THE SURNAME LeROY
The Celtic Tribes of Veneti, Curiovolitae and the Asismii anciently inhabited Brittany in the 3rd century B.C. The name LeRoy is to have originated in this north west area of France. Constantine, King of Brittany was the grandfather of the celebrated King Arthur of England. In the 6th century, the Dukes of Brittany also became the Counts of Cornwall in the south west of England. The surname was first found in Brittany, where this eminent family was seated since ancient times.
History has changed the spelling of most surnames. Usually a person spoke his version of his name, phonetically, to a scribe, a priest, or a recorder. Some variables were adopted by different branches of the family name. Hence, we have variations in your name, LeRoy, some of which are Roys, Roy, Roais, Roays, Roaiz, Roi, Rois, Le Roy, La Roy, Le Roys, Des Roys, all are derived from the basic origin of the surname.
Brittany drew closer in the 10th century to Normandy on their eastern borders. Geoffrey, Duke of Brittany married Hawise daughter of Richard II, Duke of Normandy 1002 A.D. The Duke of Normandy, now King of England, claimed Brittany and Normandy. This culminated in the Hundred Years War, which ended in 1445. In 1365, Brittany renewed relations with France. Brittany was annexed by the French Crown in 1532.
History has changed the spelling of most surnames. Usually a person spoke his version of his name, phonetically, to a scribe, a priest, or a recorder. Some variables were adopted by different branches of the family name. Hence, we have variations in your name, LeRoy, some of which are Roys, Roy, Roais, Roays, Roaiz, Roi, Rois, Le Roy, La Roy, Le Roys, Des Roys, all are derived from the basic origin of the surname.
Brittany drew closer in the 10th century to Normandy on their eastern borders. Geoffrey, Duke of Brittany married Hawise daughter of Richard II, Duke of Normandy 1002 A.D. The Duke of Normandy, now King of England, claimed Brittany and Normandy. This culminated in the Hundred Years War, which ended in 1445. In 1365, Brittany renewed relations with France. Brittany was annexed by the French Crown in 1532.
The name LeRoy is found in Brittany, where this renowned family was seated with lands and manor. By the 11th and 12th centuries, this illustrious family was well established in Velay and several members of the family were distinctive in their contribution toward the community in which they lived and were rewarded with lands, titles and letters patent confirming their nobility.
The castle of Roys, in the Parish of Saint-Martin of Brignon, near Puy, was the birthplace of this distinguished family. Pierre du Roaiz is recorded in the cartulary of the hospitaliers (Religious orders who care for the sick and destitute) of Puy in 1181. Due to his great contributions to his community, Jean Roays was granted knighthood in 1253 and in 1261. In 1357, Robert Roays rendered homage for his fief to the Baron of Solignac and then in 1457 Jean III Roays carried out the same act to the Viscount Joyeuse, Baron of Saint-Didier-en-Velay, From this family came Simonnet des Roys, Lord of Roys, co-Lord of Brignon and Magistrate and Captain of the military. Actively involved in the Crusades, Etienne and Gilbert Roys were honored with the title of the Knights of Malta for their valiant action. Valentin des Roys made a transaction with his brother on June 6, 1503, regarding the succession of their parents. From Valentin's marriage to Marie of Bourdelles, came the Marquis of Roys, the Lords Eschandelys and the Barons of Enclos. In 1684, Jacques, Marquis of Roys, rendered homage to the king.
Following his noble descendants was Claude Annet, First Page to Louis XV and to Louis XVI, Captain of the Dauphine Calvary, who obtained Honours from the Court in 1785. Etienne, his son, Marquis of Roys, married Jenny Hoche, daughter of the famous General, in l832, and their son, Ernest, was the Auditor, a member of the State Council and the Deputy of la Seine-inferieure. Notable amongst this, name at this time was Claude Annet, First Page to Louis XV and to Louis XVI, Captain of the Dauphine Cavalry, Grand Seneschal of the nobility of Limousin, Deputy at la Constituante, Baron of the Empire and a Knight of Saint-Louis.
The castle of Roys, in the Parish of Saint-Martin of Brignon, near Puy, was the birthplace of this distinguished family. Pierre du Roaiz is recorded in the cartulary of the hospitaliers (Religious orders who care for the sick and destitute) of Puy in 1181. Due to his great contributions to his community, Jean Roays was granted knighthood in 1253 and in 1261. In 1357, Robert Roays rendered homage for his fief to the Baron of Solignac and then in 1457 Jean III Roays carried out the same act to the Viscount Joyeuse, Baron of Saint-Didier-en-Velay, From this family came Simonnet des Roys, Lord of Roys, co-Lord of Brignon and Magistrate and Captain of the military. Actively involved in the Crusades, Etienne and Gilbert Roys were honored with the title of the Knights of Malta for their valiant action. Valentin des Roys made a transaction with his brother on June 6, 1503, regarding the succession of their parents. From Valentin's marriage to Marie of Bourdelles, came the Marquis of Roys, the Lords Eschandelys and the Barons of Enclos. In 1684, Jacques, Marquis of Roys, rendered homage to the king.
Following his noble descendants was Claude Annet, First Page to Louis XV and to Louis XVI, Captain of the Dauphine Calvary, who obtained Honours from the Court in 1785. Etienne, his son, Marquis of Roys, married Jenny Hoche, daughter of the famous General, in l832, and their son, Ernest, was the Auditor, a member of the State Council and the Deputy of la Seine-inferieure. Notable amongst this, name at this time was Claude Annet, First Page to Louis XV and to Louis XVI, Captain of the Dauphine Cavalry, Grand Seneschal of the nobility of Limousin, Deputy at la Constituante, Baron of the Empire and a Knight of Saint-Louis.
France adopted the role of European cultural leadership in the early 16th century. The New World challenged. The explorers led missionaries to North America who settled in New France, New England, New Holland, and New Spain. Jacques Cartier made the first of three voyages to New France in 1534.
Champlain came in 1608. He made twenty voyages to France to attract settlers. He brought the first true migrant, Louis Hebert, a Parisian apothecary, and his family, who arrived in 1617.
In 1643, 109 years after the first-landings by Cartier, there were only about 300 people in Quebec. Migration was slow. The fur trade attracted migrants, both noble and commoner. By 1675, there were 7000 French in Quebec. By the same year, the French Acadian presence in the Maritimes had reached 5OO. The French founded Lower Canada, thus becoming one of the two great founding nations of Canada.
Amongst the settlers in North America with this distinguished name LeRoy were G. B. Roys settled in San Francisco in 1850; J. Roys settled in San Francisco in1852; Robert Royse settled with his wife, Elizabeth, in Massachusetts in 1630; Hugh Roy settled in Virginia in 1654; William Roy, aged, 39, settled in Maryland in 1774; John Roy settled in Georgia in 1774; and Mrs. Roy, aged 45, settled with her three children in New Orleans in 1821.
Champlain came in 1608. He made twenty voyages to France to attract settlers. He brought the first true migrant, Louis Hebert, a Parisian apothecary, and his family, who arrived in 1617.
In 1643, 109 years after the first-landings by Cartier, there were only about 300 people in Quebec. Migration was slow. The fur trade attracted migrants, both noble and commoner. By 1675, there were 7000 French in Quebec. By the same year, the French Acadian presence in the Maritimes had reached 5OO. The French founded Lower Canada, thus becoming one of the two great founding nations of Canada.
Amongst the settlers in North America with this distinguished name LeRoy were G. B. Roys settled in San Francisco in 1850; J. Roys settled in San Francisco in1852; Robert Royse settled with his wife, Elizabeth, in Massachusetts in 1630; Hugh Roy settled in Virginia in 1654; William Roy, aged, 39, settled in Maryland in 1774; John Roy settled in Georgia in 1774; and Mrs. Roy, aged 45, settled with her three children in New Orleans in 1821.
The family name LeRoy has made many distinguished contributions in France and New France to the world of science, culture, religion, and education:
Maurice Roy, Roman Catholic Clergyman, Archbishop of Quebec;
Andrew Donald Roy, Assistant Under-Secretary of State (Economics), Ministry of Defence;
Catherine Murray Roy, Matron-in-Chief, Queen Alexandra's Imperial Military Nursing Service;
Maurice Roy, Grand Officer, Legion of Honour, Professor at Ecole Polytechnique, Paris, France;
Gabrielle Roy, French-Canadian Author.
During the course of our research, we also determined the most ancient Coat of Arms recorded against this family name LeRoy.
The Coat of Arms for the family name LeRoy is:
On a gold background,
there is a red band from top left to bottom right,
on which are three silver stars.
The Crest for the family name LeRoy is:
An armed lion.
The family motto is:
Monstrant regibus astra viam
The star show kings the road(way).
Maurice Roy, Roman Catholic Clergyman, Archbishop of Quebec;
Andrew Donald Roy, Assistant Under-Secretary of State (Economics), Ministry of Defence;
Catherine Murray Roy, Matron-in-Chief, Queen Alexandra's Imperial Military Nursing Service;
Maurice Roy, Grand Officer, Legion of Honour, Professor at Ecole Polytechnique, Paris, France;
Gabrielle Roy, French-Canadian Author.
During the course of our research, we also determined the most ancient Coat of Arms recorded against this family name LeRoy.
The Coat of Arms for the family name LeRoy is:
On a gold background,
there is a red band from top left to bottom right,
on which are three silver stars.
The Crest for the family name LeRoy is:
An armed lion.
The family motto is:
Monstrant regibus astra viam
The star show kings the road(way).