NameCensus.

UK surname

Roys

A surname derived from the French word "roi" meaning "king".

In the 1881 census there were 49 people recorded with the Roys surname, ranking it #26,735 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 125, ranked #26,827, down from #26,735 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, St Bees and Somerton. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Kirklees, North Lincolnshire and North East Derbyshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Roys is 146 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 155.1%.

1881 census count

49

Ranked #26,735

Modern count

125

2016, ranked #26,827

Peak year

2010

146 bearers

Map years

4

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Roys had 49 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #26,735 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 125 in 2016, ranked #26,827.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 131 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Young Families in Industrial Towns.

Roys surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Roys surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Roys 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 51 #24,096
1861 historical 131 #17,052
1881 historical 49 #26,735
1891 historical 88 #25,677
1901 historical 67 #26,703
1911 historical 83 #24,531
1997 modern 119 #24,302
1998 modern 118 #25,041
1999 modern 129 #23,907
2000 modern 123 #24,585
2001 modern 125 #24,011
2002 modern 129 #24,021
2003 modern 131 #23,553
2004 modern 124 #24,559
2005 modern 133 #23,502
2006 modern 132 #23,834
2007 modern 133 #24,059
2008 modern 138 #23,763
2009 modern 134 #24,711
2010 modern 146 #23,921
2011 modern 145 #23,837
2012 modern 130 #25,559
2013 modern 130 #26,074
2014 modern 128 #26,490
2015 modern 126 #26,654
2016 modern 125 #26,827

Geography

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Where Roys' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, St Bees, Somerton, Crowle and Rotherham. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Kirklees, North Lincolnshire and North East Derbyshire. 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 Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside Durham
2 St Bees Cumberland
3 Somerton Somerset
4 Crowle Yorkshire, West Riding
5 Rotherham Yorkshire, West Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Kirklees 054 Kirklees
2 North Lincolnshire 010 North Lincolnshire
3 North Lincolnshire 003 North Lincolnshire
4 North East Derbyshire 014 North East Derbyshire
5 North Lincolnshire 008 North Lincolnshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Roys

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Roys

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Young Families in Industrial Towns

Nationally, the Roys surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Young Families in Industrial Towns, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Roys household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods house predominantly young, UK-born individuals identifying with a White ethnic group with dependent children. Long-term disability and unpaid care are prevalent, and religious affiliations are uncommon. Housing is terraced or semi-detached and social rented sector housing is the norm. Unemployment is above the Supergroup average, and employment is principally in elementary occupations, as process plant and machine operatives, or in caring and leisure services. Educational attainment is low. The group is scattered throughout former industrial towns in the Midlands and the South Wales Valleys.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Roys 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

Roys is most concentrated in decile 3 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

3
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Roys falls in decile 2 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.

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Roys is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of Over 70 mbit/s.

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

10
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Roys

The surname ROYS is of English origin, deriving from the ancient Anglo-Saxon period. It is believed to have originated in the 6th or 7th century, stemming from the Old English word "ryce", meaning "rule" or "power". This suggests that the name may have initially referred to someone who held a position of authority or leadership within their community.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the ROYS surname can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of landholdings commissioned by William the Conqueror. The name is listed as "Roice" in this ancient document, likely an early spelling variation.

During the medieval period, the name took on different spellings, such as "Royce", "Roys", and "Royes". These variations were influenced by regional dialects and the lack of standardized spelling conventions at the time. Notably, the ROYS spelling gained prominence in the 13th and 14th centuries.

The ROYS surname has been associated with several notable figures throughout history. One of the earliest examples is Sir John Roys, a prominent English soldier and landowner who lived during the 13th century. He is recorded as having served under King Edward I and participated in military campaigns in Scotland and France.

Another historical figure bearing the ROYS name was William Roys, a 16th-century English Catholic priest and scholar. He was born around 1510 and is best known for his contributions to the English Reformation, particularly his translation of the Bible into English.

In the 17th century, Edward Roys gained recognition as a prominent English merchant and member of the Worshipful Company of Grocers in London. He was born in 1620 and played a significant role in the city's trade and commerce during his lifetime.

During the 18th century, the ROYS surname was associated with several notable military figures. Captain John Roys, born in 1710, served in the British Army and participated in various campaigns during the Seven Years' War.

In the 19th century, the name gained further prominence with the birth of Sir Dudley Roys, a renowned British diplomat and statesman. Born in 1820, he served as the British Ambassador to several countries and played a pivotal role in international relations during his career.

While these are just a few examples, the ROYS surname has a rich history spanning centuries and has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including soldiers, clergy, merchants, and diplomats.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Roys families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Roys 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. Nottinghamshire leads with 24 Roys' recorded in 1881 and an index of 35.81x.

County Total Index
Nottinghamshire 24 35.81x
Lincolnshire 9 11.32x
Somerset 4 5.00x
Yorkshire 3 0.61x
Channel Islands 2 13.58x
Kent 2 1.18x
Lancashire 2 0.34x
Surrey 2 0.83x
Cumberland 1 2.34x
Glamorgan 1 1.16x
Midlothian 1 1.50x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. South Leverton in Nottinghamshire leads with 21 Roys' recorded in 1881 and an index of 30000.00x.

Place Total Index
South Leverton 21 30000.00x
Scunthorpe 4 1111.11x
Somerton 4 1212.12x
Newark Upon Trent 3 124.48x
Wroot 3 5000.00x
Crowle 2 416.67x
Deptford St Paul 2 15.29x
Haxey 2 588.24x
Layton With Warbreck 2 92.17x
St Saviour 2 246.91x
Camberwell 1 3.15x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 1 3.73x
Egham 1 67.11x
Llangeinor 1 196.08x
Rockcliff 1 769.23x
Sculcoates 1 12.80x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Sarah 5
Eliza 2
Fanny 2
Hannah 2
Jane 2
Mary 2
Alice 1
Anie 1
Esther 1
Harriet 1
Janet 1
Ruth 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
George 7
John 4
Joseph 3
William 3
Benjamin 2
Thomas 2
Tom 2
Bingham 1
Ebenezer 1
Matthew 1
Samuel 1
Thompson 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 Roys households.

FAQ

Roys surname: questions and answers

How common was the Roys surname in 1881?

In 1881, 49 people were recorded with the Roys surname. That placed it at #26,735 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Roys surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 125 in 2016. That gives Roys a modern rank of #26,827.

What does the Roys surname mean?

A surname derived from the French word "roi" meaning "king".

What does the Roys map show?

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