Surname Lard - Meaning and Origin
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Lard: What does the surname Lard mean?
The surname Lard is of Anglo-Saxon origin, derived from the old English term "larder," which refers to a worker or keeper of the larder or pantry. It was an occupational surname, common during the Middle Ages when people often bore names associated with their jobs or professions. It is also possible that the name indicates the geographical origins of the individual from a particular place named Lard. Over time, the name spread throughout Europe and into America where it has many variants like Laird, Lardy, and others. It's worth noting the surname Lard has no connection with the modern English word for a type of fat obtained from pigs, which is spelled the same way. These two words have independent origins and history.
Order DNA origin analysisLard: Where does the name Lard come from?
The surname Lard is of English origin and appeared during the early medieval period. It's derived from the old English pre 7th century word "larder," meaning official in charge of the food supplies. It was primarily given as an occupational surname to individuals who held the role of a larder in a noble or royal house. However, over time, the surname has also been linked to geographical locations such as Larder in Cumberland.
Despite its origins, the surname Lard is not very common in present-day England. It's found more extensively in the United States where there is a notable population of families with the Lard surname, predominantly among African-American communities. The U.S. census data from 2014, for example, revealed that Lard ranks as 11,763rd most common surname in the country. Hence, while its prevalence has diminished in its land of origin, the Lard surname continues to exist in other parts of the world, specifically in North America.
Variations of the surname Lard
The surname Lard is relatively rare and is believed to be of Norman origin, initially appearing in England after William the Conqueror's Norman conquest in the 11th century. Due to variations in pronunciation and spelling over centuries, there may be several related variations and spellings of the surname Lard.
These variants could potentially include: Larder, Laird, Lardy, Lardi, Lerde, and Lorde. Some of these variants especially Larder and Laird have evolved to be frequent and independent surnames in their own right, with origins beyond merely being a variant of Lard.
The English surname Laird, for example, holds an independent origin, signifying a title for a landed gentry in Scotland. Meanwhile, the variant Larder may potentially link to an occupational origin, relating to individuals who were in charge of the larder or food store in a medieval household.
Lard is also similar to the Italian surname Lardi, and the French surname Lardy, but whether these names hold a direct lineage connection or coincidence in similarity is unclear.
In determining a definite list of variants, one should consider geographical location, historical linguistics, and occupational or societal roles which could result in surname variants.
Famous people with the name Lard
- Ed Lard: American football player
- Tom Lard: American football player
- Joe Lard: American actor
- Deb Lard: American author
- Jerome Lard: American professional wrestler
- Odd Lard: ski racer
- Wade Lard: former professional basketball player
- Dave Lard: former professional basketball player
- Chris Lard: British vlogger
- Brenda Lard: German businessperson
- Billy Lard: country singer
- Russell Lard: Canadian singer
- Pat Lard: Canadian wrestling promoter
- Daniel Lard: French author
- Jodie Lard: British singer