UK surname
A variant spelling of the surname Lies, derived from a place name.
In the 1881 census there were 51 people recorded with the Lyas surname, ranking it #26,428 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 47, ranked #35,069, down from #26,428 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to One House, Mexborough and Silkstone. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Lyas is 107 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 7.8%.
1881 census count
51
Ranked #26,428
Modern count
47
2016, ranked #35,069
Peak year
1861
107 bearers
Map years
1
1861 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Lyas surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Lyas surname density by area, 1861 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 25 | #28,853 |
| 1861 | historical | 107 | #20,008 |
| 1881 | historical | 51 | #26,428 |
| 1891 | historical | 90 | #25,399 |
| 1901 | historical | 60 | #27,502 |
| 1911 | historical | 69 | #25,965 |
| 1997 | modern | 60 | #31,629 |
| 1998 | modern | 61 | #31,841 |
| 1999 | modern | 56 | #32,461 |
| 2000 | modern | 56 | #32,514 |
| 2001 | modern | 54 | #32,583 |
| 2002 | modern | 56 | #32,753 |
| 2003 | modern | 59 | #32,530 |
| 2004 | modern | 55 | #33,154 |
| 2005 | modern | 56 | #33,264 |
| 2006 | modern | 55 | #33,688 |
| 2007 | modern | 56 | #33,875 |
| 2008 | modern | 51 | #34,439 |
| 2009 | modern | 53 | #34,481 |
| 2010 | modern | 53 | #34,654 |
| 2011 | modern | 50 | #34,816 |
| 2012 | modern | 47 | #34,992 |
| 2013 | modern | 46 | #35,110 |
| 2014 | modern | 50 | #34,927 |
| 2015 | modern | 49 | #34,946 |
| 2016 | modern | 47 | #35,069 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around One House, Mexborough, Silkstone, Stowmarket and London parishes. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | One House | Suffolk |
| 2 | Mexborough | Yorkshire, West Riding |
| 3 | Silkstone | Yorkshire, West Riding |
| 4 | Stowmarket | Suffolk |
| 5 | London parishes | London 3 |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Lyas surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Lyas, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Lyas surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Lyas household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Lyas is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Lyas is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Lyas, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Lyas is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period. It is likely derived from the Old English word "leah," which means a woodland clearing or meadow. The name may have been initially used to identify someone who lived near or worked in such a clearing.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Lyas can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from the 13th century, where a person named Robert de Lyas is mentioned. This suggests that the name was already established in the northern regions of England by that time.
In the 14th century, the name appeared in various forms, such as Lyas, Lyes, and Lyasse, reflecting the variations in spelling and pronunciation common during that era. The Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire from 1273 list a certain William Lyes, indicating the presence of the name in the eastern part of the country as well.
The Lyas surname is also associated with several place names in England, such as Lyas Green in Lancashire and Lyas Farm in Derbyshire. These locations may have been named after individuals bearing the Lyas surname or vice versa, reflecting the close ties between surnames and geographic locations in medieval times.
One notable historical figure with the surname Lyas was John Lyas (c. 1570-1631), an English composer and organist who served at the Chapel Royal during the reigns of Elizabeth I and James I. His contributions to sacred music and organ compositions were significant during the Renaissance period.
Another individual of note was Elizabeth Lyas (1694-1774), a British philanthropist and benefactor who donated substantial sums of money to support education and charitable causes in her hometown of Nottingham.
In the 18th century, William Lyas (1729-1799) was a prominent English clockmaker and inventor, known for his innovative clock designs and contributions to the field of horology.
The Lyas surname also has ties to the military, with Captain John Lyas (1812-1876) serving in the British Army during the Crimean War and later becoming a member of the prestigious Order of the Bath.
Finally, John Lyas (1877-1955) was a prominent English cricketer who played for Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club and captained the team for several seasons in the early 20th century.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Lyas surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Middlesex leads with 14 Lyas' recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.82x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Middlesex | 14 | 2.82x |
| Suffolk | 10 | 16.51x |
| Surrey | 10 | 4.13x |
| Monmouthshire | 6 | 16.69x |
| Staffordshire | 4 | 2.38x |
| Essex | 2 | 2.04x |
| Somerset | 2 | 2.50x |
| Yorkshire | 2 | 0.41x |
| Lancashire | 1 | 0.17x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Southwark St George Martyr in Surrey leads with 9 Lyas' recorded in 1881 and an index of 89.91x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Southwark St George Martyr | 9 | 89.91x |
| Chelsea London | 7 | 46.73x |
| St Luke London | 7 | 87.72x |
| St Woollos | 6 | 149.63x |
| Ipswich St Nicholas | 5 | 1515.15x |
| Stowmarket | 4 | 571.43x |
| Wolverhampton | 4 | 30.98x |
| Barking | 2 | 69.69x |
| Bedminster | 2 | 26.60x |
| Barmbrough | 1 | 555.56x |
| Liverpool | 1 | 2.79x |
| Marsden In Almondbury | 1 | 222.22x |
| Onehouse | 1 | 1666.67x |
| Southwark Christchurch | 1 | 42.92x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Lyas surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Lyas surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
FAQ
In 1881, 51 people were recorded with the Lyas surname. That placed it at #26,428 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 47 in 2016. That gives Lyas a modern rank of #35,069.
A variant spelling of the surname Lies, derived from a place name.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Lyas bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.