NameCensus.

UK surname

Lynes

An English surname derived from the word "line" referring to a dweller by a line or boundary.

In the 1881 census there were 780 people recorded with the Lynes surname, ranking it #4,753 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 994, ranked #5,829, down from #4,753 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, St Mary Islington and Coventry Holy Trinity (incl. Radford), Coventry St Michael, Wyken. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Bristol, Cherwell and Northampton.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Lynes is 1,099 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 27.4%.

1881 census count

780

Ranked #4,753

Modern count

994

2016, ranked #5,829

Peak year

1998

1,099 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Lynes had 780 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,753 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 994 in 2016, ranked #5,829.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 868 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Lynes surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Lynes surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Lynes 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 328 #7,098
1861 historical 541 #4,857
1881 historical 780 #4,753
1891 historical 818 #4,951
1901 historical 868 #5,281
1911 historical 863 #5,145
1997 modern 1,034 #5,336
1998 modern 1,099 #5,270
1999 modern 1,061 #5,433
2000 modern 1,082 #5,333
2001 modern 1,064 #5,313
2002 modern 1,058 #5,437
2003 modern 1,031 #5,460
2004 modern 1,037 #5,443
2005 modern 1,013 #5,491
2006 modern 1,005 #5,548
2007 modern 1,024 #5,503
2008 modern 1,021 #5,555
2009 modern 1,040 #5,597
2010 modern 1,045 #5,666
2011 modern 1,039 #5,640
2012 modern 1,038 #5,560
2013 modern 1,040 #5,658
2014 modern 1,039 #5,681
2015 modern 1,018 #5,726
2016 modern 994 #5,829

Geography

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Where Lynes' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, St Mary Islington, Coventry Holy Trinity (incl. Radford), Coventry St Michael, Wyken and Adderbury, East. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Bristol, Cherwell, Northampton, Newark and Sherwood and Reigate and Banstead. 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 London parishes London 1
2 London parishes London 3
3 St Mary Islington London (North Districts)
4 Coventry Holy Trinity (incl. Radford), Coventry St Michael, Wyken Warwickshire
5 Adderbury, East Oxfordshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Bristol 049 Bristol, City of
2 Cherwell 008 Cherwell
3 Northampton 028 Northampton
4 Newark and Sherwood 006 Newark and Sherwood
5 Reigate and Banstead 018 Reigate and Banstead

Forenames

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First names often paired with Lynes

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Lynes

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Lynes is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Lynes 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

Lynes 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 Lynes 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 Lynes, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Lynes

The surname Lynes is of English origin, deriving from the Old English word "lyn" which referred to a pool or stream. It is thought to have originated as a locational name, given to families residing near a body of water such as a pool or stream.

The name is believed to have emerged during the Anglo-Saxon period in England, which spanned from the 5th to the 11th centuries. It was initially found in various counties across England, including Sussex, Hampshire, and Wiltshire, where many of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be traced.

One of the earliest known mentions of the surname Lynes can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, a comprehensive survey of land ownership and taxation in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. The name appeared in various spellings, such as Lyne and Lynne, reflecting the regional variations in pronunciation and spelling at the time.

In the 13th century, records show a Richard de Lyne who held lands in Wiltshire, indicating the prominence of the surname among landowners during that period. Another notable bearer of the name was John Lynes, a merchant and alderman in the city of London, who lived in the 15th century.

During the 16th century, the surname Lynes gained further recognition with the birth of John Lynes (1554-1607), an English priest and writer who served as a Jesuit missionary in Portugal and Spain. His works include several religious treatises and translations.

In the 17th century, the name is associated with Edward Lynes (1615-1675), an English clergyman and author who served as the Archdeacon of Salisbury. He is known for his writings on religious subjects and his involvement in the Church of England.

Another notable figure from this period is Sir Humphrey Lynes (1624-1681), an English politician and lawyer who served as a Member of Parliament and held the position of Lord Mayor of London in 1674.

As the centuries progressed, the Lynes surname continued to be present in various parts of England, with families bearing the name contributing to various fields, including politics, religion, and literature. While the spelling may have evolved over time, the name's connection to its Anglo-Saxon roots and its association with locations near bodies of water remained consistent.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Lynes families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Lynes 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. Warwickshire leads with 145 Lynes' recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.62x.

County Total Index
Warwickshire 145 7.62x
Middlesex 119 1.58x
Norfolk 86 7.42x
Oxfordshire 42 9.02x
Surrey 38 1.03x
Yorkshire 35 0.47x
Gloucestershire 31 2.10x
Lancashire 31 0.35x
Essex 28 1.88x
Suffolk 21 2.29x
Cheshire 20 1.20x
Durham 20 0.89x
Leicestershire 19 2.27x
Kent 15 0.58x
Staffordshire 14 0.55x
Dorset 13 2.63x
Lanarkshire 13 0.53x
Somerset 11 0.91x
Devon 9 0.57x
Nottinghamshire 9 0.89x
Wiltshire 9 1.35x
Northumberland 8 0.71x
Worcestershire 6 0.61x
Berkshire 5 0.88x
Monmouthshire 5 0.92x
Dunbartonshire 4 1.97x
Sussex 4 0.31x
Herefordshire 3 0.97x
Hampshire 2 0.13x
Shropshire 2 0.31x
Bedfordshire 1 0.26x
Cornwall 1 0.12x
Hertfordshire 1 0.19x
Lincolnshire 1 0.08x
Pembrokeshire 1 0.42x
Royal Navy 1 1.11x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Coventry St Michael in Warwickshire leads with 49 Lynes' recorded in 1881 and an index of 80.22x.

Place Total Index
Coventry St Michael 49 80.22x
Coventry Holy Trinity 32 56.36x
Islington London 24 3.28x
St Pancras London 17 2.80x
Darlington 14 16.16x
Leek Wootten 14 1346.15x
Clerkenwell London 13 7.30x
W Adderbury 13 1130.43x
Audlem 11 280.61x
Aston 10 1.91x
Putney 10 29.10x
St Marylebone London 10 2.48x
Wootton 10 358.42x
Deptford St Paul 9 4.54x
Hempstead 9 833.33x
Kirkby Mallory Earl 9 224.44x
Child Okeford 8 366.97x
Dymock 8 226.63x
Manchester 8 1.99x
Polesworth 8 88.59x
St George In East London 8 11.28x
Sudbury St Peter 8 159.05x
Walsall Foreign 8 6.08x
West Ham 8 2.43x
Dickleburgh 7 327.10x
Ecclesfield 7 12.78x
Keighley 7 8.79x
Lambeth 7 1.06x
Leeds 7 1.66x
Liverpool 7 1.29x
Oxford St Giles 7 31.50x
Wandsworth 7 9.64x
Aylsham 6 86.96x
Boreham 6 233.46x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 6 4.31x
Carshalton 6 42.67x
Feltwell 6 266.67x
Great Yarmouth 6 6.25x
Maryhill 6 12.57x
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 6 8.95x
Shottesham St Mary 6 731.71x
St Clement Danes London 6 38.44x
Westminster St Margaret 6 16.50x
East Ham 5 18.10x
Everton 5 1.75x
Great Welnetham 5 438.60x
Headingley Cum Burley 5 10.40x
Itteringham 5 602.41x
Marcham 5 246.31x
Newport 5 19.23x
Plymouth St Andrew 5 4.14x
Shottesham All Sts 5 510.20x
Swithland 5 793.65x
Warwick St Nicholas 5 35.84x
Wyke Regis 5 70.42x
Aston Cum Aughton 4 65.47x
Barking 4 9.18x
Bathwick 4 29.78x
Birkenhead 4 3.01x
Birmingham 4 0.63x
Blofield 4 135.59x
Cheltenham 4 3.51x
Dumbarton 4 14.18x
Kenninghall 4 125.79x
Kirkdale 4 2.66x
Lea Marston 4 506.33x
Longdon 4 113.31x
Nottingham St Mary 4 1.52x
Preston 4 18.02x
Shoreditch London 4 1.22x
St George Hanover Square 4 3.01x
Swindon 4 7.73x
Tackley 4 287.77x
Walcot 4 6.19x
Wenhaston 4 176.21x
Weybourne 4 666.67x
E Adderbury 3 127.66x
Kenilworth 3 27.99x
Ribbesford 3 36.63x
Shettleston 3 13.74x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 49
Sarah 26
Elizabeth 19
Ellen 19
Ann 16
Eliza 14
Emma 14
Hannah 14
Alice 13
Margaret 11
Annie 10
Martha 9
Jane 8
Edith 7
Julia 7
Louisa 7
Emily 6
Kate 6
Amelia 5
Clara 5
Frances 5
Harriet 5
Harriett 5
Maria 5
Ada 4
Caroline 4
Charlotte 4
Florence 4
Rebecca 4
Agnes 3
Bridget 3
Catherine 3
Eleanor 3
Fanny 3
Gertrude 3
Rose 3
Sophia 3
Susan 3
Anne 2
Elizth. 2
Esther 2
Isabella 2
Jessie 2
Lydia 2
Mabel 2
Maude 2
Bernice 1
Bertha 1
Elizeb. 1
Thurza 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 52
John 36
Charles 25
Thomas 25
James 24
George 22
Edward 13
Henry 13
Joseph 11
Samuel 10
Walter 10
Frederick 9
Richard 8
Robert 7
Albert 6
Alfred 4
Abraham 3
Arthur 3
Benjamin 3
Frank 3
Fredk. 3
Isaac 3
Patrick 3
Amos 2
Andrew 2
Ernest 2
Francis 2
Harry 2
Herbert 2
Jeremiah 2
Joe 2
Solomon 2
Stephen 2
Thos. 2
Chas. 1
Connor 1
Cyrenus 1
Daniel 1
Eli 1
Ephraim 1
Festinian 1
Franklin 1
Fred 1
Fredrick 1
Geo. 1
Josiah 1
Leonard 1
Martin 1
Matthew 1
Michael 1

FAQ

Lynes surname: questions and answers

How common was the Lynes surname in 1881?

In 1881, 780 people were recorded with the Lynes surname. That placed it at #4,753 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Lynes surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 994 in 2016. That gives Lynes a modern rank of #5,829.

What does the Lynes surname mean?

An English surname derived from the word "line" referring to a dweller by a line or boundary.

What does the Lynes map show?

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