Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Rorestun(e), Roreston(e) 1086 DB 1154 Brett 1155–9 YCh 1159–71 1161 Pont 1172–81 YCh 1200,e.13 Brett 13 YDx 1233 BM 1300 Ebor 1366 YDi 1428 FA

• Roriston 1186 Brett 13 YDvii

• Roston 1268 Ebor 1316 Vill 1334 FF 1342,1349 Brett 1357 YDi 1363 FF 1379 PT 1466 YDiii

• Ruston 1409 DiocV 1422 YDvii 1435 Brett 1531 Testiv

• Roiston(e), Royston(e) 1411 Brett 1417 YDiii 1552 WillY 1557 FF 1579 Dep 1662 PRThl

• Ruyston 1539,1565 FF

• Roustone 1579 Dep

• Roistone als. Rowestone 1608 FF

Etymology

Royston has been derived, like Ruston YE 94, from the ON  pers.n. Hróarr (Goodall, Moorman s.n.); this assumes the simplification of Hróarr to Rōr -, as in late OE  Rold (BCS 1052, DB) from ON  Hróaldr ; since, however, the latter pers.n. usually appears in ME  as Roald (cf. Björkman, NP 69, ZEN 69) and Hróarr might therefore be presumed to become Roar , Royston and Ruston should be derived from an OE  Hrōr (from hrōr 'active, strong') which Ekwall proposes also for Rorrington Sa. On the later dial. form Royston cf. Phonol. § 28. 'Hrōr's farmstead', v. tūn .