Boyd History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The Boyd surname in Scotland is a habitational name, deriving from name of the island ofBute (“Bod,” in Gaelic) located in the Firth of Clyde. There was also a family of this name of Norman origin, that was first found in Shropshire where they were granted lands by Duke William of Normandy.

Early Origins of the Boyd family

The surname Boyd was first found in Ayrshire, where the first record of the name is Dominus Robertus de Boyd, who witnessed a contract in Irvine, Ayrshire, in 1205. The earliest Boyds were said to be vassals of the De Morevilles in the regality of Largs, and may have originally come north with them from England.

“Boyd, Gael, boidh, fair, or yellow haired. A nephew of Walter, first highsteward of Scotland, c. 1160, was known by this appellation, and was an the Lords Boyd, Earls of Arran, and lords Kilmarnoch-a family conspicuous in Scottish history, and now represented by the earl of Errol.” [1]

Family lore suggests that the surname descends from the family of Walter Fitz Alan, scion of Royal Stewarts of Scotland, who moved his family north to Scotland, became the 1st High Steward of Scotland (c.1150-1177) and held lands in Renfrewshire and Ayrshire. He had a son Simon, who had a son named Robert, who was blond; the Gaelic for which is “buidhe.” Records show that a Robert Boyd was a hero at the Battle of Largs in 1263. 

The Clan built Kilmarnock Castle (renamed Dean Castle, in 1700) in Ayrshire, and it was the primary seat of the Boyd family for over 400 years. It is presumed that the aforementioned Robert de Boyt, a tenant in Ayrshire rendered homage to English King Edward I in 1296 was later taken prisoner in 1306, while assisting Robert the Bruce in the latter’s successful attempt to gain control of Scotland. His brother Duncan Boyd was hanged in that same year for his support of Robert the Bruce. [2]

A descendant of this Robert Boyd was made Sir Robert Boyd, 1st Lord Boyd in 1454. Lord Boyd became Regent of Scotland for the infant King James III in 1460. In 1468, Boyd negotiated the marriage between the young King James III, and the daughter of the King of Norway and Denmark, thus acquiring control of the Shetland Isles and the Orkneys for Scotland. He was appointed Great Chamberlain for life and Lord Justice General in 1467. But, Lord Boyd fell out of favor with the Royal James family, was found guilty of treason, and fled to Alnwick, Northumberland.

Early History of the Boyd family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Boyd research.

Boyd Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Byard, Byearde, Byatt, Byat, Byart, Boyde, Boid, Boyd and many more.

Early Notables of the Boyd family

Notable amongst the Clan from early times was

• Lord Robert Boyd (d. 1469?), Scotch statesman, eldest son of Sir Thomas Boyd of Kilmarnock, was created a peer of parliament by James II by the title of Lord Boyd, and took his seat on 18 July 1454
• Robert Boyd, 4th Lord Boyd, (d. 1590), son of Robert the third lord who defeated the Earl of Glencairn at Glasgow in 1544
• Robert Boyd of Trochrig (1578-1627), Scottish theological writer, the eldest son of James Boyd, Archbishop of Glasgow, great-grandson of Robert Boyd (d. 1469) and owner of an estate in Ayrshire
• Alexander Boyd, 3rd Lord Boyd (died 1508) Scottish noble
• James Boyd, 9th Lord Boyd (died 1654), a Scottish noble who adhered to the Royalist cause during the Wars of the Three Kingdoms
• William Boyd, 3rd Earl of Kilmarnock (died 1717), a Scottish nobleman

Boyd World Ranking

In the United States, the name Boyd is the 134^th most popular surname with an estimated 169,116 people with that name. [3] However, in Canada, the name Boyd is ranked the 310^thmost popular surname with an estimated 14,175 people with that name. [4] And in Newfoundland, Canada, the name Boyd is the 542^nd popular surname with an estimated 85 people with that name. [5] Australia ranks Boyd as 192^nd with 16,692 people. [6] New Zealand ranks Boyd as 128^th with 3,592 people. [7] The United Kingdom ranks Boyd as 314^th with 19,398 people. [8]

 Migration of the Boyd family to Ireland

Some of the Boyd family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.

 Boyd migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were: 

Boyd Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

• Alexander Boyd, who arrived in Maryland in 1674 [9]

Boyd Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

• Martha Boyd, who landed in Massachusetts in 1712 [9]
• Jean Boyd, who landed in Louisiana in 1718-1724 [9]
• Adam Boyd, who arrived in New England in 1723 [9]
• Archibald Boyd, who arrived in New England in 1742 [9]
• Dougal Boyd, who landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1746 [9]

Boyd Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

• James Boyd, aged 26, who landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1804 [9]
• Margaret Boyd, who arrived in America in 1804 [9]
• Samuel Boyd, who landed in America in 1804 [9]
• William Boyd, who arrived in America in 1804 [9]
• Charles, Boyd Sr., who landed in South Carolina in 1806 [9]

 Boyd migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were: 

Boyd Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

• Peter Boyd who settled in Conception Bay, Newfoundland in 1706 [10]
• Peter Boyd, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1749
• James Boyd, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1750

Boyd Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

• John Boyd, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1801
• John Boyd, aged 7, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1801
• Mary Boyd, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1801
• Mary Boyd, aged 4, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1801
• Alex Boyd, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1801

 Boyd migration to Australia+

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include: 

Boyd Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

• Mr. James Boyd, (b. 1804), aged 15, Scottish carpenter who was convicted in Glasgow, Scotland for life, transported aboard the “Canada” on 23rd April 1819, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, he died in 1831 [11]
• Mr. John Boyd, (b. 1806), aged 21, Irish house servant who was convicted in Dublin, Ireland for 7 years for house robbery, transported aboard the “Countess of Harcourt“ on 14th February 1827, arriving in New South Wales, Australia [12]
• Robert Boyd, a stone-mason, who arrived in Van Diemen’s Land (now Tasmania) sometime between 1825 and 1832
• Robert Boyd, a brewer, who arrived in Van Diemen’s Land (now Tasmania) sometime between 1825 and 1832
• Mr. John Boyd, (b. 1806), aged 21, Irish house servant who was convicted in Dublin, Irelandfor 7 years for house robbery, transported aboard the “Countess of Harcourt” on 28th June 1827, arriving in New South Wales, Australia [13]

 Boyd migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include: 

Boyd Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

• William Boyd, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1840
• Mr. Boyd, Australian settler travelling from Port Phillip Bay, Victoria aboard the ship “Earl Stanhope” arriving in Wellington, New Zealand in 1840 [14]
• Mrs. Boyd, Australian settler travelling from Port Phillip Bay, Victoria aboard the ship “Earl Stanhope” arriving in Wellington, New Zealand in 1840 [14]
• Mr. William Boyd, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship “Katherine Stewart Forbes” arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 9th March 1852 [14]
• Alexander Boyd, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship “Wyvern” in 1856

Contemporary Notables of the name Boyd (post 1700) +

• Willard Lee Boyd (1927-2022), American legal scholar, academic administrator and President of The University of Iowa and Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago, Illinois
• Barbara Boyd (1942-2022), American politician, Member of the Ohio House of Representatives (2007-2014) and (1993-2000)
• Charles Graham “Chuck” Boyd (1938-2022), American four-star general of the United States Air Force, a highly decorated combat pilot who served in Vietnam and is the only Vietnam War prisoner of war (1966–1973) to reach the four-star rank (1992)
• Valerie Boyd (1963-2022), American writer and academic from Atlanta, Georgia, best known for her biography of Zora Neale Hurston Wrapped in Rainbows: The Life of Zora Neale Hurston
• Richard Newell Boyd (1942-2021), American philosopher at Cornell University from Washington, D.C
• William Beaty Boyd (1923-2020), American academic administrator and professor, President of the University of Oregon (1975-1980)
• Alan Stephenson Boyd (1922-2020), American attorney and transportation executive, 1st United States Secretary of Transportation (1967-1969)
• William Clouser Boyd (1903-1983), American immunochemist who with his wife Lyle, made a worldwide survey of the distribution of blood types in the 1930s
• Neal Evans Boyd (1975-2018), American pop opera singer, best known as being the winner of the third season of America’s Got Talent; he died at the age of 42 from liver disease
• Robert Dean “Bobby” Boyd (1937-2017), American National Football League (NFL) cornerback for the Baltimore Colts (1960–1968)

The Boyd Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Confido
Motto Translation: Be trustful