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![Show Contents]() Lerd History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
- Origins Available:
 Scotland Ireland
Early Origins of the Lerd familyThe surname Lerd was first found in Berwickshire, a lieutenancy area and historic county on the Scottish Borders. Literally, the surname means a "laird" or "landlord" and is obviously an occupational surname. Another sources claim the name means "lord" as in "Lord of the manor," 1 but we feel the former translation is more appropriate. The earliest record of the name was Roger Lawird or Lauird of Berwick who made an agreement with the Abbey of Kelso relating to his land in Waldefgat, Berwick in 1257. 2 Early History of the Lerd familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Lerd research. Another 98 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1296, 1552, 1781, 1782 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Lerd History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Lerd Spelling VariationsDuring the era when a person's name, tribe and posterity was one of his most important possessions, many different spellings were found in the archives examined. Lerd occurred in many references, and spelling variations of the name found included Laird, Lairde and others. Early Notables of the Lerd familyMore information is included under the topic Early Lerd Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.  Migration of the Lerd family to Ireland
Some of the Lerd family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 57 words (4 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
| Lerd migration to the United States | + |
Gradually becoming disenchanted with life in Ireland many of these uprooted families sailed aboard the armada of sailing ships known as the "White Sails" which plied the stormy Atlantic. These overcrowded ships often arrived with only 60 to 70% of their original passenger list, many dying of illness and the elements, were buried at sea. In North America, early immigrants bearing the family name Lerd, or a spelling variation of the surname include:
Lerd Settlers in United States in the 19th Century- James Lerd, aged 29, who landed in New York in 1812 3
The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.
Motto: Spero meliora
Motto Translation: I hope for better things.
- Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
- Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
- Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
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Lerd migration to the United States 
