Royce
A surname with several possible roots, most likely a Norman/French form related to the name Reuss or to a place-name such as Ryston.
The #6,622 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 60,361 Americans shares it.
Etymology
The surname Royce is not straightforwardly explained by the older dictionaries. Some writers treat it as a variant connected with the French/German name Reuss, while others suggest a locational origin from place-names such as Ryston or other similar forms. The evidence in the historical sources is mixed, so the name is best treated as having an uncertain origin rather than a single secure derivation.
History
The name appears in English records by the 17th century in spellings such as Royce, Roise, Royse, and Roys. It has also been noted as a surname form in German and Dutch contexts, which may point to separate or overlapping origins. In the modern United States it remains relatively uncommon.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
Early London parish registers show several spellings side by side, suggesting that Royce was not yet fully standardized in the 1600s.
From the historical record
“In the registers of St. Maty Aldermaiy fte name is spelled Roise (1639), Royce (1634), Royse (1639), Roys ("636). 1730. Richard Ron and Hary Uarsh: Maniaee Uc. (LondonX ■!. 341.”
— A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, with special American instancesNotable people named Royce
- Henry Royce (1863–1933)
Sourced from Wikidata; linked to their Wikipedia page.