
Herefordshire 1 1.32x
Oxfordshire 1 0.87x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Wolstanton Knutton in Staffordshire leads with 13 Royalls recorded in 1881 and an index of 340.31x.

Place Total Index
Wolstanton Knutton 13 340.31x
Deptford St Paul 11 22.55x
Mile End Old Town 11 37.61x
West Ham 8 9.90x
Clifton 7 38.08x
Dudley 7 23.79x
Astley 6 1176.47x
Bedminster 6 21.41x
Horninglow 6 203.39x
Lindridge 6 983.61x
Llysworney 6 6000.00x
Northrepps 6 1666.67x
Whistones 6 342.86x
Birmingham 5 3.21x
Burton Upon Trent 5 34.15x
St Andrewthe Less 5 37.29x
Chelsea London 4 7.16x
Islington London 4 2.23x
Morton On Hill 4 4444.44x
St George Martyr 4 128.21x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 3 8.77x
Carbrooke 3 769.23x
Deptford St Nicholas 3 59.76x
Hampstead London 3 10.40x
Maidstone 3 15.92x
Norwich St Julian 3 250.00x
Pilsley In Chesterfield 3 857.14x
St Andrewthe Great 3 197.37x
Canterbury St Paul 2 176.99x
Colchester St Giles 2 55.40x
Felbrigg 2 2222.22x
Halesworth 2 125.00x
Heigham 2 13.08x
Holy Trinity 2 4.53x
Hoveton St John 2 1052.63x
Norwich St James 2 89.29x
Portsea 2 2.69x
St Marylebone London 2 2.02x
Swansea Town 2 7.56x
Worcester St Clement 2 129.87x
Worcester St Martin 2 61.16x
Great Yarmouth 1 4.24x
Hackney London 1 0.96x
Heston 1 16.26x
Limehouse London 1 4.91x
Martin Hussingtree 1 909.09x
Millbrook 1 10.45x
Newport 1 48.54x
Rotherfield Greys 1 82.64x
Stoke Upon Trent 1 1.51x
Tedstone Delamere 1 625.00x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Royall surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Mary 15
Alice 9
Elizabeth 9
Sarah 7
Annie 5
Jane 5
Ann 3
Eliza 3
Emily 3
Edith 2
Ellen 2
Emma 2
Fanny 2
Harriett 2
Maria 2
Martha 2
Ada 1
Amy 1
Anne 1
Betsy 1
Blanche 1
Charlotte 1
Elizth. 1
Eunice 1
Eva 1
Florence 1
Gertrude 1
Hannah 1
Harriet 1
Honora 1
Lilian 1
Louisa 1
Margaret 1
Mildred 1
Minnie 1
Patience 1
Rosehannah 1
Selina 1
Stella 1
Susan 1
Susanna 1
Susannah 1
Teresa 1

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Royall surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
John 14
Joseph 9
Thomas 9
William 9
Henry 5
Charles 4
Edward 4
George 4
Robert 4
James 3
Albert 2
Alfred 2
Frederick 2
Richard 2
Abraham 1
Arthur 1
Benjiman 1
Ch. 1
Christopher 1
David 1
Edwin 1
Francis 1
Fredrick 1
Henery 1
Isaac 1
Josepth 1
Nicholas 1
R.H. 1
Samuel 1
T.Smith 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Royall surname: questions and answers

How common was the Royall surname in 1881?

In 1881, 190 people were recorded with the Royall surname. That placed it at #13,270 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Royall surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 514 in 2016. That gives Royall a modern rank of #9,806.

What does the Royall surname mean?

A surname derived from the word "royal", suggesting an ancestral connection to royalty or nobility.

What does the Royall map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Royall bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.