This interesting name is of Anglo-Saxon origin, and is locational from one of a number of minor habitation sites situated in the North of England, and principally Yorkshire. The surname derives from the two Olde English pre 7th Century words "euld" meaning old, plus "rod", a clearing, to give "the old clearing". It is also possible that given the Yorkshire propensity for dropping letters that 'Oldroyde' is a variant of 'hol-royde', (Holdroyd), a popular surname in its own right. Whilst this must be accepted as a strong possibility, it is also true that any surname which dates back to medieval times as this does, has a very strong claim to be regarded in its own right! English topographical and locational surnames were usually acquired firstly by the 'lord of the manor', and then by those former inhabitants of the village who moved to another area, usually in search of work, and were then identified by the name of their birthplace. The 'Oldroyd' surname had already clearly emerged by the early part of the 14th Century (see below), and later examples include Robert Ouldroyde of Rothwell, Yorkshire, in 1666, whilst in 1741 Elizabeth Oldroyd married George Moore, at St Georges Chapel, Hanover Square, London. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Adam de Ouldrode, which was dated 1316, the pipe rolls of the city of Wakefiled, Yorkshire, during the reign of King Edward 11, known as 'Edward of Caernafon', 1307 - 1327. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.

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