Show ContentsBloyd History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The Welsh Bloyd surname comes from the well-known Welsh personal name Lloyd. This name is originally derived from the word "llwyd," which means "grey." [1] [2] [3]

Early Origins of the Bloyd family

The surname Bloyd was first found in Montgomeryshire (Welsh: Sir Drefaldwyn), located in mid-Eastern Wales, one of thirteen historic counties, and anciently the medieval kingdom of Powys Wenwynwyn, where they held a family seat from very ancient times.

"A well-known Welsh personal name-sometimes corrupted to Floyd and Flood. As an hereditary surname it does not date beyond the XVI. century, yet many of the families bearing it are of great antiquity, as, for example :-Lloyd of Bronwydd is 23rd lord of the Barony of Kemes, co. Pembroke, in hereditary descent from Martin de Tours, a companion of William the Conqueror. Lloyd of Plymog claims from Marchudd ap Cynan, who flourished in the IX. cent., and founded the eighth noble tribe of North Wales, and Powys: King Henry VII. sprang from this family. Lloyd of Aston springs from the royal house of Powys. Lloyd of Dan-yrallt descends from Cadivor ap Dyfnwall, lord of Castle Howel, temp. Henry II., and lineally sprang from Rhodri Mawr, King of Wales. Lloyd of Coedmore claims from an ancient Prince of Ferlys. Lloyd of Clockfaen springs from the great Tudor Trevor, in the X. cent. Lloyd of Pale derives paternally from Held Molwyrogg, a chieftain of Denbighland, founder of the ninth noble tribe of N. Wales and Powys. " [4]

Early History of the Bloyd family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Bloyd research. Another 258 words (18 lines of text) covering the years 1172, 1380, 1410, 1580, 1585, 1589, 1606, 1617, 1619, 1628, 1634, 1638, 1640, 1644, 1651, 1659, 1660, 1661, 1664, 1667, 1669, 1676, 1679, 1682, 1683, 1686, 1687, 1691, 1694, 1709, 1714, 1716 and 1797 are included under the topic Early Bloyd History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Bloyd Spelling Variations

The Welsh have an extremely large amount of spelling variations of their native surnames to their credit. It was up to the priest or the scribe taking the official records to determine how the spoken name was to be made literal. As time progressed, the old Brythonic names of Wales were recorded in English, which was especially problematic since the English language had extreme difficulty recording the highly inflected sounds of Cymraeg. Spelling variations were, however, also carried out according to an individual's design: a branch loyalty within the family, a religious adherence, or even patriotic affiliations could be indicated by spelling variations of one's name. The spelling variations of the name Bloyd have included Lloyd, Llwyd, Lloid, Loyd, Loid, Lwyd and others.

Early Notables of the Bloyd family

Prominent amongst the family during the late Middle Ages was Gruffudd Llwyd (c. 1380-1410), a Welsh language poet, composed poems on themes of love and religion, characterized with the anti-English sentiment leading up to the rebellion led by Owain Glyndwr; Walter Lloyd (1580-1661), a Welsh politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1640 to 1644, supporter of the Royalist cause in the English Civil War; Sir Marmaduke Lloyd (1585-c.1651), a Welsh lawyer and landowner and a supporter of King Charles I of England during the English Civil War; Hugh Lloyd (ca. 1589-1667), a Welsh cleric, Anglican bishop of Llandaff...
Another 178 words (13 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Bloyd Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ireland Migration of the Bloyd family to Ireland

Some of the Bloyd 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.


United States Bloyd migration to the United States +

During the latter half of the 19th and the beginning of the 20th century, the people of Wales journeyed to North America to find a new life. They made major contributions to the arts, industry and commerce of both Canada and the United States, and added a rich cultural heritage to their newly adopted societies. A look at the immigration and passenger lists has shown a number of people bearing the name Bloyd:

Bloyd Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Daniel Bloyd, who landed in Maryland in 1658 [5]
Bloyd Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Geo Bloyd, who arrived in Virginia in 1703 [5]

Contemporary Notables of the name Bloyd (post 1700) +

  • Matt Bloyd, American actor, known for Postmodern Jukebox Feat. Brielle: Grenade (2016), The Four: Battle for Stardom (2018) and Glitterbomb (2018)
  • Paloma Bloyd (b. 1988), American actress from Chicago, Illinois, known for her roles in The Cold Light of Day (2012) No Rest for the Wicked (2011)


The Bloyd Motto +

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: Heb dduw heb ddym, Dhuw a digon
Motto Translation: Without God without anything, God is enough.


  1. Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
  2. Dixon, Bernard Homer, Surnames. London: John Wilson and son, 1857. Print
  3. Arthur, William , An Etymological Dictionary of Family and Christian Names. London: 1857. Print
  4. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  5. 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)


Houseofnames.com on Facebook