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Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

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The name Lord is part of the ancient legacy of the Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. The name was taken on by someone who worked as a hlalord which meant lord, master or Lord's servant. 1 2 3

The "term of civil dignity, a master, ruler, the proprietor of a manor, derived from the Anglo-Saxon ord, which comes from ored, a governor, with the prefix of the letter L, le, denoting the person or place. Gaelic, ard, ord, high, lofty, the prime chief, superior. Lord has been derived from Hlaford, which is compounded of Hlaf, a loaf, and ford, to give,-a bread-giver." 4

Early Origins of the Lord family

The surname Lord was first found in Suffolk where the Pipe Rolls of 1198 record William le Lauerd as holding lands there at that time. A few years later, Gilbert Louerd was listed in Northumberland c. 1202 and John le Lord was found in Huntingdonshire in 1252. 1

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 included: Robert le Loverd, Oxfordshire; William le Loverd, Nottinghamshire; Roger le Lord, Cambridgeshire; and Walter le Lord, Huntingdonshire. 2

Richard le Lord, filius Margarete le Lord was listed in the Close Rolls, 9 Richard II (during the ninth year of Richard II's reign.)

Early History of the Lord family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Lord research. Another 65 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1198, 1252, 1273, 1300, 1573, 1633 and 1645 are included under the topic Early Lord History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Lord Spelling Variations

Before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago, spelling variations of names were a common occurrence. Elements of Latin, French and other languages became incorporated into English through the Middle Ages, and name spellings changed even among the literate. The variations of the surname Lord include Lord, Lorde and others.

Early Notables of the Lord family

Notables of this surname at this time include:

  • William Lord of Suffolk

Lord World Ranking

In the United States, the name Lord is the 1,268th most popular surname with an estimated 24,870 people with that name. 5 However, in Canada, the name Lord is ranked the 746th most popular surname with an estimated 7,186 people with that name. 6 And in Quebec, Canada, the name Lord is the 443rd popular surname. 7 Australia ranks Lord as 560th with 6,837 people. 8 New Zealand ranks Lord as 621st with 1,151 people. 9 The United Kingdom ranks Lord as 521st with 12,636 people. 10

Ireland Migration of the Lord family to Ireland

Some of the Lord family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 37 words (3 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

United States Lord migration to the United States +

A great wave of immigration to the New World was the result of the enormous political and religious disarray that struck England at that time. Families left for the New World in extremely large numbers. The long journey was the end of many immigrants and many more arrived sick and starving. Still, those who made it were rewarded with an opportunity far greater than they had known at home in England. These emigrant families went on to make significant contributions to these emerging colonies in which they settled. Some of the first North American settlers carried this name or one of its variants:

Lord Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Richard Lord, who landed in Cambridge, Massachusetts in 1632 11
  • Mr. Thomas Lord, (b. 1585), aged 50, British settler from Northamptonshire travelling from London, England aboard the ship "Elizabeth and Anne" arriving in Massachusetts Bay (Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire) in 1635 12
  • Mrs. Dorothy Lord, (b. 1589), aged 46, British settler travelling from London, England aboard the ship "Elizabeth and Anne" arriving in Massachusetts Bay (Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire) in 1635 12
  • Mr. Thomas Lord, (b. 1619), aged 16, British settler travelling from London, England aboard the ship "Elizabeth and Anne" arriving in Massachusetts Bay (Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire) in 1635 12
  • Miss Ann Lord, (b. 1621), aged 14, British settler travelling from London, England aboard the ship "Elizabeth and Anne" arriving in Massachusetts Bay (Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire) in 1635 12
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Lord Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Matthew Lord, who settled in New Hampshire in 1718
  • Shadrick Lord, who arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1744 11
  • Jean Lord, who arrived in C,onnecticut in 1763 11
  • Pierre Lord, who landed in Connecticut in 1763 11
  • Louis Lord, who landed in Connecticut in 1763 11
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Lord Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Daniel Lord, who landed in America in 1807 11
  • Richard Lord, one of the founders of Hartford Connecticut, and who served as a law officer in the colonies
  • Jose Lord, aged 28, who landed in New Orleans, La in 1829 11
  • B Lord, aged 30, who arrived in New Orleans, La in 1836 11
  • John Lord, who arrived in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1838 11
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Canada Lord migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Lord Settlers in Canada in the 17th Century
  • Gilles Lord, aged 21, who landed in Canada in 1694
Lord Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
  • John Lord, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1750
Lord Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • Mr. Christopher Lord, aged 7 who was emigrating through Grosse Isle Quarantine Station, Quebec aboard the ship "Pursuit" departing 4th June 1847 from Liverpool, England; the ship arrived on 23rd June 1847 but he died on board 13
  • R H Lord, who arrived in Victoria, British Columbia in 1862

Australia Lord migration to Australia +

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

Lord Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. James Lord, (b. 1757), aged 46, British labourer who was convicted in York, Yorkshire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Calcutta" in February 1803, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, he died in 1824 14
  • Mrs. Ann Lord, (nee Hayhurst), (b. 1780), aged 32, English cotton spinner who was convicted in Lancaster, Lancashire, England for 14 years for larceny, transported aboard the "Emu" in October 1812, the ship was captured and the passengers put ashore, the convicts were then transported aboard the "Broxburnebury" in January 1812 arriving in New South Wales, Australia, she died in 1861 15
  • Mr. John Lord, English settler travelling with convict Ann Lane, transported aboard the "Emu" in October 1812, the ship was captured and the passengers put ashore, the convicts were then transported aboard the "Broxburnebury" in January 1812 arriving in New South Wales, Australia 15
  • Miss Ruth Lord, English settler travelling with convict Ann Lane, transported aboard the "Emu" in October 1812, the ship was captured and the passengers put ashore, the convicts were then transported aboard the "Broxburnebury" in January 1812 arriving in New South Wales, Australia 15
  • Mr. Robert Lord, (David, Isaac), English convict who was convicted in Norfolk, England for 14 years, transported aboard the "Fame" on 9th October 1816, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 16
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

New Zealand Lord migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Lord Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • J Lord, who landed in Auckland, New Zealand in 1841
  • Mr. James Lord, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Tobago" arriving in Wellington, New Zealand on 14th September 1842 17
  • Mr. Michael Lord, British settler, as the 2nd Detachment of New Zealand Corps of Royal New Zealand Fencibles travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Minerva" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 8th October 1847 18
  • Mr. William Lord, (b. 1841), aged 20, English labourer, from Yorkshire travelling from London aboard the ship "Sebastopol" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 14th December 1861 17
  • Sarah Lord, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Gertrude" in 1863 19
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

West Indies Lord migration to West Indies +

The British first settled the British West Indies around 1604. They made many attempts but failed in some to establish settlements on the Islands including Saint Lucia and Grenada. By 1627 they had managed to establish settlements on St. Kitts (St. Christopher) and Barbados, but by 1641 the Spanish had moved in and destroyed some of these including those at Providence Island. The British continued to expand the settlements including setting the First Federation in the British West Indies by 1674; some of the islands include Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Island, Turks and Caicos, Jamaica and Belize then known as British Honduras. By the 1960's many of the islands became independent after the West Indies Federation which existed from 1958 to 1962 failed due to internal political conflicts. After this a number of Eastern Caribbean islands formed a free association. 20
Lord Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century
  • James Lord, who settled in Barbados in 1660

Contemporary Notables of the name Lord (post 1700) +

  • Sterling Lord (1920-2022), American literary agent, editor, and author from Burlington, Iowa
  • Walter Lord (1917-2002), American author, best known for his non-fiction book "A Night to Remember," about the sinking of the RMS Titanic
  • Miles Welton Lord (1919-2016), American Democratic Party politician, Candidate for Minnesota State House of Representatives, 1950; U.S. Attorney for Minnesota, 1961-66; U.S. District Judge for Minnesota, 1966
  • Major-General Royal Bertrand Lord (1899-1963), American Commanding General Assembly Command, European Theater of Operations (1945) 21
  • Brigadier-General Kenneth Prince Lord (1888-1957), American Chief of Staff 1st Army (1941-1944) 22
  • William Lord (1841-1915), American Medal of Honor recipient for his actions in the American Civil War
  • Jack Lord (1920-1998), born John Joseph Patrick Ryan, an American television, film, and Broadway actor, best remembered for his role in the television series "Hawaii Five-O"
  • John Lord (1810-1894), American historian and lecturer
  • Bert Lord (1869-1939), American Republican politician, Member of New York State Assembly from Chenango County, 1915-21, 1924-30; Member of New York State Senate 40th District, 1930-34 23
  • Balfour Bowen Thorn Lord (1906-1965), American Democratic Party politician, U.S. Attorney for New Jersey, 1943-45; Chair of Mercer County Democratic Party, 1949-65; New Jersey Democratic State Chair, 1961-65 23
  • ... (Another 87 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Suggested Readings for the name Lord +

  • Fifty New England Colonists and Five Virginia Families by Florence Weiland,.
  • The Descendants of Thomas and Mary Lord of Rochdale (Lancashire) England by Thomas Henry Lord.
  1. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  2. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  3. Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
  4. Arthur, William , An Etymological Dictionary of Family and Christian Names. London: 1857. Print
  5. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  6. "Surnames Meanings, Origins & Distribution Maps - Forebears." Forebears, https://forebears.io/surnames
  7. "The first 1,000 family names by rank, Quebec (in French only)" Institut de la statistique du Quebec, https://statistique.quebec.ca/en/document/family-names-in-quebec/tableau/the-first-1000-family-names-by-rank-quebec
  8. "Most Common Last Names in Australia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/australia/surnames
  9. "Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
  10. "UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10
  11. 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)
  12. Pilgrim Ship Lists Early 1600's. Retrieved 24th September 2021 from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm
  13. Charbonneau, André, and Doris Drolet-Dubé. A Register of Deceased Persons at Sea and on Grosse Île in 1847. The Minister of Canadian Heritage, 1997. ISBN: 0-660-198/1-1997E (p. 84)
  14. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 25th November 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/calcutta
  15. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 3rd November 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/Emu
  16. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 27th September 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/fairlie
  17. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  18. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  19. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 12th December 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  20. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_West_Indies
  21. Generals of World War II. (Retrieved 2012, April 2) Royal Lord. Retrieved from http://generals.dk/general/Lord/Royal_Bertrand/USA.html
  22. Generals of World War II. (Retrieved 2012, April 2) Kenneth Lord. Retrieved from http://generals.dk/general/Lord/Kenneth_Prince/USA.html
  23. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 12) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
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