lourds

Lourds is a term that can function in different ways in French and in proper noun usage. In standard French, lourds is the masculine plural form of the adjective lourd, meaning heavy or weighty. It is used to describe objects with substantial weight or to convey seriousness. The feminine plural form is lourdes, used with feminine nouns (for example, charges lourdes, responsabilités lourdes).

As a surname, Lourds appears in some families, particularly in French-speaking regions and among descendants of French migration. It may appear in historical records with variant spellings such as Lourd or Lourdes. There are no widely cited individuals universally identified only as “Lourds” in contemporary reference works.

Origins and usage notes: The word derives from the same root as lourd in French and is commonly associated with descriptions of heaviness or burden. In English-language contexts, Lourds is rare and typically occurs as a surname or in transliteration rather than as a common noun. The spelling should not be confused with Lourdes, the well-known town in southwestern France, or with Lords, the English word for gentlemen or rulers.