NameCensus.

UK surname

Lyden

A variant spelling of the Dutch surname Leyden, denoting a person from the city of Leiden.

In the 1881 census there were 219 people recorded with the Lyden surname, ranking it #12,122 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 479, ranked #10,308, up from #12,122 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Rochdale, Cardross and Perth. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include IZ03, Galston and Dover.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Lyden is 479 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 118.7%.

1881 census count

219

Ranked #12,122

Modern count

479

2016, ranked #10,308

Peak year

2016

479 bearers

Map years

8

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Lyden had 219 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #12,122 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 479 in 2016, ranked #10,308.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 281 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities.

Lyden surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Lyden surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Lyden 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 69 #21,148
1861 historical 155 #14,881
1881 historical 219 #12,122
1891 historical 200 #14,913
1901 historical 281 #12,167
1911 historical 140 #18,657
1997 modern 459 #9,920
1998 modern 475 #9,982
1999 modern 461 #10,272
2000 modern 455 #10,340
2001 modern 451 #10,212
2002 modern 464 #10,181
2003 modern 441 #10,458
2004 modern 447 #10,369
2005 modern 429 #10,597
2006 modern 443 #10,369
2007 modern 441 #10,513
2008 modern 435 #10,735
2009 modern 458 #10,519
2010 modern 469 #10,533
2011 modern 462 #10,570
2012 modern 448 #10,702
2013 modern 465 #10,569
2014 modern 472 #10,525
2015 modern 468 #10,518
2016 modern 479 #10,308

Geography

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Where Lydens are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Rochdale, Cardross, Perth, Greenock and Glasgow. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to IZ03, Galston, Dover, IZ02 and Greenock East. 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 Rochdale Lancashire
2 Cardross Dunbarton
3 Perth Perth
4 Greenock Renfrew
5 Glasgow Lanark

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 IZ03 West Dunbartonshire
2 Galston East Ayrshire
3 Dover 002 Dover
4 IZ02 West Dunbartonshire
5 Greenock East Inverclyde

Forenames

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First names often paired with Lyden

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Lyden

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

Legacy Communities

Group

Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities

Nationally, the Lyden surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities, within Legacy Communities. This does not mean every Lyden household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Households in these areas often include divorced or separated parents and commonly include children and young adults. The age structure is heavily skewed towards the most advanced age groups. Individuals identifying as members of ethnic minorities are not present in large numbers. Flats predominate, with some terraced, semi-detached, and detached units. Multiple car ownership is low, and housing is predominantly in the private and social rented sectors. Employment is less skewed towards traditional routine industrial occupations. Levels of educational attainment are generally low. The Group occurs principally in the Central Lowlands of Scotland and other Scottish towns.

Wider pattern

These neighbourhoods characteristically comprise pockets of flats that are scattered across the UK, particularly in towns that retain or have legacies of heavy industry or are in more remote seaside locations. Employed residents of these neighbourhoods work mainly in low-skilled occupations. Residents typically have limited educational qualifications. Unemployment is above average. Some residents live in overcrowded housing within the social rented sector and experience long-term disability. All adult age groups are represented, although there is an overall age bias towards elderly people in general and the very old in particular. Individuals identifying as belonging to ethnic minorities or Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups are uncommon.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Lyden is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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 scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Lyden 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

Lyden falls in decile 1 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.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Lyden is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of Over 70 mbit/s.

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

10
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Lyden

The surname Lyden is of English origin, and it is believed to have emerged during the medieval period. The name is thought to be derived from the Old English word "liden," which means "to travel" or "to go." This suggests that the name may have been given to someone who frequently traveled or was a wanderer.

Lyden is also believed to be a locational name, referring to a place where the first bearers of the name lived or came from. It is possible that the name originated from a place called Lyden or a similar spelling, although the exact location is uncertain.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Lyden can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Norfolk, dated 1195, which mention a William de Lyden. This suggests that the name was already in use by the late 12th century.

In the 13th century, the name appeared in various records, including the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire in 1275, which listed a Robert de Lyden. The Hundred Rolls of Bedfordshire in 1279 also mentioned a John de Lyden.

Notable individuals with the surname Lyden throughout history include John Lyden (c. 1550-1607), an English composer and organist who served at the Chapel Royal during the reigns of Queen Elizabeth I and King James I. Another notable figure was Sir Thomas Lyden (1590-1651), an English politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Woodstock during the 17th century.

In the 18th century, William Lyden (1717-1788) was a prominent English merchant and landowner from Warwickshire. In the 19th century, James Lyden (1832-1901) was a Scottish-born Canadian businessman and politician who served as a Member of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba.

Another notable figure was Mary Lyden (1878-1962), an American educator and activist who worked tirelessly to improve educational opportunities for African American children in the segregated South.

These are just a few examples of individuals with the surname Lyden who have left their mark on history in various fields, including music, politics, business, and education.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Lyden families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Lyden 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. Lancashire leads with 47 Lydens recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.88x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 47 1.88x
Lanarkshire 23 3.38x
Renfrewshire 20 12.25x
Perthshire 17 17.98x
Yorkshire 16 0.77x
Stirlingshire 15 19.30x
Dunbartonshire 13 22.96x
Glamorgan 9 2.45x
Durham 8 1.28x
Kent 8 1.11x
Cheshire 7 1.51x
Midlothian 6 2.13x
Northumberland 6 1.91x
Angus 5 2.56x
Roxburghshire 5 13.10x
Somerset 4 1.18x
Staffordshire 4 0.56x
Dumfriesshire 1 2.15x
Essex 1 0.24x
Hampshire 1 0.23x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Stirling in Stirlingshire leads with 15 Lydens recorded in 1881 and an index of 153.06x.

Place Total Index
Stirling 15 153.06x
Spotland 13 46.76x
West Greenock 13 44.35x
Barony 12 6.96x
Cardross 12 176.47x
Perth Middle Church 10 280.90x
Govan 9 5.34x
Drypool 8 250.00x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 8 29.47x
Newchurch 8 39.12x
Widnes 8 44.37x
East Greenock 7 45.40x
Sittingbourne 7 123.24x
Standish With Langtree 7 227.27x
North Shields 6 95.85x
Dunblane 5 221.24x
Dundee 5 6.86x
Roath 5 30.01x
Wilton 5 119.33x
Bedminster 4 12.55x
Clase 4 29.33x
Lasswade 4 62.02x
Marple 3 94.04x
Northwich 3 405.41x
Barrow In Furness 2 5.88x
Kirkdale 2 4.76x
Liverpool 2 1.32x
Nether Hallam 2 7.08x
Warrington 2 6.75x
West Derby 2 2.73x
Wolstanton Oldcott 2 77.52x
Ash Next Ridley 1 217.39x
Balquhidder 1 222.22x
Blackburn 1 1.50x
Darlaston 1 10.17x
Dumbarton 1 12.69x
Eddisbury 1 555.56x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 1 0.88x
Holme On Spalding Moor 1 72.99x
Holy Trinity 1 1.99x
Kirkleatham 1 35.46x
Lecropt 1 227.27x
Maryhill 1 7.50x
Middlesbrough 1 3.68x
Old Monkland 1 3.70x
Penicuik 1 26.04x
Penpont 1 116.28x
Portsmouth 1 10.06x
Rivenhall 1 200.00x
Scriven Cum Tentergate 1 129.87x
Stafford St Mary 1 9.93x
Sutton Stoneferry 1 16.75x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 11
Bridget 6
Catherine 4
Ellen 3
Kate 3
Annie 2
Margaret 2
Sarah 2
Amelia 1
Ann 1
Cather. 1
Cathrine 1
Elizabeth 1
Hannah 1
Katie 1
Laura 1
Lucy 1
M. 1
Maria 1
Phillipa 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 14
James 11
Michael 8
Thomas 8
Patrick 4
Edward 3
Abel 2
Joseph 2
Martin 2
Bernet 1
Charles 1
David 1
Dominick 1
Henry 1
Paterick 1
Patsey 1
Peter 1
Rodger 1
Stephen 1
Timothy 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Lyden surname: questions and answers

How common was the Lyden surname in 1881?

In 1881, 219 people were recorded with the Lyden surname. That placed it at #12,122 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Lyden surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 479 in 2016. That gives Lyden a modern rank of #10,308.

What does the Lyden surname mean?

A variant spelling of the Dutch surname Leyden, denoting a person from the city of Leiden.

What does the Lyden map show?

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