Lloyd is a distinctly Welsh name that became woven into the gentry of several Irish counties.
Where does the Lloyd name come from?
Lloyd comes from the Welsh word llwyd, meaning "grey" — originally a descriptive nickname for someone with grey hair, a grey beard, or perhaps grey or sober clothing. It is one of the most recognisably Welsh of all surnames. It is not a native Gaelic Irish name; it came to Ireland through the close ties between Wales and Ireland and through settlement, and put down lasting roots.
Lloyd in Ireland
In Ireland the name became established among landed families, particularly in counties such as Roscommon, Limerick and the midlands, where Lloyd families held estates and took part in local life over several generations. From these roots the name spread more widely. Today Lloyd is found across Ireland and among the diaspora in the United States, Canada, Australia and Britain.
Related Irish family names
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Lloyd mean?
It comes from the Welsh word llwyd, meaning "grey," originally a nickname for a grey-haired or grey-clad ancestor.
Is Lloyd a Welsh or Irish name?
Lloyd is Welsh in origin and one of the most distinctly Welsh surnames, but it has long been carried by Irish gentry families, especially in Roscommon, Limerick and the midlands.
Is there a Lloyd family crest?
Historic arms were associated with particular people and lines, not automatically with everyone who shares the Lloyd surname. Crest-style images on heritage gifts are decorative family-name emblems rather than proof of inherited arms.
See the Lloyd Welsh & Irish Family Heritage Gifts collection for the exact surname in Welsh and Irish presentations.