NameCensus.

UK surname

Laye

A habitational name derived from the French place name Laye, of uncertain origin.

In the 1881 census there were 103 people recorded with the Laye surname, ranking it #19,410 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 191, ranked #20,194, down from #19,410 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bunbury, Henley-on-Thames and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Carmarthenshire, Runnymede and Wigan.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Laye is 200 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 85.4%.

1881 census count

103

Ranked #19,410

Modern count

191

2016, ranked #20,194

Peak year

2010

200 bearers

Map years

6

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Laye had 103 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #19,410 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 191 in 2016, ranked #20,194.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 133 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Laye surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Laye surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Laye 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 75 #20,268
1861 historical 129 #17,271
1881 historical 103 #19,410
1891 historical 133 #19,870
1901 historical 97 #23,227
1911 historical 93 #23,492
1997 modern 179 #18,889
1998 modern 186 #18,918
1999 modern 183 #19,248
2000 modern 175 #19,764
2001 modern 174 #19,562
2002 modern 180 #19,533
2003 modern 174 #19,760
2004 modern 173 #19,937
2005 modern 162 #20,716
2006 modern 169 #20,294
2007 modern 173 #20,243
2008 modern 171 #20,595
2009 modern 194 #19,398
2010 modern 200 #19,457
2011 modern 190 #19,942
2012 modern 182 #20,440
2013 modern 191 #20,124
2014 modern 187 #20,570
2015 modern 187 #20,502
2016 modern 191 #20,194

Geography

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Where Layes are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bunbury, Henley-on-Thames, London parishes, St Pancras and Wigan. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Carmarthenshire, Runnymede, Wigan and Mull, Iona, Coll and Tiree. 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 Bunbury Cheshire
2 Henley-on-Thames Oxfordshire
3 London parishes London 1
4 St Pancras London (North Districts)
5 Wigan Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Carmarthenshire 005 Carmarthenshire
2 Runnymede 003 Runnymede
3 Runnymede 002 Runnymede
4 Wigan 026 Wigan
5 Mull, Iona, Coll and Tiree Argyll and Bute

Forenames

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First names often paired with Laye

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Laye

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

Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Families with resident dependent children (but not students) are common. Established family groups and White ethnicity predominate, as do individuals born in the UK. They are more likely than the Supergroup average to have been resident in their terraced, semi-detached, or detached houses for more than one year. Levels of multiple car ownership are high. Properties are owned and typically have surplus living space. Associate professionals and administrative occupations are prevalent, and parents are likely to be in middle age or approaching retirement. Educational attainment is above the Supergroup average. Scattered developments and concentrations are found in many small towns.

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

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Laye is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Laye is most concentrated in decile 1 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Laye falls in decile 4 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Laye 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 Laye, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Laye

The surname LAYE is of Anglo-Saxon origin, with roots tracing back to the 7th century in England. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "leah," which means a meadow or a clearing in a forest. This name likely originated as a topographic surname, given to someone who lived near or worked in a meadow or clearing.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name LAYE can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is listed as "de la Laye," referring to someone from a specific location. This suggests that the name may have initially been used as a locative surname before evolving into its present form.

During the Middle Ages, the name LAYE appeared in various historical records and manuscripts, such as the Pipe Rolls of Worcestershire in 1275, where a certain William de la Laye was mentioned. Another notable example is found in the Lay Subsidy Rolls of Staffordshire in 1327, which listed a Robert de la Laye.

One of the earliest known individuals with the surname LAYE was Sir John Laye, a prominent English knight who lived during the 14th century. He was born around 1320 and served under King Edward III during the Hundred Years' War. Another notable figure was William Laye, a wealthy merchant from London who lived in the late 15th century (c. 1450-1520).

In the 16th century, the surname LAYE was associated with various place names, such as Laye in Berkshire and Layehill in Staffordshire. These locations likely contributed to the name's popularity and spread throughout England.

Other notable individuals with the surname LAYE include:

1. Thomas Laye (c. 1560-1625), an English clergyman and author known for his religious works. 2. William Laye (1677-1737), an English architect and surveyor who designed several churches in London. 3. Samuel Laye (1718-1797), a British naval officer who served during the American Revolutionary War. 4. John Laye (1804-1879), a British explorer and writer who traveled extensively in Africa and published accounts of his journeys. 5. Emily Laye (1866-1944), an English novelist and poet known for her works depicting life in rural England.

These examples demonstrate the long-standing presence of the surname LAYE throughout British history, spanning various professions and areas of influence.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Laye families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Laye 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. Yorkshire leads with 18 Layes recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.81x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 18 1.81x
Middlesex 13 1.29x
Bedfordshire 9 17.30x
Derbyshire 9 5.72x
Lancashire 9 0.75x
Oxfordshire 7 11.28x
Essex 6 3.03x
Monmouthshire 6 8.26x
Nottinghamshire 6 4.43x
Buckinghamshire 5 8.23x
Kent 5 1.46x
Norfolk 2 1.29x
Aberdeenshire 1 1.07x
Durham 1 0.33x
Hampshire 1 0.49x
Huntingdonshire 1 5.01x
Royal Navy 1 8.35x
Shropshire 1 1.15x
Somerset 1 0.62x
Warwickshire 1 0.39x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Luton in Bedfordshire leads with 9 Layes recorded in 1881 and an index of 99.89x.

Place Total Index
Luton 9 99.89x
Henley On Thames 7 551.18x
Great Tey 6 2500.00x
Llanfoist 6 1200.00x
Mile End Old Town London 6 28.06x
Nottingham St Peter 6 397.35x
Sandiacre 6 1071.43x
Wombwell 6 206.90x
Hambleden 5 961.54x
Toxteth Park 5 12.39x
Kimberworth 4 72.33x
Paddington London 3 8.12x
Scarborough 3 33.15x
Tickhill 3 476.19x
Ashton Under Lyne 2 7.68x
Dartford 2 56.98x
Headcorn 2 392.16x
Kirkburton 2 170.94x
Normanton 2 150.38x
St George In East London 2 21.16x
Aberdeen St Nicholas 1 5.74x
Abram 1 109.89x
Burham 1 212.77x
Chapel En Le Frith 1 69.44x
Clerkenwell London 1 4.22x
Clungunford 1 500.00x
Edgbaston 1 12.72x
Fletton 1 156.25x
Old Buckenham 1 250.00x
Portsea 1 2.48x
Royal Navy 1 9.78x
Runham 1 322.58x
Shadforth 1 172.41x
St George Hanover Square 1 5.65x
West Derby 1 2.87x
Wilton 1 238.10x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 7
Sarah 5
Elizabeth 3
Emma 3
Edith 2
Ellen 2
Margaret 2
Maria 2
Martha 2
Rachel 2
Adalene 1
Agnes 1
Ann 1
Annie 1
Bridget 1
Charlott 1
Elizebth 1
Ellis 1
Emily 1
Fanny 1
H. 1
Harriet 1
Henrietta 1
Jane 1
Lillian 1
M. 1
Marria 1
Matilda 1
Rose 1
Susan 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 7
William 6
Joseph 4
David 3
George 3
Robert 3
Alfred 2
Frank 2
Michael 2
A. 1
Benjamin 1
C.Fredk. 1
Charles 1
Daniel 1
Enos 1
Francis 1
Frederick 1
H.T. 1
Harry 1
Henry 1
Hyram 1
J.Henry 1
James 1
Patrick 1
Samuel 1
Thiolips 1
Thomas 1

FAQ

Laye surname: questions and answers

How common was the Laye surname in 1881?

In 1881, 103 people were recorded with the Laye surname. That placed it at #19,410 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Laye surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 191 in 2016. That gives Laye a modern rank of #20,194.

What does the Laye surname mean?

A habitational name derived from the French place name Laye, of uncertain origin.

What does the Laye map show?

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