NameCensus.

UK surname

Lyn

A Welsh surname derived from the Welsh word "llyn" meaning lake or pool.

In the 1881 census there were 14 people recorded with the Lyn surname, ranking it #31,604 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 186, ranked #20,575, up from #31,604 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Wellingborough, Wandsworth and Birmingham.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Lyn is 186 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 1228.6%.

1881 census count

14

Ranked #31,604

Modern count

186

2016, ranked #20,575

Peak year

2016

186 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Lyn had 14 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #31,604 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 186 in 2016, ranked #20,575.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 25 in 1851.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Lyn surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Lyn surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Lyn 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 25 #28,853
1881 historical 14 #31,604
1891 historical 1 #34,674
1901 historical 11 #32,907
1997 modern 120 #24,158
1998 modern 120 #24,793
1999 modern 119 #25,095
2000 modern 127 #24,121
2001 modern 134 #23,037
2002 modern 147 #22,197
2003 modern 148 #21,866
2004 modern 141 #22,689
2005 modern 136 #23,205
2006 modern 140 #22,948
2007 modern 147 #22,510
2008 modern 161 #21,431
2009 modern 162 #21,791
2010 modern 178 #20,965
2011 modern 180 #20,649
2012 modern 164 #21,883
2013 modern 164 #22,236
2014 modern 170 #21,914
2015 modern 182 #20,856
2016 modern 186 #20,575

Geography

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Where Lyns are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Wellingborough, Wandsworth, Birmingham, Bradford and South Cambridgeshire. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Wellingborough 008 Wellingborough
2 Wandsworth 009 Wandsworth
3 Birmingham 110 Birmingham
4 Bradford 052 Bradford
5 South Cambridgeshire 010 South Cambridgeshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Lyn

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Lyn

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

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations

Nationally, the Lyn surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Lyn 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 is often found in less central parts of London and other major towns and cities. Adults are more likely than the Supergroup average to have never been married and are typically aged less than 45 years. Many have young dependent children and individuals may have been born in Africa. There are many members identifying with a Black ethnic group, with the other ethnic groups (as listed in the glossary) also represented, though Chinese less so. Accommodation in flats, frequently socially rented, is common in these neighbourhoods. Part time employment is also common, and work is often in elementary occupations, while unemployment is also the highest within this Supergroup.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Lyn is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Lyn is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Lyn falls in decile 5 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.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Lyn is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
Other Ethnic Group

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

Meaning and origin of Lyn

The surname LYN is believed to have originated in England, with its earliest known records dating back to the 13th century. The name is thought to be derived from the Old English word "lyn," meaning a pool or a lake, suggesting that the earliest bearers of this name may have lived near a body of water.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name LYN can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Huntingdonshire, a medieval census document from 1273, which mentions a person named William de Lyn. This entry indicates that the name was already in use as a surname by the late 13th century.

In the 14th century, the name LYN appeared in various forms, including Lyne, Lynne, and Lynde, reflecting the variations in spelling and pronunciation that were common during that era. One notable historical figure bearing this surname was Sir Humphrey Lynde (c. 1480 - 1542), a Member of Parliament and Sheriff of Cambridgeshire.

The LYN surname was also associated with several place names in England, such as Lyn in Norfolk and Lynton in Devon. These place names were likely derived from the same Old English word "lyn," further reinforcing the connection between the surname and bodies of water.

In the 16th century, the surname LYN gained prominence with the birth of Sir Walter Lynde (c. 1565 - 1628), a Member of Parliament and Lord Chief Baron of the Exchequer. He was a notable figure in English legal history and served during the reign of King James I.

Moving into the 17th century, another prominent individual with the LYN surname was Sir Humphrey Lynde (1579 - 1636), an English politician and lawyer who served as a Member of Parliament and held the position of Chief Baron of the Exchequer in Ireland.

As the centuries progressed, the LYN surname continued to be present in various historical records, with individuals bearing this name making contributions in various fields, including politics, law, and literature. One such figure was Reverend James Lyn (1635 - 1705), an English clergyman and author who published several religious works during his lifetime.

While the surname LYN may not be as common as some other English surnames, it has a rich history and can be traced back to its Old English roots, reflecting the connection between the earliest bearers of this name and the natural landscape of lakes and pools.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Lyn families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Lyn 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. Lanarkshire leads with 7 Lyns recorded in 1881 and an index of 9.65x.

County Total Index
Lanarkshire 7 9.65x
Middlesex 4 1.78x
Cheshire 3 6.06x
Devon 3 6.42x
Worcestershire 2 6.83x
Kent 1 1.31x
Perthshire 1 9.93x
Royal Navy 1 37.45x
Sussex 1 2.64x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Glasgow in Lanarkshire leads with 7 Lyns recorded in 1881 and an index of 54.35x.

Place Total Index
Glasgow 7 54.35x
Great Malvern 2 327.87x
Hammersmith London 2 36.17x
Stokenham 2 1538.46x
Axmouth 1 2000.00x
Bredbury 1 344.83x
Brighton 1 13.11x
Church Coppenhall 1 454.55x
Deptford St Paul 1 16.95x
Feltham 1 454.55x
Mile End Old Town London 1 20.92x
Oxton 1 357.14x
Perth East Church 1 105.26x
Royal Navy 1 43.67x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 3
Sarah 2
Charlotia 1
Christina 1
Dora 1
Emma 1
M. 1
Martha 1
Rebecca 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Edward 1
John 1
William 1

FAQ

Lyn surname: questions and answers

How common was the Lyn surname in 1881?

In 1881, 14 people were recorded with the Lyn surname. That placed it at #31,604 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Lyn surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 186 in 2016. That gives Lyn a modern rank of #20,575.

What does the Lyn surname mean?

A Welsh surname derived from the Welsh word "llyn" meaning lake or pool.

What does the Lyn map show?

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