Ludd History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

Etymology of Ludd

What does the name Ludd mean?

The name Ludd is part of the ancient legacy of the Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. The name was taken on by someone who worked as a person who worked as a servant or a page. This surname was originally derived from the Old English word Ladde, an English occupational name for a servant. 1 2 Conversely, another source claims that name was derived differently as "in Old English and Scotch, a lade means a canal or duct for water. " 3 In this latter scenario, the name would have been again an occupational name for one who works or lives near a canal.

Early Origins of the Ludd family

The surname Ludd was first found in Somerset where Godric Ladda was one of the first records of the name c. 1100. Later Richard Ladde was listed in Northumberland c. 1175 and Walter le Ladd was listed in Kent. 1 The Hundredorum Rolls of lists: Roger Ladde in Huntingdonshire and Thomas Ladde in Cambridgeshire. 2

Early History of the Ludd family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Ludd research. Another 38 words (3 lines of text) covering the year 1664 is included under the topic Early Ludd History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ludd Spelling Variations

Before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago, spelling variations of names were a common occurrence. Elements of Latin, French and other languages became incorporated into English through the Middle Ages, and name spellings changed even among the literate. The variations of the surname Ludd include Ladd, Ladde, Laddey, Ladds, Lade, Ladey, Laddy and others.

Early Notables of the Ludd family

More information is included under the topic Early Ludd Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Ludd family to Ireland

Some of the Ludd family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. More information about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ludd migration to the United States +

A great wave of immigration to the New World was the result of the enormous political and religious disarray that struck England at that time. Families left for the New World in extremely large numbers. The long journey was the end of many immigrants and many more arrived sick and starving. Still, those who made it were rewarded with an opportunity far greater than they had known at home in England. These emigrant families went on to make significant contributions to these emerging colonies in which they settled. Some of the first North American settlers carried this name or one of its variants:

Ludd Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Isaac Ludd, aged 26, who landed in America in 1822 4

Citations +

Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)