NameCensus.

UK surname

Royer

A French occupational surname referring to someone who cleared land or a topographic name for someone living where oak trees had been cleared.

In the 1881 census there were 57 people recorded with the Royer surname, ranking it #25,575 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 207, ranked #19,118, up from #25,575 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to St Leonard Shoreditch, St Pancras and Stanmore, Little. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Blaby, Babergh and Rochford.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Royer is 207 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 263.2%.

1881 census count

57

Ranked #25,575

Modern count

207

2016, ranked #19,118

Peak year

2014

207 bearers

Map years

5

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Royer had 57 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #25,575 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 207 in 2016, ranked #19,118.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 168 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Young Families.

Royer surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Royer surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Royer 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 82 #19,317
1861 historical 168 #13,895
1881 historical 57 #25,575
1891 historical 121 #21,169
1901 historical 88 #24,270
1911 historical 74 #25,423
1997 modern 135 #22,499
1998 modern 151 #21,578
1999 modern 158 #21,102
2000 modern 171 #20,044
2001 modern 170 #19,838
2002 modern 180 #19,533
2003 modern 176 #19,623
2004 modern 173 #19,937
2005 modern 174 #19,783
2006 modern 182 #19,402
2007 modern 175 #20,090
2008 modern 181 #19,875
2009 modern 189 #19,727
2010 modern 197 #19,640
2011 modern 199 #19,346
2012 modern 198 #19,340
2013 modern 203 #19,327
2014 modern 207 #19,259
2015 modern 206 #19,208
2016 modern 207 #19,118

Geography

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Where Royers are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around St Leonard Shoreditch, St Pancras, Stanmore, Little, Enfield and St Matthew Bethnal Green. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Blaby, Babergh, Rochford and Newham. 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 St Leonard Shoreditch London (East Districts)
2 St Pancras London (North Districts)
3 Stanmore, Little Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts)
4 Enfield Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts)
5 St Matthew Bethnal Green London (East Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Blaby 007 Blaby
2 Babergh 007 Babergh
3 Rochford 003 Rochford
4 Newham 025 Newham
5 Newham 033 Newham

Forenames

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First names often paired with Royer

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Royer

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

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Ethnically Diverse Young Families

Nationally, the Royer surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Young Families, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Royer 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 includes many younger parents born overseas (particularly in Africa or EU countries) with children aged 0-4. Individuals identifying as of Mixed or Multiple ethnicities are also common. English may not be the primary language spoken. Accommodation consists principally of flats, and many properties are socially rented and/or overcrowded. Students are also present, unemployment is common, and other adults tend to work in low skilled jobs.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Young Asian Family Terraces

Within London, Royer is most associated with areas classed as Young Asian Family Terraces, part of Suburban Asian Communities. 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

These households with dependent children typically live in terraced housing and are of (non-Chinese) Asian extraction. Individuals with Bangladeshi origins are particularly in evidence. Employment is often in elementary occupations or as process, plant or machine operatives, and part-time work is common. Students are much in evidence.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Royer 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

Royer 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 Royer 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 - Other

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

Meaning and origin of Royer

The surname ROYER has its origins in France, where it first appeared in the late medieval period, around the 13th century. It is derived from the Old French word "royer," meaning "road maker" or "paver," suggesting that the name was initially given to those who worked in the construction or maintenance of roads.

ROYER is a variant spelling of the French surname ROUYER, which has a similar etymology and meaning. The name is thought to have originated in the Île-de-France region, particularly around Paris and its surroundings, where many road construction and maintenance activities took place during the Middle Ages.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname ROYER can be found in the Livre des métiers d'Étienne Boileau, a 13th-century document that listed the various trades and professions in Paris. This document mentions several individuals with the surname ROYER or ROUYER, indicating their occupation as road makers or pavers.

In the 14th century, the surname ROYER appeared in numerous records and documents throughout northern France, including tax rolls, census records, and parish registers. For example, Jean ROYER was mentioned in a census record from the town of Amiens in 1347.

During the Renaissance period, several notable individuals bore the surname ROYER. One of the most famous was Joseph Nicolas ROYER (1703-1755), a French painter and engraver known for his landscapes and architectural scenes. Another prominent figure was Jean Baptiste René ROYER (1739-1805), a French writer and philosopher who wrote extensively on education and social reform.

In the 17th and 18th centuries, the ROYER surname spread across France and into neighboring regions, such as Switzerland and Belgium. This period saw the rise of several ROYER families who left their mark in various fields, including Jean ROYER (1624-1699), a Swiss painter and engraver known for his religious works, and Nicolas ROYER (1675-1755), a French engineer and military officer who played a significant role in the development of fortifications in Canada.

Other notable individuals with the surname ROYER include Alphonse ROYER (1803-1875), a French writer and playwright who translated several works of Shakespeare into French, and Maurice ROYER (1870-1938), a French architect and urban planner who designed several notable buildings and urban developments in Paris and other cities.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Royer families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Royer 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 37 Royers recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.65x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 37 6.65x
Yorkshire 12 2.18x
Hertfordshire 3 7.83x
Lancashire 3 0.45x
Surrey 2 0.74x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Shoreditch London in Middlesex leads with 8 Royers recorded in 1881 and an index of 33.20x.

Place Total Index
Shoreditch London 8 33.20x
Linthorpe 6 182.37x
Middlesbrough 6 83.68x
South Mimms 5 657.89x
Enfield 4 109.59x
Little Stanmore 4 2500.00x
Chipping Barnet 3 447.76x
Islington London 3 5.57x
Bethnal Green London 2 8.28x
Edgware 2 1250.00x
Kensington London 2 6.47x
Monken Hadley 2 909.09x
Oldham 2 9.39x
St Pancras London 2 4.47x
Chelsea London 1 5.97x
Hackney London 1 3.21x
Poplar London 1 9.53x
Reigate Borough 1 161.29x
Stretford 1 27.55x
Wimbledon 1 32.89x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 5
Amelia 3
Sarah 3
Eliza 2
Mary 2
Ada 1
Anne 1
Annie 1
Charlotte 1
Clara 1
Ellen 1
Emely 1
Emilie 1
Emily 1
Emly 1
Emma 1
Eugenie 1
Harriette 1
Jennie 1
Lizzie 1
Louisa 1
Nellie 1
Rosina 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 5
William 3
Alfred 2
Ernest 2
George 2
Alphonse 1
Auguster 1
Charles 1
Edmund 1
Frederick 1
Joseph 1
Raymond 1
S. 1
Samuel 1
Thomas 1

FAQ

Royer surname: questions and answers

How common was the Royer surname in 1881?

In 1881, 57 people were recorded with the Royer surname. That placed it at #25,575 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Royer surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 207 in 2016. That gives Royer a modern rank of #19,118.

What does the Royer surname mean?

A French occupational surname referring to someone who cleared land or a topographic name for someone living where oak trees had been cleared.

What does the Royer map show?

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