Find out how popular the last name Lloyd is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Lloyd.

Lloyd, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Lloyd surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Lloyd in America

Lloyd is the 522nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Lloyd surname appeared 64,202 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 22 people would have the surname Lloyd.

We can also compare 2010 data for Lloyd to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Lloyd

The surname Lloyd has its origins in Wales, dating back to the 12th century. It is derived from the Welsh word "llwyd," meaning "grey" or "brown," and was likely originally a nickname or descriptive name given to someone with grey or brown hair or complexion.

The earliest recorded instance of the name Lloyd can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Shropshire, England, from 1199, where a person named Robertus Loyd is mentioned. This suggests that the name had already been adopted by the English by the late 12th century.

During the Middle Ages, the name was often spelled in various ways, including Lloyd, Lloid, Loyd, and Loyde. It is believed to have been particularly prevalent in the counties of Denbighshire, Flintshire, and Montgomeryshire in Wales, as well as in the English counties bordering Wales.

One of the earliest notable individuals with the surname Lloyd was Gruffydd Llwyd (c. 1300-1370), a Welsh poet and genealogist. He was a prominent figure in the court of Prince Owain Glyndŵr and played a significant role in the Welsh War of Independence against the English in the early 15th century.

Another notable Lloyd was Humphrey Llwyd (c. 1527-1568), a Welsh cartographer and historian who produced one of the earliest detailed maps of Wales, known as the "Llwyd Manuscript." He also wrote extensively about Welsh history and geography.

In the 16th century, the Lloyd family became influential landowners in various parts of Wales, particularly in the counties of Denbighshire and Montgomeryshire. One notable member of this family was Sir Gruffydd Llwyd (c. 1520-1586), who served as High Sheriff of Denbighshire and was involved in the suppression of the Welsh Uprising of 1536-1537.

During the English Civil War in the 17th century, several members of the Lloyd family sided with the Parliamentarians against King Charles I. One of the most prominent figures was John Lloyd (1613-1687), a Welsh soldier and politician who served as a Member of Parliament and played a key role in the Commonwealth government under Oliver Cromwell.

Another notable Lloyd from this period was David Lloyd (1625-1691), a Welsh Quaker and writer who emigrated to Pennsylvania in the late 17th century. He served as the Deputy Governor of Pennsylvania and was instrumental in the early development of the colony.

Throughout history, the Lloyd surname has been associated with various notable figures in politics, literature, and other fields, both in Wales and beyond. Its origins as a descriptive name rooted in the Welsh language and culture have contributed to its enduring significance and popularity.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Lloyd

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Lloyd.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Lloyd was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Lloyd has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Lloyd was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Lloyd, please contact us.

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