Show ContentsRoyer History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Royer family

The surname Royer was first found in Limousin, where this illustrious family held a family seat since ancient times.

The family pursued its beliefs with vigor and as such they participated in the Crusades where several members were honoured for their invaluable efforts. Following the family tradition, Olivier Royere imported Arabian Horses for use during the wars of the times after he had used them himself when he was a Crusader in 1096. Over the course of many centuries, this ancient family prospered, branched and expanded to many provinces, where members formed alliances with other prominent families and in return, members of this family received lands and titles. Distinctive among the members was Pierre Royere, Lord of Brignac who married Hélips of La Jarousse in 1384 and they had two children, Alain and Jean.

Among the important marriages between noble families were the ones between Étienne Royere, a descendant of Jean Royere, and Françoise of Talleyrand in 1551 and between Philibert Royere and Marguerite of Badefor, Lady of Peyraux, in 1608. From the latter family came Annet, ancestor to the family line of the Marquis of Peyraux, whence came Jean-Marc, Bishop of Tréguier, and of Castres, a President of the Estates of Bretagne, many Knights of Saint Jean of Jerusalem, and of Saint Lazare, and several King's Pages.

Early History of the Royer family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Royer research. Another 43 words (3 lines of text) covering the years 1300 and 1679 are included under the topic Early Royer History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Royer Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Royere, Royaire, Royeres, Royaires, Royer, Royerre, Des Royers, Des Royaires, Des Royeres, De Roiere, De Royer, le Royer and many more.

Early Notables of the Royer family

Notable amongst the family was

  • Pierre Royere, Lord of Brignac during the 1300's

Royer World Ranking

In the United States, the name Royer is the 3,731st most popular surname with an estimated 7,461 people with that name. 1 However, in Quebec, Canada, the name Royer is ranked the 454th most popular surname. 2 And in France, the name Royer is the 135th popular surname with an estimated 22,598 people with that name. 3


United States Royer migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Royer Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Noel Royer, who settled in Carolina with his wife, Madelainne, his daughters, Marie and Madelinne, his sons, Pierre and Noel and his daughter-in-law, Judith Giton, in 1695
Royer Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Sebastian Royer, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1718 4
  • Anna Margaretha Royer, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1726
  • Agnes Flockirth Royer, who settled in Pennsylvania in 1726
  • Anna Margaret Royer, who arrived in America sometime between 1726 and 1727
  • John Jacob Royer, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1729 4
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Royer Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Angel Royer, who arrived in Puerto Rico in 1816 4
  • Peter Royer, who settled in Philadelphia in 1828
  • Ant Royer, aged 32, who arrived in New Orleans, La in 1830 4
  • A. R. Royer, who settled in San Francisco in 1851
  • Otto Royer, who settled in Texas in 1854
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Canada Royer migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Royer Settlers in Canada in the 17th Century
  • Jean Royer, son of Jean and Marie, who married Marie Terger, daughter of Daniel and Louise, in Château-Richer, Quebec on 2nd November 1663 5
  • Jean Royer, son of Jean and Marie, who married Catherine-Marguerite Dumont, daughter of Julien and Catherine, in Quebec on 19th October 1694 5
Royer Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
  • Augustin Royer, son of Jean and Catherine, who married Angélique Pepin, daughter of Joseph and Marguerite, in Saint-Jean-de-l'île-d'Orléans, Quebec on 26th May 1732 5
  • Gabriel Royer, son of Jean and Catherine, who married Marie-Anne Hély, daughter of Pierre and Marie-Rosalie, in Saint-Vallier, Quebec on 15th February 1740 5
  • François Royer, son of Jean-Baptiste and Marie-Madeleine, who married Marie-Ursule Bonin, daughter of Pierre and Madeleine, in Quebec on 28th April 1755 5
  • Joseph Royer, son of Augustin and Angélique, who married Geneviève Terrien, daughter of Pierre and Madeleine, in Saint-Jean-de-l'île-d'Orléans, Quebec on 20th January 1755 5
  • François Royer, son of Jean and Lucile, who married Radegonde Palin, daughter of Louis-Charles and Geneviève, in Montreal, Quebec on 12th January 1756 5
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Royer (post 1700) +

  • William Royer (b. 1920), American politician, Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from California (1979-1981)
  • Michelle Royer (b. 1966), American beauty pageant winner, Miss USA (1987), currently a television host
  • Hugh Royer Jr. (b. 1936), American PGA golfer who had 6 PGA tour wins
  • Charles Royer (b. 1939), American politician, 48th Mayor of Seattle, Washington (1978-1898)
  • Casey Royer (b. 1958), American singer, songwriter, and musician, best known as the lead vocalist for the Southern Californian punk rock band D.I
  • Lee "Rock" Royer (1938-1973), American football coach
  • Joseph-Nicolas-Pancrace Royer (1705-1755), French composer and harpsichordist
  • Clémence Royer (1830-1902), French scientist and feminist, best known for her translation of Charles Darwin's On the Origin of Species
  • Alphonse Royer (1803-1875), French author, dramatist and theatre manager
  • Jean Royer (1938-2019), French Canadian writer and poet
  • ... (Another 1 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

USS Arizona
  • Mr. Howard Dale Royer, American Gunner's Mate Third Class from Ohio, USA working aboard the ship "USS Arizona" when she sunk during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on 7th December 1941, he died in the sinking 6


  1. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  2. "The first 1,000 family names by rank, Quebec (in French only)" Institut de la statistique du Quebec, https://statistique.quebec.ca/en/document/family-names-in-quebec/tableau/the-first-1000-family-names-by-rank-quebec
  3. http://www.journaldesfemmes.com/nom-de-famille/nom/
  4. 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)
  5. Internoscia, Arthur E., and Claire Chevrier. Dictionnaire National des Canadiens Français 1608-1760. Vol. 2, Institut Drouin, 1958.
  6. Pearl Harbour: USS Arizona Casualties List Pearl Harbour December 7, 1941. (Retrieved 2018, July 31st). Retrieved from http://pearl-harbor.com/arizona/casualtylist.html


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