Surname Oldroyd - Meaning and Origin
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Oldroyd: What does the surname Oldroyd mean?
The surname Oldroyd is of English origin and has pre-7th century Old Norse roots. The name is a combination of two elements: "ealdrad" or "aldred" which can be broken down into "eald", meaning old, and "rad", meaning counsel or advice. Therefore, Oldroyd may be interpreted as "old counsel" or "wise counsel". It is thought to have originally been a baptismal name "the son of Aldred" which over time transformed into its present form. It’s also linked to locations named Oldroyd in West Yorkshire, which may indicate that it's a locational surname given to people from that area. Like many surnames, the exact meaning may vary and could depend on regional interpretations, historical context, and lineage.
Order DNA origin analysisOldroyd: Where does the name Oldroyd come from?
The Oldroyd surname is derived from a locality in the county of Yorkshire, England. Today, the name is most commonly found in Yorkshire, especially in hilly areas such as the Yorkshire Dales. It is also quite common in other parts of England, especially in the north and in areas of rural Lancashire. In the last few decades, Oldroyd has spread to other parts of the world, with families bearing the name now found in Canada, Australia, and the United States. In the US, the Oldroyd name is most often seen in the states of Colorado, California, Michigan, and Pennsylvania.
Despite its strong base in the United Kingdom, the Oldroyd surname appears to have originated in Germany. It is believed to be derived from the German surname 'Oldrod', which is itself derived from an old German word meaning 'old or ancient spear'. In its more modern form, the name is a combination of two different words: 'old' and 'rod', thus it is a literal translation of 'old spear'. The transition of the name from Germany to Yorkshire is unclear but perhaps it was brought to England by German immigrants in the late 18th and 19th centuries. The Oldroyd name has since continued to foster and even expand in popularity in a variety of locations.
Variations of the surname Oldroyd
The surname Oldroyd is a patronymic name, formed from the Middle English personal name “Oldrodd” which was derived from an Old English given name, “Aldrād”. Today, there are numerous spellings, variants and surnames of Oldroyd.
The most common variant of Oldroyd is Oldrood. Other variants include Ollerod, Ol-Rod, Old-Rod, Ol-Rood, Olderod, and Ouldrood. Variants outside of England include Oldrad, Oldrade, Oldrayd, Aldrado, and Aldrad.
Surnames derived from Oldroyd include Oldroy, Olerey, Oldray, Oldroyde, Oldridge, Aldridge, Oldred, and Aldred. All of these surnames have similar spellings, however, they are all derived from Oldroyd.
The Oldroyd surname is not unique to England, there are bearers of the name in Scotland, Ireland, North America, Australia and New Zealand.
It is believed the first Oldroyd emigrants in the New World were Henry Oldredge, born in England in 1635 who settled in Massachusetts Bay Colony, and Thomas Aldridge, an emigrant to Virginia in 1619.
The Oldroyd surname is still relatively common today, especially in England, Scotland, and Ireland. It can also still be found in North America and other parts of the world.
Famous people with the name Oldroyd
- Pierce Oldroyd: a Welsh professional wrestler
- Frank Oldroyd: a Welsh professional soccer player
- Jonathan Oldroyd: an English professional cricket player
- Richard Oldroyd: an English music producer and film composer
- Nick Oldroyd: a British military historian
- Mark Oldroyd: a British television director
- Jon Oldroyd: a British professional badminton player
- Elizabeth Oldroyd: a British broadcast journalist
- Matthew Oldroyd: a British singer-songwriter
- Kyrsten Oldroyd: a British actress
- Malcolm Oldroyd: a British architect
- Edith Oldroyd: a British impressionist painter
- William Oldroyd: an English stage director
- Joseph Oldroyd: an English photographer
- John Oldroyd: an English professor of medicine
- Louise Oldroyd: an English academic
- Mary Oldroyd: a British professional badminton player
- Bertram Oldroyd: a British sculptor
- Phil Oldroyd: a British racing driver
- Zoe Oldroyd: a British professional boxer