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Royden Family History

Royden Surname Meaning

From Roydon (Essex), which is recorded as Ruindune in 1086 and Reindun in 1205, to Roydon near Diss (Norfolk), which is recorded as Rygedune in about 1035, there are several notable mentions of the name Roydon across different regions.

Roydon near King's Lynn (Norfolk) is recorded as Reiduna in 1086, while Roydon Drift (Suffolk) is documented as Rigendun in about 995. Each of these place-names reflects the history and heritage of the areas they represent.

The Essex and Suffolk place-names are derived from Old English rȳgen meaning ‘growing with rye’ combined with dūn which translates to ‘hill’. This etymology provides insight into the agricultural characteristics of the regions.

In contrast, the Norfolk place-names come from Old English rȳge, meaning ‘rye’, alongside dūn. The differences in origin highlight the linguistic variations within these regions.

Overall, the Roydon place-names across Essex and Norfolk illustrate the historical significance of agriculture in shaping local identities and landscape features.

Source: The Oxford Dictionary of Family Names in Britain and Ireland, 2016


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Where is the Royden family from?

You can see how Royden families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Royden family name was found in the USA, the UK, and Scotland between 1851 and 1920. The most Royden families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 102 Royden families living in Lancashire. This was about 58% of all the recorded Royden's in United Kingdom. Lancashire had the highest population of Royden families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Royden surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
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What did your Royden ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, General Labourer and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Royden. 50% of Royden men worked as a General Labourer and 83% of Royden women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Royden were Shipwright and Domestic Servant.

View Census Data for Royden | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

Top Male Occupations In 1939

  • General Labourer
    50%
  • Shipwright
    50%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    83%
  • Private Means
    8%
  • Machinist In Tin Works
    4%
  • Domestic Servant
    4%

What Royden family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 3,000 census records available for the last name Royden. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Royden census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Royden

Passenger Lists

There are 535 immigration records available for the last name Royden. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the UK, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

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Draft Cards

There are 665 military records available for the last name Royden. For the veterans among your Royden ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Royden military records

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What is the average Royden lifespan?

Between 1964 and 2002, in the United States, Royden life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1965, and highest in 1969. The average life expectancy for Royden in 1964 was 68, and 95 in 2002.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Royden

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Royden ancestors lived in harsh conditions. A short lifespan might also indicate health problems that were once prevalent in your family. The SSDI is a searchable database of more than 70 million names. You can find birthdates, death dates, addresses and more.

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