NameCensus.

UK surname

Lyes

A surname of English origin referring to someone who lived near a meadow or field.

In the 1881 census there were 197 people recorded with the Lyes surname, ranking it #12,955 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 233, ranked #17,625, down from #12,955 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Gazeley and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Forest Heath, Stroud and Tewkesbury.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Lyes is 299 in 2000. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 18.3%.

1881 census count

197

Ranked #12,955

Modern count

233

2016, ranked #17,625

Peak year

2000

299 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Lyes had 197 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #12,955 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 233 in 2016, ranked #17,625.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 248 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Lyes surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Lyes surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Lyes 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 142 #13,428
1861 historical 187 #12,690
1881 historical 197 #12,955
1891 historical 193 #15,335
1901 historical 225 #14,047
1911 historical 248 #12,988
1997 modern 270 #14,515
1998 modern 282 #14,472
1999 modern 274 #14,826
2000 modern 299 #13,937
2001 modern 271 #14,691
2002 modern 288 #14,373
2003 modern 286 #14,259
2004 modern 285 #14,344
2005 modern 259 #15,294
2006 modern 259 #15,370
2007 modern 265 #15,295
2008 modern 265 #15,425
2009 modern 269 #15,589
2010 modern 258 #16,432
2011 modern 250 #16,637
2012 modern 244 #16,793
2013 modern 238 #17,354
2014 modern 235 #17,619
2015 modern 237 #17,413
2016 modern 233 #17,625

Geography

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Where Lyes' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Gazeley, London parishes, Churchdown and Colchester St Botolph, St Mary at the Walls, St Giles, St Mary Magdalen, Holy Trinity, St Runwald, a. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Forest Heath, Stroud, Tewkesbury, East Cambridgeshire and Forest of Dean. 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 Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside Durham
2 Gazeley Cambridgeshire
3 London parishes London 3
4 Churchdown Gloucestershire
5 Colchester St Botolph, St Mary at the Walls, St Giles, St Mary Magdalen, Holy Trinity, St Runwald, a Essex

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Forest Heath 004 Forest Heath
2 Stroud 003 Stroud
3 Tewkesbury 003 Tewkesbury
4 East Cambridgeshire 006 East Cambridgeshire
5 Forest of Dean 009 Forest of Dean

Forenames

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First names often paired with Lyes

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Lyes

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Lyes, 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 Lyes surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Lyes 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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Lyes 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

Lyes 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

Lyes falls in decile 7 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.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Lyes

The surname LYES is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period. The name appears to have Anglo-Saxon roots, as it is derived from the Old English word "leah," which means "woodland" or "clearing." Over time, the name evolved through various spellings, including Lye, Lyes, and Lees. These variations were common as early forms of surnames were frequently altered for phonetic reasons or clerical errors.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname can be traced back to the 13th century in England. One notable record is of Robert de Lye, who was mentioned in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, a census ordered by King Edward I of England. The name was also listed in the tax records of the Subsidy Rolls for Worcestershire in 1327, indicating the presence of a John de Lye.

As the name Lyes spread across England, it began appearing in different regions and in various forms. In the 16th century, Thomas Lyes, born around 1580, was a known figure in Devonshire. His family played a prominent role in local governance and commerce, contributing to the regional history of the surname.

Through the 17th century, the name continued to be prominent in England. Dr. Richard Lyes, born in 1613 and died in 1673, was a respected academic and clergyman. He was renowned for his scholarly contributions and served as a fellow at Oxford University. His works were often cited in academic circles, highlighting the intellectual legacy of the Lyes name.

During the late 18th century, the name began to appear in colonial America, brought over by English settlers. An example is William Lyes who emigrated in 1772 and settled in Virginia. His descendants became influential in the early American society, participating in the formation of local government and community development.

In the 19th century, the industrial revolution saw the migration of many families, including those with the surname Lyes, to burgeoning urban centers. One such individual was James Lyes, born in 1824, who became an industrialist in Manchester. His innovative approaches to manufacturing processes significantly impacted the city's economic growth.

Throughout history, the surname Lyes has maintained a presence in various regions and records. While it has sometimes been overshadowed by its more common variants, the name's roots in Old English terminology for natural landscapes reflect a connection to the pastoral heritage of medieval England.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Lyes families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Lyes 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. Suffolk leads with 46 Lyes' recorded in 1881 and an index of 19.65x.

County Total Index
Suffolk 46 19.65x
Worcestershire 36 14.35x
Gloucestershire 28 7.43x
Essex 24 6.33x
Middlesex 18 0.94x
Norfolk 9 3.05x
Surrey 8 0.85x
Lancashire 6 0.26x
Cambridgeshire 5 4.11x
Monmouthshire 4 2.88x
Staffordshire 3 0.46x
Yorkshire 3 0.16x
Warwickshire 2 0.41x
Durham 1 0.17x
Glamorgan 1 0.30x
Herefordshire 1 1.27x
Kent 1 0.15x
Wiltshire 1 0.59x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bethnal Green London in Middlesex leads with 11 Lyes' recorded in 1881 and an index of 13.18x.

Place Total Index
Bethnal Green London 11 13.18x
West Ham 11 13.13x
Broadway 10 925.93x
Churchdown 10 1333.33x
Risby 10 3448.28x
Barrow 9 1500.00x
Colchester St Peter 9 592.11x
Gazeley 9 1636.36x
Great Little Hampton 9 2142.86x
Mileham 9 2812.50x
Worlington 9 4736.84x
Ardwick 6 29.17x
Bury St Edmunds St James 6 96.00x
Cheltenham 6 20.63x
Croydon 5 9.62x
Norton 5 1851.85x
Wisbech St Peter 5 81.97x
Colchester St Giles 4 106.67x
Fladbury 4 1333.33x
Hardwicke 4 930.23x
St Woollos 4 25.81x
Abbots Lench 3 10000.00x
Dumbleton 3 1034.48x
Norton 3 1034.48x
Rouse Lench 3 1578.95x
Burton Upon Trent 2 13.18x
Holy Trinity 2 4.37x
Islington London 2 1.07x
St Andrew Holborn London 2 24.04x
Aberdare 1 4.35x
Birmingham 1 0.62x
Bury St Edmunds St Mary 1 22.78x
Claines 1 14.51x
Corsham 1 40.32x
Coundon 1 43.10x
Edgbaston 1 6.65x
Gate Fulford 1 22.47x
Gloucester Barton St 1 45.25x
Hampstead London 1 3.34x
Hereford All Sts 1 27.70x
Ipswich St Peter 1 31.75x
Lambeth 1 0.60x
Lewisham 1 2.86x
Mildenhall 1 40.16x
Newington 1 1.41x
Southwark St George Martyr 1 2.59x
Spitalfields London 1 6.92x
St Pancras London 1 0.65x
Stourbridge 1 15.48x
Temple Guiting 1 285.71x
West Bromwich 1 2.69x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 12
Elizabeth 10
Sarah 8
Ann 4
Annie 4
Ellen 4
Emma 4
Fanny 4
Jane 4
Eliza 3
Florence 3
Maria 3
Agnes 2
Anne 2
Caroline 2
Emily 2
Harriet 2
Kate 2
Margaret 2
Maryann 2
Susannah 2
Alice 1
Amelia 1
Amy 1
B. 1
Barnard 1
Charlotte 1
Isabella 1
Lily 1
Louisa 1
Magaret 1
Martha 1
My. 1
Oma 1
Rose 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
George 14
John 12
William 12
Charles 6
Alfred 5
Henry 5
James 5
Thomas 5
Arthur 4
Edward 3
Albert 2
Frederick 2
Joseph 2
Robert 2
Alford 1
Cecil 1
Chas 1
Deverin 1
E. 1
Francis 1
Frank 1
Fred 1
Fredrick 1
Harry 1
Jonathan 1
Joshua 1
Martin 1
Philip 1
Richard 1
Samuel 1
Walter 1

FAQ

Lyes surname: questions and answers

How common was the Lyes surname in 1881?

In 1881, 197 people were recorded with the Lyes surname. That placed it at #12,955 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Lyes surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 233 in 2016. That gives Lyes a modern rank of #17,625.

What does the Lyes surname mean?

A surname of English origin referring to someone who lived near a meadow or field.

What does the Lyes map show?

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