Show ContentsRoyston History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Royston family

The surname Royston was first found in South Yorkshire at Royston, now a village within the Metropolitan borough of Barnsley. Historically it was in the West Riding of Yorkshire, but was incorporated into the Metropolitan borough of Barnsley in 1974. Alternatively, the name could have been derived from Royston, a market-town and parish, and the head of a union, partly in the hundred of Armingford, in Herefordshire. "This town derived its name from a cross erected in the highway here, in the reign of William the Conqueror, by the Lady Roysia, Countess of Norfolk: the cross was called Royse's Cross; and a monastery having been established shortly afterwards by Eustachius de Mere and others, which led to the erection of houses, the place acquired the appellation of Royse's Town, whence its present name. " 1 Conjecturally, the surname is descended from the tenant of the lands of Royston, Ulchel an under tenant of Ilbert de Lacy, a great Norman noble who was recorded in the Domesday Book census of 1086.

Early History of the Royston family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Royston research. Another 80 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1310, 1601, 1645, 1649 and 1686 are included under the topic Early Royston History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Royston Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Royston, Roysten, Royster, Roister, Roisten and many more.

Early Notables of the Royston family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was

  • Richard Royston (1601-1686), an English publisher and bookseller to King Charles I, Charles II and James II...
  • He was charged by John Wright, parliamentary printer, on 31 July 1645, as being the 'constant factor for all scandalous books and papers against the proceedings of parliament.' Royston was confined to...

Royston Ranking

In the United States, the name Royston is the 8,170th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 2


United States Royston migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Royston Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Thomas Royston, aged 25, who landed in Virginia in 1635 aboard the ship "Elizabeth" 3
  • Robert Royston, who arrived in Maryland in 1662 3
  • Richard Royston, who landed in Maryland in 1667 3
  • Ann Royston, who arrived in Virginia sometime between 1673 and 1674
  • John Royston, who settled in Virginia in 1674
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Royston Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • William Royston, who arrived in Virginia in 1703 3
  • Mary Royston, who landed in Virginia in 1711 3
  • Nicholas Royston, who arrived in Virginia in 1711 3
  • Abraham Royston, who arrived in America in 1737
  • Elizabeth Royston, who arrived in America in 1756
Royston Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Catharine Royston, who settled in Vermont sometime between 1808 and 1880

Canada Royston migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Royston Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • Christopher Royston, who arrived in Ontario in 1871

Australia Royston migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Royston Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. William Royston, (b. 1812), aged 15, English labourer who was convicted in Middlesex, England for life for burglary, transported aboard the "Florentia" on 14th August 1827, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 4

Contemporary Notables of the name Royston (post 1700) +

  • Robert N. Royston (1918-2008), American master landscape architect, based in the San Francisco Bay Area of California
  • Ivor Royston M.D., English-born, American oncologist, researcher, scientist, entrepreneur and venture capitalist
  • Shad Royston (b. 1982), Australian rugby league player who has played since 2004
  • Mr. Paul Royston Caseley O.B.E., British Senior Fellow for Cyber and Information Systems at Defence Science and Technology Laboratory, was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire on 8th June 2018, for services to Defence 5
  • John Royston Siddons (b. 1927), Australian politician, Senator for Victoria (1981-1983)
  • Margaret Royston Beckett (b. 1943), English politician, Member of the UK Parliament
  • David Royston Bailey CBE (b. 1938), celebrated English photographer
  • Royston Edwin "Roy" Scammell (1932-2021), British stuntman and actor, from Hendon, Middlesex, known for his work on Willow (1988), A Clockwork Orange (1971) and Alien (1979)
  • Mr. Royston Clive Rooke M.B.E., British National Volunteering Adviser for St John Ambulance, was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire on 8th June 2018, for voluntary service to First Aid 6
  • Royston Hulbert Nash (1933-2016), English conductor, best known as a music director of the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company


  1. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  2. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  3. Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
  4. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 5th October 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/florentia
  5. "Birthday and New Year Honours Lists (1940 to 2019)." Issue 62507, 28 December 2018 | London Gazette, The Gazette, Dec. 2018, www.thegazette.co.uk/honours-lists
  6. "Birthday and New Year Honours Lists (1940 to 2019)." Issue 62310, 4 July 2019 | London Gazette, The Gazette, June 2018, https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/62310/supplement/B1


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