Royalties began when the "upper classes" in England, France and other countries owned all the land, and received a continuous passive income from the "rent" of the tenants but in this case Operators who produce Oil & Gas from Mineral rights you'll own.
Because the people who received these ongoing payments were the Princes, Dukes, and Earls, the payments came to be called "Royalties".
Because the people who received these ongoing payments were the Princes, Dukes, and Earls, the payments came to be called "Royalties".