57,197 Global ROY Family Members

ROY Family History

In the British Isles this surname is recorded as Le Roy, Leroy, Leroi, Le Roi, and Roy. It has at least two possible national origins. Firstly it may be Norman-French and introduced after the famous Conquest of 1066. The derivation is from the word rey or roi, meaning a king or chief, and in medieval times was used as a nickname either for one who behaved in a regal fashion, or who had earned the title in some contest of skill, or more likely had been elected "king for the day" in a local festival.