Lloyd / Coat of Arms, Family Crest and Lloyd / Family History

Lloyd / Family History

The Lloyd ancient family history was found in the irishsurnames.com archives. The name Lloyd can be of Welsh, English and Irish origin. It is often derived from the old word 'llwyd' meaning 'grey', perhaps describing a person of that color or disposition. An early record of the name refers to a Richard Lloyd who was recorded in the Subsidy Rolls of Suffolk in the year 1524. An Ithell Lloitis was mentioned in the records of Chirk in Wales in the year 1391.

Names were recorded in these ancient documents to make it easier for their overlords to collect taxes and to keep records of the population at any given time. When the overlords acquired land by either force or gifts from their rulers, they created charters of ownership for themselves and their vassals. It was by the method of creating and updating these old reference books that they were able to maintain their authority and enforce laws.

In Ireland the name Lloyd is often a form of the Gaelic O'Maoltuile and MacMaoltuile sept names that were also changed to Floyd, Flood, Floody, Lloyd, Tully and McAtilla. Lloydsboro is located in County Tipperary. The Lloyd family crest (or coat of arms) came into existence many centuries ago. The process of creating these coats of arms began as early as the eleventh century although a form of Proto-Heraldry may have existed in some countries prior to this, including Ireland. The new more formalized art of Heraldry made it possible for families and even individual family members to have their very own family crest, coat of arms, including Lloyd descendants.