Show ContentsLoyd History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The Welsh Loyd 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 Loyd family

The surname Loyd 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 Loyd family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Loyd 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 Loyd History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Loyd Spelling Variations

Compared to other ancient cultures found in the British Isles, the number of Welsh surnames are relatively few, but there are an inordinately large number of spelling variations. These spelling variations began almost as soon as surname usage became common. People could not specify how to spell their own names leaving the specific recording up to the individual scribe or priest. Those recorders would then spell the names as they heard them, causing many different variations. Later, many Welsh names were recorded in English. This transliteration process was extremely imprecise since the Brythonic Celtic language of the Welsh used many sounds the English language was not accustomed to. Finally, some variations occurred by the individual's design: a branch loyalty within a family, a religious adherence, or even patriotic affiliations were indicated by spelling variations of one's name. The Loyd name over the years has been spelled Lloyd, Llwyd, Lloid, Loyd, Loid, Lwyd and others.

Early Notables of the Loyd family

Prominent amongst the family during the late Middle Ages was

  • 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 (1660 to 1667)
  • Sir Francis Lloyd (died 1669), a Welsh politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1640 to 1644, fought in the Royalist army in the English Civil War
  • Sir John Lloyd, 1st Baronet (ca. 1617-1664), an English politician in the House of Commons for Carmarthenshire
  • Sir Richard Lloyd (1606-1676), an English politician who sat in the House of Commons at between 1628 and 1676
  • Sir Richard Lloyd (1634-1686), an English jurist and politician
  • John Lloyd (1638-1687), Principal of Jesus College, Oxford, Vice-Chancellor of Oxford University and Bishop of St David's
  • Thomas Lloyd (1640-1694) Welsh-born, Lieutenant Governor of provincial Pennsylvania and a Quaker preacher
  • Saint John Lloyd (died 1679), Welsh priest, declared guilty of treason and executed, one of The Forty Martyrs of England and Wales

Loyd Ranking

In the United States, the name Loyd is the 2,055th most popular surname with an estimated 14,922 people with that name. [5]

Ireland Migration of the Loyd family to Ireland

Some of the Loyd 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 Loyd migration to the United States +

Many Welsh joined the great migrations to North America in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Like their Scottish and Irish neighbors, many Welsh families left their homeland hoping to find hope and prosperity in a land that the English did not exercise a tight rule over. Those Welsh immigrants that successfully traveled to North America went on to make significant contributions to the rapid development of both Canada and the United States in terms of the settling of land and the establishment of industry. They also added to the rich cultural heritage of both countries. An examination into the immigration and passenger lists has discovered a number of people bearing the name Loyd:

Loyd Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Edward Loyd, who landed in Virginia in 1623 [6]
  • John Loyd, who landed in Virginia in 1623 [6]
  • Mathew Loyd, who arrived in Virginia in 1623 [6]
  • Morice Loyd, who arrived in Virginia in 1623 [6]
  • Nathaniell Loyd, who arrived in Virginia in 1623 [6]
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Loyd Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Amy Loyd, who arrived in Virginia in 1701 [6]
  • Law Loyd, who arrived in Virginia in 1701 [6]
  • John Loyd, who landed in Virginia in 1702 [6]
  • Johanna Loyd, who landed in Virginia in 1702 [6]
  • George Loyd, who landed in Virginia in 1702 [6]
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Loyd Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • William Loyd, aged 52, who landed in Rhode Island in 1812 [6]
  • William Loyd, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1842 [6]
  • Lishon Loyd, who arrived in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1847 [6]
  • Dennis Loyd, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1848 [6]
  • John Loyd, who arrived in San Francisco, California in 1850 [6]
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Canada Loyd migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Loyd Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
  • David Loyd, who landed in Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1749-1752
  • John Loyd, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1749
  • Mr. Daniel Loyd U.E. who settled in Fredericksburgh [Greater Napanee], Ontario c. 1784 [7]
  • Mr. George Henry Loyd U.E. who settled in Canada c. 1784 [7]
  • Mr. Richard Loyd U.E. who settled in Fredericksburgh [Greater Napanee], Ontario c. 1784 [7]
Loyd Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • Margaret Loyd, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1832

Australia Loyd migration to Australia +

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

Loyd Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • James Loyd, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Ramillies" in 1849 [8]

Contemporary Notables of the name Loyd (post 1700) +

  • Charles Michael Loyd (b. 1956), former American football quarterback
  • Todd Loyd (b. 1975), American theatre director, actor, teacher and Artistic Director
  • Jerry Loyd (b. 1954), former American college basketball coach
  • Edgar Alex Loyd (1927-1976), American football end
  • Eric Loyd (b. 1985), American soccer defender
  • Overton Loyd, American artist
  • Samuel Loyd (1841-1911), American chess player, noted for his chess problem named "Excelsior," inducted into the US Chess Hall of Fame
  • Brian Loyd (b. 1973), American baseball player
  • Archie Kirkman Loyd (1847-1922), British barrister and twice Member of Parliament
  • The Rt Rev Philip Henry Loyd (1884-1952), eminent British Anglican Bishop and author
  • ... (Another 4 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)


The Loyd 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. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  6. 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)
  7. Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X
  8. State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) RAMILIES 1849. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1849Ramillies.htm


Houseofnames.com on Facebook