This surname is derived from the name of an ancestor. and nick. Boidh, an Erse name, meaning yellow.

'Boyd, Gael, boidh, fair, or yellow haired. A nephew of Walter, first highsteward of Scotland, circ 1160, was known by this appellation, and was an the Lords Boyd, Earls of Arran': Lower.

'Grim, the grandson of Duff, reigned for a short time, but was slain in battle, in 1004, by Malcolm, and his son Boidh was set aside, and disabled from reigning': Yonge.

'Boidh, Lady Macbeth's brother, was yellow, a name surviving in the Scottish family of Boyd': ibid.

1741. Married — Donald Valentine and Caler Boyd: St. George's Chapel, Mayfair.

This surname may be derived from the name of the island of Bute, in Gaelic Bod. The marquess of Bute in Gaelic is Morair Bhoid. The first Boyds were vassals of De Morevilles in the regality of Largs, and quite possibly may have come in their train from England. Dominus Robertus de Boyd, miles, witnessed a contract between Bryce de Egluntune and the burgh of Irvine in 1205 (Irvine, I, p. 3), and Alan de Bodha appears in Dumfries a. 1214 (Kelso, 11). Robert Boyd is traditionally said to have distinguished himself at the battle of Largs, 1263. He is mentioned in a charter by Sir John Erskine of the lands of Halkhill, 1262 (Sc. Peer., V, p. 137). Walterus de Boht witnessed confirmation of gift of the church of Cragyn to the monastery of Paisley, c. 1272 (RMP., p. 233). Robert Boyt, a tenant under the king, in Ayrshire, tendered homage, 1296. His seal shows a small hawk or pigeon and S' Roberti Boit (Bain, II, p. 202,534). As Sir Robert de Boyt he was taken prisoner in 1306, and Duncan Boyd, Scotsman, was hanged in the same year for aiding Bruce (ibid., p. 486,490). Robertus Boyd, miles, witnessed a charter of the church of Kircmacho a, 1329 (RAA,, I, p. 313). Malcolm de Bute was chaplain to Robert III, 1405 (Milne, p. 40). Thomas Boyd was one of the hostages for the king of Scotland in 1425 (Bain, IV, 981,983), and Will Bayde was a charter witness in Ayr, 1438 (Friars Ayr, p. 49). Johne Boyd was tenant of part of Cowbyr, 1479 (Cupar-Angus, I, p. 230), George Boid was burgess of Irvine, 1500 (Simon, 9), and another George Boid was notary public there, 1572 (Irvine, I, p. 57). The surname was very common in Edinburgh in seventeenth century (Edinb. Man.). Boid 1545.

(Celt) Of Yellow Complexion Yellow- Haired [Gaelic and Irish buidhe, yellow]

This Scottish name is very numerous in Ulster. It appears as O'Boyd in some of the Northern Hearth Money Rolls. MIF 282*; App. infra

“Yellow” in Gaelic (Buidhe).

(Irish, English) One who had yellow hair; dweller by the Boyd River, in Gloucestershire.

Gael, boidh. Fair or yellowhaired. A nephew of Walter, first high-steward of Scotland, circ. 1160, was known by this appellation, and was ancestor of the lords Boyd, earls of Arran, and lords Kilmarnoch-a family conspicuous in Scottish history, and now represented by the earl of Errol.

Fair complexioned. The family are descended from Robert, surnamed Boyt on account of his fair complexion, living in 1205; he was the son of Simon the third son of Allan, Lord Stewart of Scotland.

(Gaelic.) From buidhe, yellow—haired. Boyd, a river of England that unites with the Avon.

Probably from Mac Giolla Buidhe, 'Giolla-bhuide’s Son, or 'The Yellow-haired Youth’s Son.' (See note on giolla, under Mylroi).

'Conn MacGillabhuidhe, Abbot of Mangairid' a.d. 11000.

Makaboy was Archdeacon, and Rector of Andreas, a.d. 1270.

MacGilla Buidhe, in Ireland, is corrupted into MacGilla Boy, and then into McAvoy, McEvoy, Mac- Boyd, and Boyd, though McAvoy and McEvoy are, strictly speaking, contractions of MacAedha Buidhe, 'Aedh, the Yellow’s Son, ’ where buidhe is a mere nick­name.

It is not such a common name now as formerly.

A branch of the Breton family of Dinant. See Stuart. It descends from a brother of Walter, first high steward of Scotland, and the Earls of Arran, Kilmarnock, and Errol were of the name.

(Scotch), Fair-complexioned, Yellow-haired.

From the French, Boyard; a personal name Or Gaelic boidh, fair-haired.