UK surname
A surname derived from an Old English word meaning "marsh" or "body of water".
In the 1881 census there were 12 people recorded with the Lykes surname, ranking it #31,914 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 3, ranked #38,594, down from #31,914 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Glossop, Kirkheaton and Almondbury. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Lykes is 1,125 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 75.0%.
1881 census count
12
Ranked #31,914
Modern count
3
2016, ranked #38,594
Peak year
1861
1,125 bearers
Map years
3
1861 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Lykes surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Lykes surname density by area, 1911 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 | 58 | #22,928 |
| 1861 | historical | 1,125 | #2,494 |
| 1881 | historical | 12 | #31,914 |
| 1891 | historical | 887 | #4,648 |
| 1901 | historical | 73 | #26,069 |
| 1911 | historical | 441 | #8,638 |
| 2005 | modern | 1 | #38,814 |
| 2012 | modern | 1 | #38,986 |
| 2013 | modern | 1 | #39,008 |
| 2014 | modern | 2 | #38,791 |
| 2015 | modern | 3 | #38,558 |
| 2016 | modern | 3 | #38,594 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Glossop, Kirkheaton, Almondbury, Bradford and Huddersfield. 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 | Glossop | Derbyshire |
| 2 | Kirkheaton | Yorkshire, West Riding |
| 3 | Almondbury | Yorkshire, West Riding |
| 4 | Bradford | Yorkshire, West Riding |
| 5 | Huddersfield | Yorkshire, West Riding |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Lykes 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 Lykes, 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 Lykes surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Lykes 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, Lykes 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 Lykes is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Lykes, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname LYKES is of English origin and dates back to the late 12th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "lyke", which means "a body" or "a corpse". This suggests that the name may have originally referred to someone who worked as an undertaker or in a similar profession related to the handling of the deceased.
The earliest recorded instances of the LYKES surname can be found in various medieval documents from the counties of Lancashire and Yorkshire in northern England. One notable example is the appearance of a "Robertus Lyke" in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from the year 1208. These rolls were financial records maintained by the Exchequer of the English monarchy.
During the 13th and 14th centuries, the name was often spelled with variations such as "Lyke", "Lik", and "Lyk". These variations reflect the inconsistent spelling practices of the time before standardization became more common.
One of the earliest notable individuals bearing the LYKES surname was John Lyke, a merchant and alderman who lived in the city of York in the late 15th century. He is mentioned in various historical records from the period, including the York Civic Records.
Another prominent figure was Sir William Lykes, a English military commander who served under King Henry VIII during the Anglo-Scottish Wars of the early 16th century. He was knighted for his service in the Battle of Flodden in 1513, where he played a significant role in the English victory.
In the 17th century, the LYKES surname appears to have spread beyond its northern English origins. Records show individuals bearing the name living in various parts of England, including London and the southern counties.
One notable example from this period is Thomas LYKES, an English clergyman and author who lived from 1625 to 1686. He served as the Rector of Radwinter in Essex and published several religious works during his lifetime.
As the centuries progressed, the LYKES surname continued to be found throughout England, with some individuals bearing the name also migrating to other parts of the British Isles and eventually to other parts of the world, including the American colonies.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the LYKES surname in America is that of John LYKES, who was born in England in 1650 and later immigrated to Virginia, where he settled in the late 17th century.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Lykes 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. Yorkshire leads with 7 Lykes' recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.04x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Yorkshire | 7 | 6.04x |
| Middlesex | 4 | 3.42x |
| Lancashire | 1 | 0.72x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Dewsbury in Yorkshire leads with 6 Lykes' recorded in 1881 and an index of 504.20x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Dewsbury | 6 | 504.20x |
| Paddington London | 4 | 93.02x |
| Normanby In | 1 | 322.58x |
| Ormskirk | 1 | 370.37x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Lykes surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
FAQ
In 1881, 12 people were recorded with the Lykes surname. That placed it at #31,914 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 3 in 2016. That gives Lykes a modern rank of #38,594.
A surname derived from an Old English word meaning "marsh" or "body of water".
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Lykes 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.