This surname forms a conjunction of two of Wales most ancient and honourable surnames. Double barrelled surnames are the modern equivalent of the ancient Celtic, Gaelic and Anglo-Saxon baptismal names which conjoined two, often opposing elements, to create distinctive names. In the past these names usually were associated with religion, war or heroism, Lloyd, in medieval times LLwyd, came to mean 'holy', an interpretation which no doubt contributed to its great popularity. 'Williams' however is a patronymic form of the Norman French and German 'Wilhelm', and this was a compound from Wil + Helm, and loosely translates as 'Gods Will'. The surname as Williams is found widely throughout both Europe, the U K, and Ireland, although in many forms, some not easily recognizeable. Recordings of the surnames include Jenkin Lloyd from Montgomeryshire, a student at Oxford, and recored as such in the University Register for the year 1577, and Francis Lloyd of Carnafon in 1579. George Lloyd (1560-1615) was the Bishop of Chester, and there are over fifty entries of Lloyd in the Dictionary of National Biography. In a sense all British Williams derive from William the Conqueror in 1066, but in fact the first true surname form is as shown below. Other examples include Thomas William of Suffolk in 1327, whilst probably the most famous 'Williams' was Oliver Cromwell, whose ancestor changed his name from Williams on the orders of Henry V111. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Thomas Williames, which was dated 1307, The Assize Rolls of Staffordshire, during the reign of King Edward 1, known as 'The hammer of the Scots', 1272 - 1307. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.

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