Show ContentsMcLoud History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

McLoud comes from the ancient Dalriadan clans of Scotland's west coast and Hebrides islands. The name comes from the personal name Leod. The Gaelic form of the surname is Mac Leoid, which means son of Leod, son of Olaf the Black, King of Man and the Northern Isles. Olaf was from a dynasty of Norse Kings, who, for centuries held the Isles. They were in turn descended from King Halfdan the Stingy, a King who was reputed to be descended from the god Frey. Leod held the island of Lewis, the mainland Glenelg and part of Skye in about 1195 AD. It was his two sons who founded the two great branches of the Siol Tormod and the Siol Torquil.

Early Origins of the McLoud family

The surname McLoud was first found in on the Isle of Lewis (Scottish Gaelic: Leòdhas), where the Siol Tormod branch held the territories of Harris, Glenelg and Dunvegan Castle in Skye; while the Siol Torquil branch held Assynt and Cadboll, and the Island of Ramasay. There were no title deeds for these territories as they had been considered possessions of Norway. Yet when King Haakon asserted his authority over the lands in 1263 King Alexander resisted. Although the Scottish King Alexander signed the Treaty of Perth allowing payment of rent to Norway for all these lands, it was never paid and the whole of the western Isles became Scottish possessions.

Early History of the McLoud family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our McLoud research. Another 380 words (27 lines of text) covering the years 1314, 1597, 1613, 1715, 1745, 1777, 1901 and 1959 are included under the topic Early McLoud History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

McLoud Spelling Variations

The translation of Gaelic names in the Middle Ages was not a task undertaken with great care. Records from that era show an enormous number of spelling variations, even in names referring to the same person. Over the years McLoud has appeared as MacLeod, MacCleod, MacCloud, MacLoud and many more.

Early Notables of the McLoud family

Notable amongst the Clan from early times was Sir Roderick MacLeod of Dunvegan Castle who led 600 of his Clansmen to Ireland to assist in O'Donnell's rebellion and Lord MacLeod's Highlanders (73rd Regiment - later the 71st Regiment)...
Another 38 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early McLoud Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

McLoud Ranking

In the United States, the name McLoud is the 14,242nd most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 1


United States McLoud migration to the United States +

Many of the ancestors of Dalriadan families who arrived in North America still live in communities along the east coast of Canada and the United States. In the American War of Independence many of the original settlers traveled north to Canada as United Empire Loyalists. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries the ancestors of many Scots began recovering their collective national heritage through Clan societies, highland games, and other patriotic events. Research into the origins of individual families in North America revealed records of the immigration of a number of people bearing the name McLoud or a variant listed above:

McLoud Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • M. McLoud, aged 54, who settled in America, in 1896
McLoud Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • John W McLoud, aged 48, who landed in America, in 1907
  • Alexander McLoud, aged 26, who immigrated to the United States, in 1907
  • Emily McLoud, aged 43, who immigrated to America, in 1907
  • Elsie R. McLoud, aged 33, who landed in America, in 1910
  • Norman C. McLoud, aged 37, who landed in America, in 1910
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Canada McLoud migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

McLoud Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
  • Alexander McLoud, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1750

Australia McLoud migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

McLoud Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Jane Mcloud (aged 18), a nursery maid, who arrived in South Australia in 1856 aboard the ship "Gomelza"

Contemporary Notables of the name McLoud (post 1700) +

  • John William McLoud, early American railroad attorney, eponym of McLoud, Oklahoma in 1895
  • Jimmy McLoud (b. 1984), American singer-songwriter from Youngstown, Ohio


  1. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/


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