NameCensus.

UK surname

Roye

A locational surname derived from various places in France named Roye.

In the 1881 census there were 36 people recorded with the Roye surname, ranking it #28,559 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 286, ranked #15,240, up from #28,559 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Toxteth Park and Llanidloes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Oldham, Lewisham and Ealing.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Roye is 290 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 694.4%.

1881 census count

36

Ranked #28,559

Modern count

286

2016, ranked #15,240

Peak year

2010

290 bearers

Map years

4

1891 to 2016

Key insights

  • Roye had 36 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #28,559 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 286 in 2016, ranked #15,240.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 140 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Roye surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Roye surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Roye 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 47 #24,810
1861 historical 87 #22,681
1881 historical 36 #28,559
1891 historical 140 #19,193
1901 historical 49 #28,696
1911 historical 72 #25,642
1997 modern 197 #17,792
1998 modern 212 #17,479
1999 modern 208 #17,808
2000 modern 219 #17,195
2001 modern 217 #17,059
2002 modern 230 #16,730
2003 modern 232 #16,447
2004 modern 243 #16,004
2005 modern 252 #15,551
2006 modern 241 #16,139
2007 modern 268 #15,172
2008 modern 280 #14,823
2009 modern 275 #15,349
2010 modern 290 #15,096
2011 modern 276 #15,471
2012 modern 266 #15,828
2013 modern 276 #15,683
2014 modern 277 #15,734
2015 modern 283 #15,380
2016 modern 286 #15,240

Geography

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Where Royes are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Toxteth Park, Llanidloes, Finchley and Lyminge, Stelling Minnis. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Oldham, Lewisham and Ealing. 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 London parishes London 3
2 Toxteth Park Lancashire
3 Llanidloes Montgomeryshire
4 Finchley Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts)
5 Lyminge, Stelling Minnis Kent

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Oldham 014 Oldham
2 Lewisham 017 Lewisham
3 Ealing 011 Ealing
4 Lewisham 014 Lewisham
5 Lewisham 018 Lewisham

Forenames

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First names often paired with Roye

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Roye

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Roye, 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

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations

Nationally, the Roye surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Roye 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 is often found in less central parts of London and other major towns and cities. Adults are more likely than the Supergroup average to have never been married and are typically aged less than 45 years. Many have young dependent children and individuals may have been born in Africa. There are many members identifying with a Black ethnic group, with the other ethnic groups (as listed in the glossary) also represented, though Chinese less so. Accommodation in flats, frequently socially rented, is common in these neighbourhoods. Part time employment is also common, and work is often in elementary occupations, while unemployment is also the highest within this Supergroup.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Roye 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

Roye is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

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

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Roye falls in decile 3 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

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

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Roye is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
Other Ethnic Group

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

Meaning and origin of Roye

The surname ROYE originated in France and can be traced back to the Middle Ages. It is believed to have derived from the Old French word "roi," meaning "king," suggesting that the original bearers of this name may have had some connection to royalty or held a position of authority.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name ROYE appears in the Domesday Book, a monumental survey of England completed in 1086 under the orders of William the Conqueror. Several entries mention individuals with the surname ROYE, indicating their presence in England during the Norman conquest.

The name ROYE was also closely associated with the town of Roye in the Picardy region of northern France. Many bearers of this surname likely originated from or had ties to this area. The town's name itself is derived from the Latin word "rega," meaning "canal" or "waterway," reflecting its location along a significant waterway.

One notable individual bearing the surname ROYE was John Roye, a 16th-century Protestant reformer and author born around 1495. He played a significant role in the early stages of the English Reformation and published several influential works, including a translation of the Bible into English.

Another historical figure with the surname ROYE was Jacques de Roye, a French nobleman and military commander who lived in the 14th century. He served as the Grand Master of the Knights Hospitaller, a renowned military order, and played a crucial role in the defense of the island of Rhodes against Ottoman forces in the early 1500s.

In the realm of literature, Robert Roye, an English poet who lived in the late 15th and early 16th centuries, is remembered for his satirical works critiquing the Catholic Church and the clergy of his time.

The ROYE surname also has connections to the Netherlands, where variants such as "de Roye" and "van Roye" were used. One notable figure in Dutch history was Jan de Roye, a prominent architect and engineer who lived in the 17th century and was responsible for designing and constructing several significant buildings and fortifications.

Throughout its history, the surname ROYE has been associated with individuals from various walks of life, including nobility, military leaders, religious figures, and artists, reflecting the diverse backgrounds and contributions of those who bore this name.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Roye families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Roye 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 11 Royes recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.13x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 11 3.13x
Norfolk 9 16.67x
Kent 5 4.17x
Devon 4 5.47x
Cheshire 3 3.87x
Ayrshire 1 3.81x
Lancashire 1 0.24x
Nottinghamshire 1 2.11x
Staffordshire 1 0.84x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Great Massingham in Norfolk leads with 8 Royes recorded in 1881 and an index of 7272.73x.

Place Total Index
Great Massingham 8 7272.73x
Clerkenwell London 5 60.31x
Stone In Tenterden 5 10000.00x
Birkenhead 3 48.54x
Hammersmith London 3 34.68x
Plymouth St Andrew 3 53.29x
St Marylebone London 3 16.00x
Castle Rising 1 2500.00x
Handsworth 1 34.25x
Kirkmichael 1 416.67x
Oldham 1 7.43x
Stoke Damerel 1 19.53x
West Retford 1 1000.00x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 2
Marie 2
Mary 2
Alice 1
Ann 1
Annie 1
Charlotte 1
Esther 1
Florence 1
Isabella 1
Lena 1
Louisa 1
Maria 1
Rachel 1
Rosilla 1
Sarah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
James 4
Henry 2
Thomas 2
Amos 1
Emile 1
George 1
Harry 1
Job 1
Marian 1
Mark 1
Walter 1

Top occupations

Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Roye households.

FAQ

Roye surname: questions and answers

How common was the Roye surname in 1881?

In 1881, 36 people were recorded with the Roye surname. That placed it at #28,559 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Roye surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 286 in 2016. That gives Roye a modern rank of #15,240.

What does the Roye surname mean?

A locational surname derived from various places in France named Roye.

What does the Roye map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Roye 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.