NameCensus.

UK surname

Flye

A variant spelling of the English surname Fly which referred to a person with small stature.

In the 1881 census there were 17 people recorded with the Flye surname, ranking it #31,170 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 111, ranked #29,049, up from #31,170 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Merthyr Tydfil and Bassetlaw.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Flye is 120 in 2011. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 552.9%.

1881 census count

17

Ranked #31,170

Modern count

111

2016, ranked #29,049

Peak year

2011

120 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Flye had 17 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #31,170 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 111 in 2016, ranked #29,049.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 58 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Young Families in Industrial Towns.

Flye surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Flye surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Flye 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
1861 historical 7 #33,053
1881 historical 17 #31,170
1891 historical 18 #32,706
1901 historical 32 #30,501
1911 historical 58 #27,001
1997 modern 112 #25,244
1998 modern 113 #25,731
1999 modern 119 #25,095
2000 modern 111 #26,111
2001 modern 109 #26,059
2002 modern 108 #26,698
2003 modern 111 #26,091
2004 modern 113 #25,999
2005 modern 113 #25,974
2006 modern 107 #27,179
2007 modern 105 #27,868
2008 modern 102 #28,664
2009 modern 112 #27,685
2010 modern 113 #28,162
2011 modern 120 #26,930
2012 modern 120 #26,961
2013 modern 117 #27,838
2014 modern 116 #28,253
2015 modern 115 #28,319
2016 modern 111 #29,049

Geography

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Where Flyes are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Merthyr Tydfil and Bassetlaw. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Merthyr Tydfil 008 Merthyr Tydfil
2 Merthyr Tydfil 002 Merthyr Tydfil
3 Merthyr Tydfil 003 Merthyr Tydfil
4 Merthyr Tydfil 004 Merthyr Tydfil
5 Bassetlaw 010 Bassetlaw

Forenames

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First names often paired with Flye

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

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Flye

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Flye, 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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Young Families in Industrial Towns

Nationally, the Flye surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Young Families in Industrial Towns, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Flye household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods house predominantly young, UK-born individuals identifying with a White ethnic group with dependent children. Long-term disability and unpaid care are prevalent, and religious affiliations are uncommon. Housing is terraced or semi-detached and social rented sector housing is the norm. Unemployment is above the Supergroup average, and employment is principally in elementary occupations, as process plant and machine operatives, or in caring and leisure services. Educational attainment is low. The group is scattered throughout former industrial towns in the Midlands and the South Wales Valleys.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Flye is most associated with areas classed as Settled Semi-Detached Asians, part of Suburban Asian Communities. 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

These residents share Supergroup characteristics of large (non-Chinese) Asian populations but those identifying as Bangladeshi are notably absent. Many residents were born in the UK, while other more recent migrants have African birthplaces. Semi-detached housing, much of it owner occupied, prevails in these suburban residential locations.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Flye is most concentrated in decile 2 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy end of the index.

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

2
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Flye falls in decile 3 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

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

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Flye is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 25-30 mbit/s.

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

5
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Flye

The surname Flye has its origins in England, where it first appeared in medieval times. It is derived from the Old English word 'flye', meaning a type of insect or fly. This likely referred to someone who had a fondness for collecting or studying flies, or perhaps someone who was considered as pesky or persistent as a fly.

The earliest recorded instance of the name Flye can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1273, which mentions a John Flye. The Hundred Rolls were administrative records compiled during the reign of King Edward I, suggesting the name had become established by the late 13th century.

In the 14th century, the name appears in various spellings, such as Flye, Flye, and Flye, reflecting the inconsistencies of medieval English orthography. For example, the Poll Tax returns of 1379 list a William Flye from Yorkshire.

One of the earliest bearers of the name was Sir John Flye, a knight who fought in the Hundred Years' War during the 1400s. He is mentioned in several chronicles of the time for his bravery in battles against the French.

The name Flye is also recorded in parish registers from the 16th century onwards, indicating its continued use throughout England. Notable examples include Thomas Flye, born in 1523 in Gloucestershire, and Elizabeth Flye, who married John Smyth in Norfolk in 1587.

In the 17th century, the Flye family established themselves as landowners in Wiltshire, with several members serving as local officials and magistrates. One prominent figure was Sir Edward Flye (1615-1683), a Member of Parliament and High Sheriff of Wiltshire.

Another notable bearer of the name was Richard Flye (1670-1744), a renowned clockmaker from Gloucestershire whose intricate timepieces were highly sought after by the English gentry.

As the centuries progressed, the Flye surname spread across various regions of England, with pockets of families settling in counties like Yorkshire, Oxfordshire, and Gloucestershire. While not a particularly common name, it has persisted through generations, reflecting its long-standing English heritage.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Flye families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Flye 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. Glamorgan leads with 9 Flyes recorded in 1881 and an index of 31.21x.

County Total Index
Glamorgan 9 31.21x
Brecknockshire 6 181.27x
Carmarthenshire 1 14.33x
Yorkshire 1 0.61x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Merthyr Tydfil in Glamorgan leads with 9 Flyes recorded in 1881 and an index of 324.91x.

Place Total Index
Merthyr Tydfil 9 324.91x
Vaynor 6 3750.00x
Laugharne 1 1111.11x
York St Mary 1 147.06x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 3
Emily 2
Ada 1
Anne 1
Charlotte 1
Jessie 1
Maud 1
Olivia 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
James 2
Thomas 2
Alice 1
David 1

Top occupations

Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Flye households.

FAQ

Flye surname: questions and answers

How common was the Flye surname in 1881?

In 1881, 17 people were recorded with the Flye surname. That placed it at #31,170 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Flye surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 111 in 2016. That gives Flye a modern rank of #29,049.

What does the Flye surname mean?

A variant spelling of the English surname Fly which referred to a person with small stature.

What does the Flye map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Flye 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.