Show ContentsLydiard History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Lydiard family

The surname Lydiard was first found in Lancashire at Lydiate, a village and civil parish of Halsall, union of Ormskirk, hundred of West Derby. Now part of Mersyside, the village dates back to the Domesday Book of 1086 where it was listed as Leiate and was held by Roger of Poitou at that time. 1 "In the reign of Richard II., this place was possessed by a family of the local name, whose heiress married into the Blackburn family; and an heiress of the latter conveyed Lydiate to Thomas, son of Sir John Ireland, of the Hutt, and Hale" 2

By 1202, the place name was listed as Liddigate. Literally the place name means "place at the swing-gate," from the Old English "hlid-geat." 3 Lydiate Ash is a small hamlet in Worcestershire.

Another branch of the family was found at Lidgate a parish, in the union of Newmarket, hundred of Risbridge in Suffolk. It is difficult to determine which of the parishes came first, but "near the church is a spacious and lofty mount with some remains of extensive intrenchments, probably the site of a strong castle.

Lydgate, the poet, was born at this place, from which he took his name." 2 John Lydgate of Bury (c. 1370-1451) was a monk and prolific poet who wrote over 145,000 lines. By example, his work Troy Book was over 30,000 lines based on a translation of the 13th century Latin writer Guido delle Colonne. He was an admirer of Geoffrey Chaucer and a close friend of his son, Thomas.

Early History of the Lydiard family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Lydiard research. Another 132 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1173, 1439, 1510 and 1600 are included under the topic Early Lydiard History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Lydiard Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Lydiat, Lydiatt, Liddiat, Liddiatt, Liddiard, Lidiard, Lydiate and many more.

Early Notables of the Lydiard family

More information is included under the topic Early Lydiard Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


Lydiard migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Lydiard Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • Sylvester Lydiard, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1834

Lydiard 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:

Lydiard Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Walter Lydiard, aged 38, a carpenter, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Salisbury" in 1876

Contemporary Notables of the name Lydiard (post 1700) +

  • L. A. Lydiard, American politician, Member of Minnesota State House of Representatives 34th District, 1915-16 4


  1. Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
  2. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  3. Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
  4. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 3) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


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