NameCensus.

UK surname

Bye

A toponymic surname derived from the Old Norse word "býr," meaning village or settlement.

In the 1881 census there were 1,508 people recorded with the Bye surname, ranking it #2,784 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,020, ranked #3,189, down from #2,784 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes and St Leonard Shoreditch. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Suffolk Coastal, East Cambridgeshire and South Hams.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Bye is 2,182 in 2000. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 34.0%.

1881 census count

1,508

Ranked #2,784

Modern count

2,020

2016, ranked #3,189

Peak year

2000

2,182 bearers

Map years

6

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Bye had 1,508 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,784 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,020 in 2016, ranked #3,189.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,893 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Bye surname distribution map

The map shows where the Bye surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Bye surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Bye over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 1,016 #2,751
1881 historical 1,508 #2,784
1891 historical 1 #34,674
1901 historical 1,893 #2,792
1997 modern 2,085 #2,945
1998 modern 2,179 #2,942
1999 modern 2,170 #2,975
2000 modern 2,182 #2,944
2001 modern 2,156 #2,920
2002 modern 2,177 #2,947
2003 modern 2,101 #2,982
2004 modern 2,059 #3,044
2005 modern 2,039 #3,025
2006 modern 2,007 #3,083
2007 modern 1,981 #3,152
2008 modern 2,011 #3,136
2009 modern 2,041 #3,158
2010 modern 2,064 #3,192
2011 modern 2,068 #3,153
2012 modern 2,013 #3,177
2013 modern 2,056 #3,172
2014 modern 2,055 #3,193
2015 modern 2,030 #3,193
2016 modern 2,020 #3,189

Geography

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Where Byes are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes, St Leonard Shoreditch and St Mary Islington. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Suffolk Coastal, East Cambridgeshire, South Hams and Girvan Glendoune. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
2 London parishes London 1
3 St Leonard Shoreditch London (East Districts)
4 London parishes London 3
5 St Mary Islington London (North Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Suffolk Coastal 006 Suffolk Coastal
2 East Cambridgeshire 006 East Cambridgeshire
3 East Cambridgeshire 002 East Cambridgeshire
4 South Hams 001 South Hams
5 Girvan Glendoune South Ayrshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Bye

These lists show first names that appear often with the Bye surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Bye

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Bye, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Bye surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Bye household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Bye is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Bye is most concentrated in decile 5 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Bye falls in decile 10 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Bye is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Bye, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Bye

The surname "BYE" is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period. It is thought to be derived from the Old English word "byge," which means "a bend or curve," often referring to a person who lived near a bend in a road or river.

The earliest recorded instances of the name can be traced back to the 13th century in various regions of England, including Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, and Norfolk. It was often spelled as "Bye," "Bie," or "Bye" in ancient records and manuscripts.

One of the earliest known bearers of the name was William Bye, who was mentioned in the Subsidy Rolls of Yorkshire in 1297. Another notable figure was John Bye, a landowner from Norfolk, whose name appeared in the Feet of Fines records in 1342.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the name became more widespread across England, and several individuals with the surname Bye made their mark in various fields. One such person was Richard Bye (c. 1570-1631), an English clergyman and author who served as the Rector of Stanhope in Durham.

Another notable figure was Sir William Bye (1616-1681), a English politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Southwark and was knighted by King Charles II in 1660. He played a crucial role in the Restoration of the monarchy after the English Civil War.

In the 18th century, the name Bye was associated with several notable individuals, including Thomas Bye (1733-1811), an English Dissenting minister and author who wrote extensively on theological subjects.

One of the most prominent bearers of the surname Bye in the 19th century was Edward Bye Ficklin (1828-1891), an American lawyer and politician who served as a Confederate States Senator during the American Civil War.

While the name Bye can be found in various parts of the world due to migration and intermarriage, its roots can be traced back to medieval England, where it was closely associated with geographical features and locations.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Bye families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Bye surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Middlesex leads with 307 Byes recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.09x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 307 2.09x
Surrey 126 1.76x
Cambridgeshire 119 12.79x
Hampshire 111 3.69x
Gloucestershire 97 3.37x
Berkshire 96 8.71x
Essex 90 3.10x
Suffolk 89 4.97x
Wiltshire 67 5.16x
Yorkshire 55 0.38x
Norfolk 54 2.39x
Kent 36 0.72x
Durham 31 0.71x
Oxfordshire 23 2.54x
Buckinghamshire 19 2.14x
Hertfordshire 18 1.78x
Staffordshire 18 0.36x
Devon 16 0.52x
Lincolnshire 16 0.68x
Somerset 15 0.63x
Warwickshire 13 0.35x
Glamorgan 11 0.43x
Lancashire 11 0.06x
Northamptonshire 11 0.80x
Sussex 8 0.32x
Brecknockshire 6 2.04x
Bedfordshire 4 0.53x
Cheshire 4 0.12x
Montgomeryshire 4 1.19x
Northumberland 4 0.18x
Worcestershire 4 0.21x
Carmarthenshire 3 0.48x
Herefordshire 3 0.50x
Derbyshire 2 0.09x
Dorset 2 0.21x
Leicestershire 2 0.12x
Monmouthshire 2 0.19x
Nottinghamshire 2 0.10x
Royal Navy 2 1.14x
Channel Islands 1 0.23x
Cornwall 1 0.06x
Huntingdonshire 1 0.34x
Lanarkshire 1 0.02x
Shropshire 1 0.08x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Shoreditch London in Middlesex leads with 45 Byes recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.07x.

Place Total Index
Shoreditch London 45 7.07x
Westport St Mary 29 308.18x
Fulham London 24 11.26x
Gateshead 24 7.33x
Hackney London 23 2.79x
Islington London 23 1.62x
West Ham 21 3.28x
Battersea 20 3.70x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 20 7.37x
Stetchworth 20 653.59x
Wood Ditton 20 257.07x
Bromley London 19 5.88x
Bermondsey 18 4.12x
Camberwell 15 1.60x
Hadstock 15 669.64x
Holy Trinity Cambridge 15 148.51x
Hunton 15 4285.71x
Lambeth 15 1.17x
Manuden 15 413.22x
Waltham St Lawrence 15 348.03x
Wandsworth 15 10.61x
Aldeburgh 14 132.20x
Anstey 14 703.52x
Kensington London 14 1.71x
Tottenham 13 5.56x
Cowlinge 12 350.88x
Hammersmith London 12 3.32x
Ealing 11 8.38x
Mile End Old Town London 11 3.52x
Soham 11 54.95x
St Marylebone London 11 1.40x
Swaffham Prior 11 268.95x
Thatcham 11 64.74x
Wotton Under Edge 11 64.78x
Bethnal Green London 10 1.57x
Swaffham 10 54.44x
Tickenham 10 598.80x
Walthamstow 10 9.58x
Basingstoke 9 25.99x
Brinkworth 9 154.11x
Bristol St George 9 6.75x
Clapham 9 4.90x
Ecclesall Bierlow 9 3.04x
Hempstead 9 283.91x
Middlesbrough 9 4.75x
Newington 9 1.66x
Paddington London 9 1.67x
Rotherwick 9 389.61x
Stoke Upon Trent 9 1.71x
Attleborough 8 70.11x
Basing 8 142.10x
Beckenham 8 12.21x
Clerkenwell London 8 2.31x
Sheffield 8 1.73x
Upton Cum Chalvey 8 22.61x
Wolverhampton 8 2.10x
Wroughton 8 71.11x
Aston 7 0.69x
Barton 7 432.10x
Chesham 7 21.39x
Clee With Weelsby 7 13.61x
Drighlington 7 33.00x
Dullingham 7 167.46x
Ely Holy Trinity St Mary 7 17.25x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 7 3.70x
Ipswich St Clement 7 15.39x
Little Waldingfield 7 334.93x
Minster In Sheppey 7 8.43x
Oxford St Clement 7 30.57x
St Andrewthe Less 7 6.58x
St Pancras London 7 0.59x
Stow Bardolph 7 104.17x
West Swallowfield 7 133.84x
Westleton 7 166.67x
East West Challow 6 209.79x
Hindon 6 215.05x
Huish 6 1071.43x
Llanthetty 6 238.10x
Long Ditton 6 51.33x
Southampton St Mary 6 3.17x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Bye surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Bye surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
William 93
John 72
George 60
James 59
Charles 48
Henry 36
Thomas 36
Alfred 29
Frederick 20
Robert 20
Albert 19
Frank 15
Walter 15
Richard 14
Edward 12
Harry 12
Joseph 11
Arthur 9
David 9
Ernest 7
Herbert 5
Samuel 5
Stephen 5
Benjamin 4
Chas. 4
Francis 4
Fred 4
Tom 4
Daniel 3
Isaac 3
Jesse 3
Thos. 3
Charley 2
Cornelius 2
Edmund 2
Edwin 2
Elijah 2
Fredrick 2
Geo. 2
Joe 2
Joel 2
Llewellyn 2
Luke 2
Nathan 2
Ralph 2
Sidney 2
Solomon 2
Theodore 2
Wm. 2
Edwd. 1

FAQ

Bye surname: questions and answers

How common was the Bye surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,508 people were recorded with the Bye surname. That placed it at #2,784 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Bye surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,020 in 2016. That gives Bye a modern rank of #3,189.

What does the Bye surname mean?

A toponymic surname derived from the Old Norse word "býr," meaning village or settlement.

What does the Bye map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Bye bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.