Show ContentsLad History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The Lad name was coined by the Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. Lad was originally a name given to someone who worked as a person who worked as a servant or a page. This surname was originally derived from the Old English word Ladde, an English occupational name for a servant. 1 2 Conversely, another source claims that name was derived differently as "in Old English and Scotch, a lade means a canal or duct for water. " 3 In this latter scenario, the name would have been again an occupational name for one who works or lives near a canal.

Early Origins of the Lad family

The surname Lad was first found in Somerset where Godric Ladda was one of the first records of the name c. 1100. Later Richard Ladde was listed in Northumberland c. 1175 and Walter le Ladd was listed in Kent. 1 The Hundredorum Rolls of lists: Roger Ladde in Huntingdonshire and Thomas Ladde in Cambridgeshire. 2

Early History of the Lad family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Lad research. Another 38 words (3 lines of text) covering the year 1664 is included under the topic Early Lad History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Lad Spelling Variations

It is only in the last few hundred years that the English language has been standardized. For that reason, early Anglo-Saxon surnames like Lad are characterized by many spelling variations. As the English language changed and incorporated elements of other European languages, even literate people changed the spelling of their names. The variations of the name Lad include: Ladd, Ladde, Laddey, Ladds, Lade, Ladey, Laddy and others.

Early Notables of the Lad family

Notables of the family at this time include

  • Ladd of Somerset

Ireland Migration of the Lad family to Ireland

Some of the Lad family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. More information about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Lad family

Many English families tired of political and religious strife left Britain for the new colonies in North America. Although the trip itself offered no relief - conditions on the ships were extremely cramped, and many travelers arrived diseased, starving, and destitute - these immigrants believed the opportunities that awaited them were worth the risks. Once in the colonies, many of the families did indeed prosper and, in turn, made significant contributions to the culture and economies of the growing colonies. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families has revealed a number of immigrants bearing the name Lad or a variant listed above: Daniel Ladd, who settled in Salem in 1633; John Ladd, who settled in Virginia in 1653; Charles and Michael Laddy, who arrived in Philadelphia in 1867.


Contemporary Notables of the name Lad (post 1700) +

  • Lad S. Stacey (b. 1926), American Republican politician, Member of Michigan State House of Representatives 44th District, 1979-90 4


  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. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  4. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, April 29) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


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