Llwyd

Llwyd is a Welsh adjective meaning gray or gray-haired. In contemporary Welsh it describes color and can be used for hair, animals, or objects with a gray hue. The form llwyd is written with a double L and is distinct from other color terms such as gwyn (white) or du (black). The word can also appear in figurative uses relating to aging or weathering.

As a surname and in toponymy, Llwyd occurs in Welsh-language contexts. The surname Llwyd exists in Wales and among Welsh communities, and it has Anglicized forms such as Lloyd. The English surname Lloyd is commonly linked to the Welsh Llwyd and has historically been associated with the descriptor “gray-haired,” though modern bearers may have various origins regardless of the original meaning.

In place names and personal names, llwyd can function as a descriptive element, often signaling a feature associated with gray color or indicating a person once known for gray hair. This reflects a broader Welsh linguistic tradition of color-based nicknames and descriptive surnames that have persisted into modern usage.

See also: Lloyd, an English-language surname often connected to the Welsh Llwyd.