NameCensus.

UK surname

Lyons

Derived from the French city of Lyon, indicating one who originally came from that place.

In the 1881 census there were 6,648 people recorded with the Lyons surname, ranking it #637 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 13,648, ranked #468, up from #637 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Christ Church Spitalfields, London parishes and St Mary Whitechapel. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Rochdale, North Somerset and Machars South.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Lyons is 13,825 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 105.3%.

1881 census count

6,648

Ranked #637

Modern count

13,648

2016, ranked #468

Peak year

2014

13,825 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Lyons had 6,648 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #637 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 13,648 in 2016, ranked #468.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 8,293 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Lyons surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Lyons surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Lyons 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 2,916 #996
1861 historical 3,563 #788
1881 historical 6,648 #637
1891 historical 6,856 #659
1901 historical 8,293 #644
1911 historical 8,203 #608
1997 modern 12,915 #469
1998 modern 13,490 #467
1999 modern 13,618 #467
2000 modern 13,531 #466
2001 modern 13,165 #468
2002 modern 13,464 #469
2003 modern 13,112 #470
2004 modern 13,203 #467
2005 modern 12,976 #471
2006 modern 12,957 #472
2007 modern 13,167 #469
2008 modern 13,242 #469
2009 modern 13,551 #472
2010 modern 13,799 #471
2011 modern 13,670 #468
2012 modern 13,431 #466
2013 modern 13,767 #466
2014 modern 13,825 #468
2015 modern 13,717 #466
2016 modern 13,648 #468

Geography

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Where Lyons' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Christ Church Spitalfields, London parishes, St Mary Whitechapel and Manchester. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Rochdale, North Somerset, Machars South, Wakefield and Cannock Chase. 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 Christ Church Spitalfields London (East Districts)
2 London parishes London 1
3 St Mary Whitechapel London (East Districts)
4 London parishes London 3
5 Manchester Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Rochdale 022 Rochdale
2 North Somerset 024 North Somerset
3 Machars South Dumfries and Galloway
4 Wakefield 016 Wakefield
5 Cannock Chase 002 Cannock Chase

Forenames

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First names often paired with Lyons

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Lyons

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

Baseline UK

Group

Challenged Communities

Nationally, the Lyons surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Lyons household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Residents of these neighbourhoods typically live in households with dependent children, and there are fewer-than-average residents of normal retirement age or over. Identification with ethnic minorities, particularly Black, or Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is common. The rate of Christian religious affiliation is low. Housing predominantly consists of semi-detached houses, along with a significant number of terraced properties and flats. Overcrowded social housing is common, and private renting occurs at average UK levels. Those in employment work mainly in caring leisure and other services; process, plant and machine operation; or elementary occupations. Unemployment is high, and few individuals have degree level qualifications. Many of these neighbourhoods occur in commuter towns or less accessible areas of larger towns and cities.

Wider pattern

This Supergroup exemplifies the broad base to the UK’s social structure, encompassing as it does the average or modal levels of many neighbourhood characteristics, including all housing tenures, a range of levels of educational attainment and religious affiliations, and a variety of pre-retirement age structures. Yet, in combination, these mixes are each distinctive of the parts of the UK. Overall, terraced houses and flats are the most prevalent, as is employment in intermediate or low-skilled occupations. However, this Supergroup is also characterised by above average levels of unemployment and lower levels of use of English as the main language. Many neighbourhoods occur in south London and the UK’s other major urban centres.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Lyons is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

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

Lyons 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

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

Meaning and origin of Lyons

The surname Lyons is of English and French origin, derived from the French city of Lyon. The name first emerged in England during the Norman Conquest of 1066, when many French settlers brought their surnames to Britain. In its early forms, the name was spelled as Lyuns, Lyons, or Lions, reflecting the pronunciation of the city's name in medieval French.

The city of Lyon itself takes its name from the Latin word "Lugdunum," which was derived from the Celtic words "lug" meaning "hill" and "dun" meaning "fort." This suggests that the surname Lyons may have ancient Celtic roots, referring to someone who lived near a fortified hill or settlement.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Lyons is found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where a landowner named Radulfus de Lyons is listed as holding estates in Oxfordshire.

In the 12th century, a notable bearer of the name was Geoffrey de Lyons, who was appointed Bishop of Coventry in 1189. Another early record is that of William de Lyons, who was granted lands in Nottinghamshire by King John in 1216.

During the Middle Ages, the surname Lyons was often associated with the cloth trade, as the city of Lyon was renowned for its silk and textile production. This connection is evidenced by the inclusion of the Lyons family in the Guild of Weavers in London during the 14th century.

In the 16th century, the surname gained prominence with the birth of John Lyons (1514-1592), an English mathematician and scholar who served as the first professor of geometry at the University of Cambridge.

Another notable figure was Sir Edmund Lyons (1790-1858), a British naval officer who was appointed Lord of the Admiralty and played a crucial role in the Crimean War.

The 19th century saw the rise of several influential Lyons, including Richard Bickerton Pemell Lyons (1817-1886), an English diplomat and politician who served as the Governor of British Guiana and New Zealand.

In the realm of literature, Edmund Lyons (1865-1937) was an Irish writer and playwright known for his works depicting Irish rural life, such as "The Bondman" and "John Damer's Ghost."

These are just a few examples of the many notable individuals who have borne the surname Lyons throughout history, reflecting its enduring presence and significance across various fields and cultures.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Lyons families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Lyons 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. Lancashire leads with 1,479 Lyons' recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.92x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 1,479 1.92x
Middlesex 1,389 2.14x
Yorkshire 703 1.09x
Surrey 392 1.24x
Staffordshire 291 1.33x
Lanarkshire 259 1.23x
Kent 236 1.06x
Glamorgan 176 1.55x
Warwickshire 162 0.99x
Durham 145 0.75x
Cheshire 124 0.86x
Somerset 117 1.12x
Gloucestershire 89 0.70x
Devon 79 0.58x
Monmouthshire 77 1.64x
Hampshire 76 0.57x
Northumberland 72 0.74x
Derbyshire 65 0.64x
Renfrewshire 63 1.25x
Essex 55 0.43x
Midlothian 48 0.55x
Ayrshire 42 0.86x
Suffolk 40 0.51x
Worcestershire 39 0.46x
Dunbartonshire 38 2.18x
Leicestershire 33 0.46x
Stirlingshire 23 0.96x
Berkshire 20 0.41x
Lincolnshire 20 0.19x
Angus 19 0.32x
Dorset 19 0.45x
Hertfordshire 18 0.40x
Cumberland 17 0.30x
Royal Navy 17 2.19x
Sussex 17 0.16x
Flintshire 16 0.92x
Nottinghamshire 14 0.16x
Aberdeenshire 13 0.22x
East Lothian 13 1.51x
Norfolk 13 0.13x
Wiltshire 13 0.23x
Cardiganshire 11 0.69x
Northamptonshire 9 0.15x
Wigtownshire 9 1.04x
Kirkcudbrightshire 8 0.85x
Cambridgeshire 7 0.17x
Morayshire 7 0.69x
Oxfordshire 7 0.17x
Pembrokeshire 6 0.29x
Perthshire 6 0.21x
Channel Islands 5 0.26x
Herefordshire 5 0.19x
Buteshire 4 1.02x
Fife 4 0.10x
Selkirkshire 4 0.68x
Buckinghamshire 3 0.08x
Caernarfonshire 3 0.11x
Carmarthenshire 3 0.11x
Cornwall 3 0.04x
West Lothian 3 0.31x
Brecknockshire 2 0.15x
Isle of Man 2 0.17x
Rutland 2 0.42x
Shropshire 2 0.04x
Anglesey 1 0.09x
Argyllshire 1 0.06x
Berwickshire 1 0.13x
Clackmannanshire 1 0.19x
Dumfriesshire 1 0.07x
Roxburghshire 1 0.08x
Westmorland 1 0.07x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Liverpool in Lancashire leads with 214 Lyons' recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.57x.

Place Total Index
Liverpool 214 4.57x
Manchester 152 4.38x
Whitechapel London 131 20.44x
Mile End Old Town London 110 7.95x
Bethnal Green London 108 3.82x
Birmingham 87 1.59x
Leeds 85 2.34x
Spitalfields London 85 17.38x
Lambeth 79 1.39x
Salford 73 3.22x
Govan 69 1.33x
Glasgow 67 1.79x
Islington London 66 1.05x
Kensington London 64 1.77x
Holy Trinity 63 4.07x
St George In East London 61 9.98x
St Pancras London 61 1.17x
St Marylebone London 57 1.64x
Newington 56 2.33x
Hulme 53 3.29x
Barony 49 0.92x
Bermondsey 49 2.53x
Hackney London 49 1.34x
St Luke London 46 4.41x
West Derby 45 1.99x
Walsall Foreign 44 3.88x
Battersea 42 1.76x
Habergham Eaves 42 5.96x
Sculcoates 40 3.92x
Deptford St Paul 39 2.28x
Shoreditch London 39 1.38x
Everton 37 1.51x
Rugeley 37 23.50x
Merthyr Tydfil 36 3.31x
Wigan 35 3.25x
Sheffield 34 1.66x
St Andrew Holborn London 33 11.73x
Toxteth Park 33 1.26x
Gomersal 32 10.64x
Portsea 32 1.23x
Little Bolton 31 3.13x
Preston 30 1.45x
Stockport 30 4.06x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 29 4.83x
Camberwell 28 0.67x
Hammersmith London 28 1.75x
Pendleton In Salford 28 3.05x
St George Hanover Square 28 2.44x
Great Crosby 27 12.84x
Llandaff 27 7.17x
Newton 27 4.54x
Southwark St George Martyr 27 2.06x
Widnes 27 4.85x
Blackburn 26 1.27x
Blagdon 25 113.48x
Gorton 25 3.45x
Hamilton 25 4.26x
Mile End New Town London 25 19.46x
Oldham 25 1.00x
Westminster St James 24 3.59x
Westminster St John 24 3.03x
Paddington London 23 0.96x
Plymouth St Andrew 23 2.21x
Radcliffe 23 6.19x
St Woollos 23 4.39x
Stoke Upon Trent 23 0.99x
Wolverhampton 23 1.36x
Bishopwearmouth 22 1.33x
Cardiff St Mary 22 3.53x
Chorlton On Medlock 22 1.80x
Coventry Holy Trinity 22 4.49x
St Botolph Aldgate London 22 16.43x
West Ham 22 0.78x
Woolwich 22 2.68x
Ashton Under Lyne 21 1.25x
Bedwellty 21 2.53x
Bradford 21 1.35x
Brightside Bierlow 21 1.66x
Warrington 21 2.30x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 20 0.57x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 510
Elizabeth 193
Ellen 157
Margaret 155
Sarah 150
Catherine 123
Ann 101
Jane 94
Bridget 72
Hannah 65
Annie 64
Kate 61
Eliza 60
Alice 45
Emma 45
Emily 42
Maria 36
Martha 32
Louisa 30
Rose 29
Agnes 26
Anne 26
Ada 24
Julia 24
Esther 23
Fanny 22
Florence 22
Rachel 22
Amelia 20
Frances 19
Rebecca 18
Isabella 17
Caroline 16
Charlotte 15
Elizth. 15
Harriet 15
Edith 13
Matilda 13
Leah 12
Lucy 12
Margt. 12
Susannah 12
Betsy 11
Susan 11
Amy 10
Johanna 10
Minnie 10
Sophia 10
Ethel 9
Helen 9

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 469
Thomas 250
James 242
William 229
Patrick 119
Joseph 106
Michael 106
George 102
Edward 93
Henry 80
Charles 60
Alfred 53
Robert 46
Martin 43
Samuel 42
David 34
Daniel 32
Arthur 31
Peter 31
Albert 29
Richard 28
Walter 24
Abraham 23
Harry 20
Isaac 20
Timothy 20
Frederick 18
Lewis 17
Cornelius 14
Benjamin 13
Francis 13
Louis 13
Jeremiah 12
Thos. 12
Andrew 10
Denis 10
Dennis 10
Herbert 10
Morris 10
Stephen 10
Wm. 10
Aaron 9
Edwin 9
Israel 9
Jacob 9
Jno. 9
Simon 9
Anthony 8
Nathan 8
Tom 8

FAQ

Lyons surname: questions and answers

How common was the Lyons surname in 1881?

In 1881, 6,648 people were recorded with the Lyons surname. That placed it at #637 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Lyons surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 13,648 in 2016. That gives Lyons a modern rank of #468.

What does the Lyons surname mean?

Derived from the French city of Lyon, indicating one who originally came from that place.

What does the Lyons map show?

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