Surname Roi - Meaning and Origin

Roi: What does the surname Roi mean?

The last name "Roi" has origins in various cultures and it bears different meanings. In French, "Roi" directly translates to king, indicating a link to royal ancestry or someone who acted in a kingly manner. In Hebrew, "Roi" means "my shepherd" or "my seer". In some cases, individuals might have acquired this surname because they were leaders or spiritual guides in their communities. In Greek, the term "roi" refers to a dream or vision, which suggests the initial bearer could have been perceived as a visionary or a dreamer. Hence, the surname could have been initially used as a nickname. Additionally, Roi can also be a variant of the Gaelic surname "Ruadh" which means red, suggesting the family members had red hair. As surnames often denote occupation, geography, or character traits, the exact meaning of "Roi" could vary based on the specific lineage of a family.

Roi: Where does the name Roi come from?

The last name Roi is a family name thought to have originated in Medieval Europe and is believed to have its roots in the Latin word for "king". Today, it is most common in France, where it is one of the 50 most common surnames in the country. It can also be found in several other European countries, including Belgium, The Netherlands, Switzerland, and Italy, as well as in countries with strong links to France such as Martinique and Guadeloupe in the Caribbean.

Outside of Europe, Roi is a popular last name in Canada, the United States, North Africa, and the Middle East. In Canada, it is one of the 100 most common surnames in Quebec where the French influence is still strong. In the United States, it is particularly common in Louisiana, which has a large population of French speaking Cajuns. It is also quite common in Israel, with roughly 3000 people sharing the name Roi.

The most likely origin of the Roi surname is from Latin and Middle French, where it is thought to refer to a king or ruler. It could also be of German or Jewish origin, though there is less certainty about this. The surname may also come from an occupational title related to monarchy, such as a royal steward or pope.

Variations of the surname Roi

The surname Roi is an occupational name, originating from France. It is derived from the Old French word roi, meaning "king". The various spellings, variants, and surnames of the same origin, include:

Roy - This is the most frequently encountered variant form of the surname Roi, with origins from France, Great Britain, and the French-speaking provinces of Canada. It is also used in Dutch, English, German, and Yiddish.

Roil - This is a German form of the surname Roi. The German translation of the word roi is roil, which may be an alternate spelling of the surname.

Royce - This is an English variant of the surname Roi. It is derived from the French word roy, meaning ‘king’, and the suffix ce.

Roys - This is a French variant of the surname. It originates from the Old French wording roys, meaning ‘king’.

Rou - This variant of the surname originates from France. It is derived from the Old French word roue, meaning ‘royal’.

Roise - This is a medieval French variant of the surname. It originates from the Old French word roients, which is the plural of roi.

Rouet - This is a French variant of the surname Roi. It is derived from the Old French word rouet, meaning ‘spinning wheel’.

Ruy - This is a Spanish variant of the surname Roi. It is derived from the Old Spanish word ruy, meaning ‘king’.

Roe - This is a variant of the surname, which is used in English. It is derived from the German word roe, meaning ‘king’.

Reia - This is a variant of the surname Roi. It is believed to originate from the Hebrew word reia, meaning ‘friend’.

Famous people with the name Roi

• Alexandra Roi: Romanian actress and TV presenter.
• Philippe Roi du Béarn: Prince of Bearn from 1343-1391.
• David Roi-Moshe: Israeli dancer, actor and choreographer.
• Pierre-Olivier Roi: French philosopher and professor at the Sorbonne.
• Sophie Roi-Russel: English opera singer.
• Maxime Roi: French singer-songwriter.
• Jacinte Roi: French newspaper editor and socialist activist.
• Jean-Yves Roi: French businessman, philanthropist and President of the BNPParibas Foundation.
• Joseph Roi de la Penha: Canadian politician and lawyer.
• Laetitia Roi-Delon: French-American artist.
• John H. Roi: American politician and member of the New York State Assembly.
• Marie-Hélène Roi: French singer and songwriter.
• Elisabeth Roi: French painter and videographer.
• Countess Marie-Madeleine de Rochefoucauld-Roi: French heiress and philanthropist.
• Eric Roi: French entrepreneur and former president of the French Global Compact Network.
• Elizabeth Roi: British mineralogist and geologist.
• Laurent Roi: French politician and Member of the European Parliament.
• Amado V. Roi: Filipino lawyer, author and Panaglaban Deputy Chairman.
• Yves Roi: Belgian musician and conductor.
• Cedrick Roi: French former professional football player.

Other surnames

Roijakkers