Meaning & History
Leroi is a variant of Leroy, a given name and surname of Norman origin. The name Leroy derives from the French nickname le roi meaning "the king." It has been common as an English given name since the 19th century and, since 1920 in the United States, has been mainly used by African Americans.
Etymology and Origin
The name Leroi, along with spellings such as Leroy, Le Roi, and Roy, originated with the Normans—descendants of Norse Vikings who settled in Amigny, a commune in Manche, Normandy. It comes from Old French roy or roi (pronounced [ʁwa]), meaning "king," used as a byname before the Norman Conquest and as a personal name in the Middle Ages. The Normans, known as "Northmen," brought this name to England after the conquest.
Notable Bearers
Notable individuals with the name Leroi include Leroi Moore (1961–2008), saxophonist of the Dave Matthews Band, and Leroi Ladson (born 1974), American singer and actor. The name also appears in South African context with Leron Paul Mothibeli, known as L-Roi, a singer, and in baseball with LeRoy Jacobson (born 1968), a former outfielder.
- Meaning: "the king"
- Origin: Norman, via Old French
- Type: Given name and surname
- Usage regions: English-speaking world, especially United States
Sources: Wikipedia — Leroi