Floyd

Background:  The Flood name was originally Fludd or Floyd. The English name Floyd is the same as the Welsh Llwyd (or clwyd), meaning brown, gray, hoary or the Welsh Lloyd and Lhuyd, meaning gray or brown. The Irish surname Floyd was originally from the Gaelic McTuile, O Maoltuile, or Mac Maoltuile. Tuile meant ‘flood’ and in Ireland, Tully and Flood were interchangeable. The surname Lloyd has its home in North and South Wales; but it is frequently found in Shropshire, Hereford, and Monmouth, England.

The Floyd family of is of ancient Welsh descent and sometimes resided at Beeston Castle which was destroyed in 1645. The family descends from Captain John Floyd of the 1st Dragoon Guards, of Prestbury, Cheshire, and St. Chadds, Shrewsbury. He was born in 1707. On October 28, 1746, he married Mary, daughter of Rev. Richard Bate of Chilham, Kent (born 1713 and died November 8, 1782). Their children were John, who became the first baronet; Thomas, a Lieutenant in the Royal Navy, who died on board HMS Conqueror off Sandy Hook in October 16, 1778, unmarried; Elisabeth Powys, born 1752 and died unmarried April 11, 1830; and Caroline, who married John Christopher Ridout, of Baughurst House, Hants. He died October 21, 1817 and she died March 7, 1821. Captain Floyd served in the Seven Year War. He fought in the battle of Minden and died of wounds received September 12, 1759 serving in Germany.

His oldest son, General Sir John Floyd, was the 1st Baronet. He began his military career at the age of 12, when he was appointed cornet in Eliot’s light horse (16th hussars) during 1760, due to his father’s influence. He eventually attained the rank of General and was granted a baronetcy on March 30, 1816. Sir John married his first wife, Rebecca Juliana, daughter of Charles Darke (an eminent merchant of Madras) January 9, 1791. They had children: Henry (2nd Baronet), Miranda, Julia, Flavia. She died February 3, 1802. He married his second wife, Anna, the widow of Sir Harry Denny, Baronet of Tralee Castle, and daughter of Crosbie Morgell, of Mount Morgell, county Limerick, on July 29, 1805. Sir John was born February 22, 1748 and died January 10, 1818. Lady Floyd died November 4, 1844.

Sir John was survived by his only son, Sir Henry Floyd, the 2nd baronet. Born September 2, 1793, he married Mary, eldest daughter and co-heir of William Murray, of Latium, Jamaica, and Bryanston Square, London, August 30, 1821. Their children were: John (3rd Baronet), William Murray, and Robert Peel. Sir John’s wife died October 27, 1870.

Early American and New World Settlers - Melchesedick Floyd arrived in Virginia in 1638. James John Floyd (1750 – 1783), known as John Floyd, was a pioneer around Louisville, Kentucky where he worked as a surveyor for land development and helped lay out Louisville. He served as a Colonel of the Kentucky Militia and participated in raids with George Rogers Clark.

Name Variations:  Floyd, Floyde, Flude, Flood, Floode, Lloyd, Llwyd, Lloid, Loyd, Loid, Lwyd, Tully, MacTully, Talley, Tally.

References:
One or more of the following publications has been referenced for this article.
The General Armory; Sir Bernard Burke - 1842.
A Handbook of Mottoes; C.N. Elvin - 1860.
English Surnames; C.M. Matthews - 1966.
A Dictionary of English Surnames; P.H. Reaney - 1958.
Coadb.com: https://coadb.com/surnames/floyd-arms.html

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