Find out how popular the last name Royal is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Royal.

Royal, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Royal surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Royal in America

Royal is the 2319th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Royal surname appeared 15,755 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 5 people would have the surname Royal.

We can also compare 2010 data for Royal to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Royal

The surname Royal originates from England and dates back to the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Old French word "royal," meaning "kingly" or "regal." This surname was likely given to someone who had a connection to royalty, such as a servant or a member of the royal household.

The earliest recorded instance of the surname Royal can be found in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, which were census records compiled during the reign of King Edward I. In these rolls, a John le Royal is listed as residing in Oxfordshire.

Another early reference to the name can be found in the records of the Exchequer Court of Pleas in 1370, where a William Royal is mentioned as being involved in a legal dispute.

During the 14th and 15th centuries, the surname Royal was also associated with various place names throughout England. For example, there are records of individuals named Royal from locations such as Royal Oak in Shropshire and Royal Wootton in Warwickshire.

One notable bearer of the surname Royal was Sir Nathaniel Royal, who was born in 1584 and served as a Member of Parliament for Newtown, Isle of Wight, during the reign of King James I. He was also a member of the Virginia Company, which established the first permanent English settlement in North America at Jamestown.

Another prominent figure with the surname Royal was Sir Joseph Royal, who was born in 1688 and served as a naval officer during the War of the Spanish Succession. He played a crucial role in the capture of the Spanish treasure galleon Nuestra Señora de la Covadonga in 1708.

In the 18th century, the surname Royal was also associated with the British aristocracy. For instance, there was a titled family known as the Royals of Somerby, who owned lands in Leicestershire.

Other notable individuals with the surname Royal include:

1. John Royal (c. 1590-1670), an English clergyman and author who wrote a influential work on church government.
2. William Royal (1786-1857), a British artist and engraver known for his landscapes and portraits.
3. Mary Royal (1819-1891), an English philanthropist and social reformer who advocated for the rights of women and children.
4. Sir Edmund Royal (1847-1924), a British military officer who served in the Boer War and World War I.
5. Constance Royal (1899-1981), an American poet and novelist who was part of the Harlem Renaissance literary movement.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Royal

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Royal.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Royal was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Royal has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Royal was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Royal, please contact us.

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