This surname is derived from a geographical locality. 'at the rode' (so always spelt in early records), an old term implying a ridding, or clearing. Compounded with the Christian name of the proprietor or settler we get Murgatroyd (Mergret = Margaret) or Ormerod (Ortne). Whitaker, in his History and Ant. of Craven, has such spots as Tomrode and Wilimotrode (Wilmot = William):. Sometimes 'royd' is compounded with the names of the hills cleared, as in Holroyd or Acroyd; sometimes with the profession of the resident, as Monkroyd or Smithroyd (Whitaker); sometimes with a word descriptive of the locality, as in Huntroyd. The glossary to Hulton's Coucher Book of Whalley Abbey says: 'Roda, an assart or clearing. Rode land is used in this sense in modern German, in which the verb rodm means to clear. The combination of the syllable rod, rode, or toyd with some other term, or with the name of an original settler, has, no doubt, given to particular localities such designations as Huntroyd, Ormerod, &c.' See Notes and Queries, ist Ser., vol. v.., for further authorities. Dr. Whitaker styles it 'a participial substantive of the provisional verb rid, to clear or grub up': see History Whalley, 3rd edit. See Roades for further instances.

Johannes del Rode, 1379: Poll Tax of Yorkshire.

Adam de Roides, 1379: ibid.

Johannes del Rodes, 1379: ibid.

An English surname of local origin current in Fife. Of comparatively recent introduction.

(Scandinavian) Dweller at a Clearing [Old Norse rióþ-r, a forest-clearing] Cp. Routh1.

Royd: (Old Norse), a clearing in a wood; German rode, as Gernerode, or Reute. Much used in Yorkshire: Kebroyd, Holroyd, Akenoyd (oak clearing), Ormrod (the clearing made by Orme); the Yorkshire family of Rhodes. The following passage from the Icelandic Kjalnessinga Sagaillustrates what took place in the North of England, where the woods covered hill and dale: “All the Kjalness was overgrown with wood, so that it had to be cleared (royded), and men cleared (royded) for farms and ways. Soon much was cleared (royded) to the hills from Hof. There Helgi and Andrith cleared (royded) in spring. And when they came to the holt, then said Helgi: ‘ Here, Arnoth, will I give you land, and you shall erect a farmhouse [boer].”—”Islendinga Sögur,” 1847, ii., p. 400. The surname Ruddiman may not be descriptive of a florid countenance, but indicate a man who royded woodland, cutting down trees and stubbing up their roots. Mr. Rudyard Kipling takes his first name from a garth that has been so cleared. The Yorkshire Ridings designate the clearings effected.