Roydon
A name meaning ruler or chief of red land or hill.
Name Census estimates that about 1 living Americans carry the first name Roydon. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Roydon today is around 72 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Roydon births was 1921 (6 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Roydon. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
For a British comparison, Name Census UK has a UK baby-name profile for Roydon with official rankings and popularity over time.
Key insights
- • The typical person named Roydon is about 72 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Roydons were born before 1964.
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Roydon. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
1
~ 1 in 342,754,338 Americans
Peak year
1921
6 babies that year
Average age
72
years old
1932 SSA rank
#4,200
Tracked since 1921
Popularity
Roydon: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Roydon from the 1920s through to the 1930s, spanning 2 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1920s, with 6 total registrations. The name continues to be given at rates close to its all-time high, suggesting it has not yet fallen out of fashion.
Babies born per year
Decades
Roydon by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Roydon during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Origin
Meaning and history of Roydon
The given name Roydon is believed to have its origins in Old English, with its earliest known usage dating back to the 7th century AD. It is derived from the Anglo-Saxon words "rod" and "dun," which together translate to "red hill" or "reddish hill." This suggests that the name may have initially referred to someone who lived near or on a red-colored hill or hilltop.
During the Middle Ages, the name Roydon appeared in various historical records and documents across parts of England, particularly in the counties of Essex and Suffolk. It was often spelled as "Roidon," "Roydon," or "Reydone" during this period. While it is not extensively mentioned in major religious texts or ancient scriptures, the name's prevalence in medieval England indicates its usage among the Anglo-Saxon population.
One of the earliest recorded individuals with the name Roydon was Roydon de Vere, a minor English nobleman who lived in the 12th century. He was a member of the influential de Vere family and held lands in the county of Essex. Another notable figure was Roydon Leston, a 14th-century English cleric who served as the Dean of Exeter Cathedral from 1333 to 1338.
In the 16th century, Roydon Grindall (born around 1518, died 1583) was an English clergyman and Archbishop of Canterbury during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. He played a significant role in the establishment of the Church of England and the English Reformation.
During the 17th century, Roydon Barclay (1634-1689) was a Scottish Quaker and author who wrote several religious works, including "An Apology for the True Christian Divinity." He was an influential figure in the early Quaker movement.
In the 18th century, Roydon Stratton (1732-1814) was an English artist and engraver known for his landscapes and architectural engravings. His work documented many historical buildings and landmarks in England.
These are a few examples of individuals who bore the name Roydon throughout history, highlighting its usage and prevalence over several centuries, primarily in England and the surrounding regions.
People
Roydon + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Roydon as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with R
Other first names starting with R with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Roydon: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Roydon?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 1 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Roydon going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 342,754,338 US residents.
Is Roydon a common name?
We classify Roydon as "Very Rare". It ranks above 3.8% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 11 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Roydon most popular?
The single biggest year for Roydon was 1921, when 6 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Roydon is about 72 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Roydon in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Roydon a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Roydon in the SSA data are male. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Is Roydon still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Roydon in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Roydon can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How many Americans are named Roydon?
See how many Americans are named Roydon on HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site built around that single question.