A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Llwyd family of Wales.
Reg. 2650 · Welsh, J–L
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Historical info
Source
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Ar. an eagle displ. with two heads”
SalopLlwyn-y-Maen · Salop, c. 1647
Where the Llwyd Arms Were Recorded
Map of Wales showing where the Llwyd arms are recorded
The Llwyd arms were recorded in Salop, c. 1647.
Shropshire lay on the Welsh border, and border country needed men who could fight. Families held their land in return for service, and service in arms is what a coat of arms was originally for.
This is where the arms were entered in the register. Families often moved to other parts of the country, so the same name can turn up in more than one region.
The body that granted and recorded arms in Wales in this period.
Charles I of England
Sovereign of the period
Charles I of England
1625–1649
Reigning in Wales when the Llwyd arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Wales
English heraldry allowed arms to be shared by all legitimate descendants of the original owner. These symbols were treated as personal property that moved through the generations to all children. While the eldest son kept the original design, other family members could use the same shield without needing to change it or register their own unique versions.
Granting authority
The College of Arms in London has regulated the use of coats of arms throughout England and Wales since 1484.
How they got arms
Families typically obtained their coats of arms through a formal grant from the Crown or by proving their ancient right to them.
Where arms were recorded
All official coats of arms are recorded in the registers kept at the College of Arms, which date back to the fifteenth century.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Salop.
Origin & History of the Llwyd Family in Wales
The name Llwyd is a classic Welsh surname that originates from the adjective meaning grey or hoary. In early Welsh society, this name was often used as a descriptive nickname to distinguish individuals based on their physical appearance, such as having grey hair or a pale complexion. By the time the family was established in the county of Salop in 1647, the name had evolved from a simple identifier into a formal hereditary surname passed down through generations. Living in the borderlands between Wales and England, families like the Llwyds often navigated a unique cultural space where Welsh traditions met English administrative practices. This movement across the border was common during the seventeenth century as families sought new land and economic opportunities in the English shires. Over time, the spelling of the name became standardized in English records, though it remains a proud link to the linguistic roots of the Welsh people.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
llwyd
A Brythonic adjective meaning grey or brown.
This name
LlwydA descriptive surname referring to someone with grey or brown hair or a swarthy complexion.
also spelled
Lloyd
Lloyde
Floyd
Related arms
Floydvariant spelling
Lloydvariant spelling
Lloydevariant spelling
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Morgan, T. J. and Morgan, P., Welsh Surnames, 1985
Reaney, P. H., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1991
The National Archives, State Papers Domestic, Charles I, 1647
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
