Lloyd family
A prominent Welsh Quaker family associated with Birmingham manufacturing, banking, philanthropy, and public life.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
The Lloyd family of Birmingham was a prominent Welsh Quaker family whose history connected industrial manufacturing, banking, philanthropy, social reform, literature, and civic leadership. The family originated at Dolobran Hall near Meifod in Powys, Wales, an area formerly administered within Montgomeryshire. Members of the family migrated to Birmingham in the seventeenth century, where they established themselves in the town's expanding industrial and commercial environment. Sampson Lloyd (1664–1724) is generally identified as the founder of the Birmingham branch. His activities in iron manufacturing placed the family within the region's developing metalworking economy. The family's commercial position expanded in the following generation through Sampson Lloyd II (1699–1779), who was involved in the establishment of Lloyds Bank. The bank became the best-known institutional legacy associated with the Lloyd name, although the family itself was broader than the banking business and should not be treated as synonymous with the modern Lloyds Banking Group. Several later members combined business activity with public service and cultural interests. Charles Lloyd (1748–1828) was a banker and philanthropist. His namesake, Charles Lloyd (1775–1839), was a poet associated with Charles Lamb, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, and Thomas De Quincey. Sampson Lloyd (1820–1889) served as a Member of Parliament and became chairman of Lloyds Bank, reinforcing the family's continuing connection with finance and public affairs. John Henry Lloyd served as Lord Mayor of Birmingham in 1901–1902, reflecting the family's role in the civic life of the city. The principal residence of the senior Birmingham branch was Farm, Bordesley. The family's Quaker background shaped aspects of its religious, civic, and social identity, while individual members pursued varied paths. Bertram Lloyd (1881–1944), for example, was known as a social reformer and naturalist rather than primarily as a banker or industrialist. The First World War brought the family into the conflicting moral and military choices faced by British families during the period. Gertrude and John Henry Lloyd had four sons of military age when the war began. Alan Scrivener Lloyd enlisted in the Royal Field Artillery and was killed at Ypres on 4 August 1916. Ronald Lloyd initially joined the Friends' Ambulance Unit in 1914 and later enlisted in the Royal Field Artillery after Alan's death. Eric Lloyd also joined the Friends' Ambulance Unit in 1914 before enlisting in the Navy in 1916. Gerald Lloyd was a conscientious objector and performed alternative civilian service with the YMCA. These experiences illustrate the family's differing responses to wartime service, including combat, medical relief, naval service, and conscientious objection. The Lloyd family is therefore best understood as a historical family network rooted in Birmingham rather than as a current consumer brand or operating company. Its historical importance rests on the combination of industrial enterprise, the creation and leadership of a major bank, philanthropy, literature, reform, natural history, and municipal service.
History
The Birmingham Lloyd family descended from a Welsh Quaker lineage associated with Dolobran Hall near Meifod in Powys, Wales. During the seventeenth century, members of the family moved to Birmingham, where they entered the region's manufacturing and commercial economy. The family's Birmingham history is particularly associated with iron production and with the growth of financial institutions in the city. Sampson Lloyd (1664–1724) is regarded as the founder of the Birmingham branch. His work as an iron manufacturer established the family's industrial base. His son or successor in the family tradition, Sampson Lloyd II (1699–1779), became involved in the establishment of Lloyds Bank. This connection gave the family a lasting place in the history of British banking, although the Lloyd family included many activities beyond the bank and its later corporate descendants. The family maintained a prominent residence at Farm, Bordesley. Across successive generations, members combined commerce with philanthropy, literature, political service, civic leadership, and social reform. Charles Lloyd (1748–1828) was a banker and philanthropist. A later Charles Lloyd (1775–1839) pursued poetry and was connected socially and intellectually with Charles Lamb, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, and Thomas de Quincey. Sampson Lloyd (1820–1889) became a Member of Parliament and chairman of Lloyds Bank. John Henry Lloyd served as Lord Mayor of Birmingham from 1901 to 1902, marking the family's contribution to municipal public life. Bertram Lloyd (1881–1944) was associated with social reform and natural history. The family's experience during the First World War shows the range of views and forms of service within the household of Gertrude and John Henry Lloyd. Alan Scrivener Lloyd served with the Royal Field Artillery and was killed at Ypres on 4 August 1916. Ronald Lloyd joined the Friends' Ambulance Unit in 1914 and later entered the Royal Field Artillery following Alan's death. Eric Lloyd also served initially with the Friends' Ambulance Unit before joining the Navy in 1916. Gerald Lloyd was a conscientious objector and undertook alternative civilian service with the YMCA. The Lloyd family's historical profile consequently spans industrial Birmingham, Quaker networks, banking, philanthropy, literature, reform, science, and civic administration. It is a lineage and historical subject rather than a contemporary commercial brand with a unified product portfolio or management structure.
- 1916
Alan Scrivener Lloyd killed at Ypres
[1]Alan Scrivener Lloyd, serving with the Royal Field Artillery, was killed at Ypres on 4 August 1916.
- 1914
Family members undertake wartime service
[1]Ronald and Eric Lloyd joined the Friends' Ambulance Unit at the beginning of the First World War, while the family's wartime choices later included military enlistment and conscientious objection.
- 1901
John Henry Lloyd becomes Lord Mayor of Birmingham
[1]John Henry Lloyd began his term as Lord Mayor of Birmingham, which continued through 1902.
- 1779
Death of Sampson Lloyd II
[1]Sampson Lloyd II, associated with the establishment of Lloyds Bank, died.
- 1724
Death of Sampson Lloyd
[1]The family's early founder and iron manufacturer died after establishing the industrial foundation of the Birmingham branch.
- 1664
Birth of Sampson Lloyd
[1]Sampson Lloyd, later regarded as the founder of the Birmingham family, was born.
Migration from Wales to Birmingham
[1]Members of the Welsh Quaker Lloyd family moved from the Dolobran Hall area near Meifod in Powys to Birmingham, establishing the branch later associated with the city.
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