NameCensus.

UK surname

Lynn

A locational surname referring to a person who lived near a lake, waterfall, or pool.

In the 1881 census there were 2,621 people recorded with the Lynn surname, ranking it #1,695 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 5,463, ranked #1,224, up from #1,695 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, London parishes and Gateshead. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Fenland, Sunderland and Northumberland.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Lynn is 5,528 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 108.4%.

1881 census count

2,621

Ranked #1,695

Modern count

5,463

2016, ranked #1,224

Peak year

2014

5,528 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Lynn had 2,621 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,695 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 5,463 in 2016, ranked #1,224.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 3,657 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Lynn surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Lynn surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Lynn 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 1,655 #1,739
1861 historical 2,057 #1,409
1881 historical 2,621 #1,695
1891 historical 3,099 #1,516
1901 historical 3,657 #1,534
1911 historical 3,429 #1,529
1997 modern 5,334 #1,222
1998 modern 5,504 #1,232
1999 modern 5,518 #1,240
2000 modern 5,389 #1,266
2001 modern 5,232 #1,273
2002 modern 5,309 #1,282
2003 modern 5,229 #1,265
2004 modern 5,251 #1,259
2005 modern 5,219 #1,252
2006 modern 5,157 #1,266
2007 modern 5,193 #1,270
2008 modern 5,242 #1,270
2009 modern 5,377 #1,264
2010 modern 5,527 #1,255
2011 modern 5,464 #1,252
2012 modern 5,368 #1,245
2013 modern 5,480 #1,244
2014 modern 5,528 #1,233
2015 modern 5,465 #1,230
2016 modern 5,463 #1,224

Geography

Back to top

Where Lynns are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, London parishes, Gateshead and Brighton. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Fenland, Sunderland, Northumberland and Saltcoats Central. 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 London parishes London 1
3 London parishes London 3
4 Gateshead Durham
5 Brighton Sussex

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Fenland 003 Fenland
2 Sunderland 030 Sunderland
3 Northumberland 008 Northumberland
4 Northumberland 010 Northumberland
5 Saltcoats Central North Ayrshire

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Lynn

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Lynn

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Lynn surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Lynn household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Lynn is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Lynn 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

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

Meaning and origin of Lynn

The surname LYNN is an English locational name that originated from the Old English word 'lin' meaning a pool or lake. It was initially used to refer to someone who lived near a body of water, such as a lake or pond.

The name can be traced back to the 12th century when it was first recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 as 'Linna' in reference to a place in Norfolk, England. Over time, the spelling evolved into various forms like Linn, Linne, and eventually LYNN.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname LYNN can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Lincolnshire from 1181, where it appeared as 'Robertus de Linna'. This suggests that the name was well-established in parts of England by the late 12th century.

In the 13th century, the surname LYNN was associated with several notable individuals, including Sir Philip de Lynn, a knight who fought in the Battle of Lewes in 1264. Another early bearer of the name was William de Lynn, a wealthy merchant from King's Lynn, Norfolk, who lived in the late 13th century.

The surname LYNN has also been linked to various place names, such as King's Lynn in Norfolk, which was originally known as 'Lun' or 'Lenne' in Old English. This connection further reinforces the locational origin of the surname.

Among the notable bearers of the surname LYNN throughout history are:

1. Thomas Lynn (c. 1530-1616), an English mathematician and astronomer who served as the Chief Gunner of England. 2. Ralph Lynn (1882-1962), an English actor and comedian, known for his performances in films and on stage. 3. Vera Lynn (1917-2020), a renowned British singer and entertainer, famously known as the "Forces' Sweetheart" during World War II. 4. Jonathan Lynn (born 1943), a British writer, director, and actor, best known for co-writing and directing the comedy films "Clue" and "Nuns on the Run." 5. Loretta Lynn (1932-2022), an American singer-songwriter and author, considered a leading figure in country music and a recipient of numerous awards and accolades.

The surname LYNN has a rich history, originating from the Old English word for a pool or lake, and has been associated with various notable individuals, places, and events throughout the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Lynn families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Lynn 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. Durham leads with 513 Lynns recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.76x.

County Total Index
Durham 513 6.76x
Surrey 242 1.95x
Middlesex 211 0.83x
Yorkshire 201 0.80x
Lancashire 141 0.47x
Northumberland 139 3.66x
Lanarkshire 114 1.38x
Norfolk 110 2.81x
Lincolnshire 105 2.58x
Sussex 96 2.23x
Nottinghamshire 77 2.24x
Essex 57 1.13x
Kent 52 0.60x
Devon 46 0.87x
Stirlingshire 38 4.04x
Dunbartonshire 37 5.40x
Cumberland 33 1.50x
Renfrewshire 31 1.57x
Ayrshire 29 1.52x
Hampshire 25 0.48x
Cambridgeshire 23 1.42x
Berkshire 22 1.15x
Cheshire 22 0.39x
Angus 18 0.76x
Buckinghamshire 18 1.17x
Midlothian 18 0.53x
Derbyshire 16 0.40x
Oxfordshire 15 0.95x
Northamptonshire 14 0.58x
Glamorgan 12 0.27x
Warwickshire 12 0.19x
Gloucestershire 10 0.20x
Bedfordshire 9 0.68x
Perthshire 9 0.79x
Roxburghshire 9 1.95x
Selkirkshire 8 3.47x
Clackmannanshire 7 3.32x
Fife 7 0.46x
Leicestershire 7 0.25x
Suffolk 7 0.23x
Berwickshire 6 1.94x
Brecknockshire 6 1.18x
Huntingdonshire 6 1.19x
East Lothian 5 1.48x
Hertfordshire 5 0.28x
Shropshire 5 0.23x
Wiltshire 4 0.18x
Dorset 2 0.12x
Isle of Man 2 0.42x
Pembrokeshire 2 0.25x
Royal Navy 2 0.66x
Staffordshire 2 0.02x
Worcestershire 2 0.06x
Argyllshire 1 0.14x
Herefordshire 1 0.10x
Rutland 1 0.53x
Somerset 1 0.02x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Govan in Lanarkshire leads with 46 Lynns recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.26x.

Place Total Index
Govan 46 2.26x
Brighton 38 4.38x
Bedlington 37 29.21x
Barony 35 1.68x
Gateshead 35 6.16x
Islington London 31 1.25x
Lambeth 30 1.35x
Heworth 27 18.06x
Camberwell 26 1.60x
West Ham 26 2.34x
Liverpool 25 1.36x
Stranton 24 9.40x
Westoe 22 5.12x
Bonhill 21 19.09x
Clapham 21 6.59x
Cobham 21 102.99x
Darlington 21 7.17x
Emneth 21 240.27x
Newbottle 21 50.69x
Ardrossan 20 30.28x
Arundel 20 83.09x
Dawdon 20 21.43x
Stokenham 19 127.09x
Bishopwearmouth 18 2.76x
Cley Next Sea 18 286.17x
Middlesbrough 18 5.47x
St Marylebone London 17 1.25x
Chester Le Street 16 27.47x
Glasgow 16 1.09x
Newark Upon Trent 16 12.95x
Newington 16 1.70x
Penrith 16 19.73x
East Grinstead 15 24.65x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 15 1.09x
Exelby Leeming Newton 15 249.17x
Harton 15 50.05x
Newcastle On Tyne St John 15 30.07x
Dorking 14 16.78x
Esh 14 25.36x
Lambton 14 1060.61x
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 14 6.18x
Dewsbury 13 5.02x
Dunipace 13 78.98x
Elm 12 75.85x
Kingston On Thames 12 4.02x
Monkwearmouth 12 16.53x
Paddington London 12 1.28x
Plymouth St Andrew 12 2.93x
Shoreditch London 12 1.09x
West Greenock 12 3.38x
Chorlton On Medlock 11 2.29x
Denny 11 21.99x
Guisbrough 11 19.92x
Leeds 11 0.77x
Newcastle On Tyne St 11 5.59x
Norton Disney 11 738.26x
Penge 11 6.75x
Ryton 11 41.26x
Salthouse 11 607.73x
Thames Ditton 11 42.62x
Westgate 11 4.68x
Birmingham 10 0.47x
Bishop Auckland 10 9.83x
Dartford 10 11.24x
Ford 10 43.99x
Gunthorpe 10 518.13x
Hackney London 10 0.70x
Liff Benvie 10 2.79x
Nottingham St Mary 10 1.12x
Penshaw 10 43.88x
Sherburn 10 43.31x
Toxteth Park 10 0.98x
Whitworth 10 18.01x
Wycombe 10 8.70x
Derby St Alkmund 9 7.52x
Hawick 9 8.71x
Manningham 9 2.89x
Normanby In 9 13.32x
Southwick 9 12.53x
Winlaton 9 12.37x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

FAQ

Lynn surname: questions and answers

How common was the Lynn surname in 1881?

In 1881, 2,621 people were recorded with the Lynn surname. That placed it at #1,695 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Lynn surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 5,463 in 2016. That gives Lynn a modern rank of #1,224.

What does the Lynn surname mean?

A locational surname referring to a person who lived near a lake, waterfall, or pool.

What does the Lynn map show?

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