Surname Leroy - Meaning and Origin

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Using iGENEA, a leading platform for DNA testing, I was able to uncover fascinating details about my ancestry, specifically about the surname Leroy. The simple swab test provided a deep dive into my family's history, tracing back our roots to Northern France and Belgium.

A. Leroy

Leroy: What does the surname Leroy mean?

The last name Leroy is of Old French origin and directly translates to "the king". It was often bestowed as a nickname to people who acted in a regal or noble manner or who played the part of a king in a medieval pageant. Alternatively, it could have also been used sarcastically for a person with grandiose airs. The surname Leroy was first found in Burgundy, an administrative and historical region in east-central France. Over time, the name spread across Europe and into the New World with colonization. Today, variations of Leroy can be found worldwide. Overall, Leroy is a name associated with power, nobility, and kingly attributes.

Leroy: Where does the name Leroy come from?

The last name Leroy is most commonly found in France, particularly in the southern and central regions of the country. The name originated in Old French from le roy, which means “the king”. It has been suggested that the name originally denoted land that was once owned by a monarch.

Leroy is also commonly found in the United States, due in part to the large number of French immigrants to American shores in the 19th and early 20th centuries.

You will find many people with the last name Leroy in other countries such as Belgium, Canada, Martinique, and Guadeloupe, all of which have French-speaking populations.

The name is also relatively common in Haiti, due to the strong ties between Haiti and France that date back to the founding of Haiti as an independent nation in 1804.

Today, the last name Leroy is widespread, with over two million people sharing the name worldwide. Most of those with the name can be found in France, with significant numbers in the US, Canada, and parts of Africa.

Variations of the surname Leroy

The surname Leroy is a French surname that is derived from the name of the city of Le Roy, which is located in the region of Auvergne. The name means “the king” in French. It is most commonly thought to be related to the ancient French royalty, but there is no real evidence of this.

The variants of Leroy include LeRouge, LeRoi, LeRoy, De Roy, Reo, Roi, d’LeRoy, Roy, Roya, Roye, Royer, Leroi, Leroix, LeRoux, Leroux.

For those of French origin, the surname is pronounced "luh-RWAH." It is sometimes spelled as "le Roi"or "LeRoy,"or "Reo" in some parts of the world.

The common surnames derived from Leroy include Royall, Royer, royal, Royalle, Royle, Royles, Royse, Royster, Lagroix, Lecroy, LaCroix, and LaCroy.

Although not connected to modern French royalty, the surname Leroy has been associated with the French royalty from the 8th century. The first name "Le Roy" originated from an old French term "roi", meaning "king" or "monarch."

The modern spelling of the surname Leroy has seen various regional phonetic variations over the centuries and may be found spelled as LeRouge, LeRoi, LeRoy, De Roy, Reo, Roy, Roya, Roye, Royer, Leroi, Leroix, or LeRoux.

In a French family tree, many generations descended from a single royal ancestor may carry the same name, only with different spelling and regional pronunciation variants. This is a common feature among French family names.

Famous people with the name Leroy

• Jean-Baptiste Leroy: French painter who lived in the 17th century and specialized in still life and animal paintings.
• Clément Leroy: former French athlete, competed in multiple Olympic Games, mostly in fencing events and won several medals.
• Robert Leroy: American civil rights activist who was part of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) during the 1960s.
• Suzanne Léroy: French conductor, composer, and musician who has worked in both popular and classical genres.
• Alain Leroy: Spanish cyclist who won multiple stages in the Vuelta de Espana from 2000-2004.
• Didier Leroy: French auto executive who previously worked for companies like Renault, Citroën, and Toyota.
• Leon Leroy: American chemist who worked on multiple NASA projects and developed the “Leroy Liquid Propellant”.
• Frederick Leroy: English writer, illustrator, and activist who wrote several books during the 19th century.
• Bertrand-François Mahé de La Bourdonnais: also known as “M. Leroy”, a French Navy Admiral and was renowned for his naval battles against the British in the 18th century.
• Yves Leroy: Belgian artist and sculptor who created sculptures, paintings, and etchings of the 20th century.

Other surnames

LeroiLeRoux