NameCensus.

UK surname

Lyster

An English surname derived from the Anglo-Norman French phrase "le oistre", meaning "the oyster".

In the 1881 census there were 147 people recorded with the Lyster surname, ranking it #15,674 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 209, ranked #19,009, down from #15,674 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Wellington, Wrockwardine, Eyton-on-the-Moors, Preston-on-the-Moors, London parishes and Toxteth Park. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Harrow, Chelmsford and Dover.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Lyster is 221 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 42.2%.

1881 census count

147

Ranked #15,674

Modern count

209

2016, ranked #19,009

Peak year

1998

221 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Lyster had 147 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #15,674 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 209 in 2016, ranked #19,009.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 187 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Lyster surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Lyster surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Lyster 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 123 #14,886
1861 historical 115 #18,880
1881 historical 147 #15,674
1891 historical 156 #17,842
1901 historical 187 #15,793
1911 historical 164 #16,879
1997 modern 206 #17,315
1998 modern 221 #17,021
1999 modern 209 #17,771
2000 modern 201 #18,152
2001 modern 201 #17,885
2002 modern 209 #17,803
2003 modern 201 #18,089
2004 modern 197 #18,368
2005 modern 206 #17,786
2006 modern 209 #17,784
2007 modern 207 #18,080
2008 modern 196 #18,895
2009 modern 196 #19,274
2010 modern 196 #19,698
2011 modern 207 #18,841
2012 modern 209 #18,659
2013 modern 213 #18,743
2014 modern 211 #19,002
2015 modern 208 #19,085
2016 modern 209 #19,009

Geography

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Where Lysters are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Wellington, Wrockwardine, Eyton-on-the-Moors, Preston-on-the-Moors, London parishes, Toxteth Park and Kensington. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Harrow, Chelmsford, Dover, South Cambridgeshire and King's Lynn and West Norfolk. 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 Wellington, Wrockwardine, Eyton-on-the-Moors, Preston-on-the-Moors Shropshire
2 London parishes London 1
3 Toxteth Park Lancashire
4 Kensington London (West Districts)
5 London parishes London 2

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Harrow 023 Harrow
2 Chelmsford 018 Chelmsford
3 Dover 011 Dover
4 South Cambridgeshire 018 South Cambridgeshire
5 King's Lynn and West Norfolk 002 King's Lynn and West Norfolk

Forenames

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First names often paired with Lyster

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Lyster

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

Ageing Communities

Nationally, the Lyster surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Lyster household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Lyster is most associated with areas classed as Settled Semi-Detached Asians, part of Suburban Asian Communities. 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

These residents share Supergroup characteristics of large (non-Chinese) Asian populations but those identifying as Bangladeshi are notably absent. Many residents were born in the UK, while other more recent migrants have African birthplaces. Semi-detached housing, much of it owner occupied, prevails in these suburban residential locations.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Lyster 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

Lyster falls in decile 10 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Lyster 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 Lyster, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Lyster

The surname Lyster is of Anglo-Saxon origin, derived from the Old English word "lyst", meaning "desire" or "pleasure". It is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period.

The earliest recorded instances of the name Lyster can be found in various historical records, such as the Domesday Book, which was compiled in 1086 under the orders of William the Conqueror. The name is also mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Oxfordshire from the 12th century.

In the 13th century, the name Lyster was associated with various place names in England, such as Lister in Yorkshire and Liston in Essex. These place names may have influenced the spelling and pronunciation of the surname over time.

One notable bearer of the Lyster surname was Sir Richard Lyster, who was born in 1480 and served as Lord Chief Justice of England from 1546 to 1554 during the reign of King Edward VI. Another prominent figure was John Lyster, who lived in the 16th century and was a member of the Worshipful Company of Mercers, a prestigious livery company in London.

In the 17th century, Thomas Lyster (1639-1688) was a renowned English mathematician and astronomer. He made significant contributions to the field of celestial mechanics and was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1663.

During the 18th century, Sir Robert Lyster (1714-1787) was a British military officer who served in the Seven Years' War and the American Revolutionary War. He was known for his bravery and leadership on the battlefield.

Another notable Lyster was John Lyster (1801-1869), an English architect and surveyor. He designed several notable buildings in London, including the National Portrait Gallery and the Travellers' Club.

Throughout its history, the surname Lyster has been subject to various spelling variations, such as Lister, Lystar, and Lester, reflecting the regional dialects and preferences of different areas in England. However, the core meaning and origins of the name have remained consistent, tracing back to the Old English word "lyst".

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Lyster families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Lyster 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 36 Lysters recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.02x.

County Total Index
Warwickshire 36 10.02x
Staffordshire 31 6.45x
Fife 12 14.23x
Middlesex 8 0.56x
Shropshire 8 6.50x
Surrey 8 1.15x
Berkshire 7 6.55x
Cheshire 7 2.23x
Kent 5 1.03x
Lancashire 4 0.24x
Yorkshire 4 0.28x
Essex 3 1.07x
Hertfordshire 2 2.04x
Northamptonshire 2 1.49x
Oxfordshire 2 2.27x
Suffolk 2 1.15x
Denbighshire 1 1.86x
Lanarkshire 1 0.22x
Monmouthshire 1 0.97x
Perthshire 1 1.56x
Sussex 1 0.42x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Handsworth in Staffordshire leads with 31 Lysters recorded in 1881 and an index of 261.60x.

Place Total Index
Handsworth 31 261.60x
Aston 18 18.20x
Birmingham 16 13.37x
Auchterderran 12 566.04x
Church Stretton 5 602.41x
Bowdon 4 320.00x
Erith 4 83.51x
Penge 4 43.96x
Toxteth Park 4 6.99x
Birkenhead 3 11.97x
Fulham London 3 14.53x
Kensington London 3 3.79x
Lambeth 3 2.42x
Shenfield 3 410.96x
South Hinksey 3 638.30x
Earley 2 112.36x
Holy Trinity 2 5.89x
Northampton All Sts 2 43.96x
Reading St Mary 2 23.36x
Sutton Coldfield 2 52.91x
Watford 2 26.28x
Bridgnorth St Mary 1 83.33x
Chalgrove 1 400.00x
Dalham 1 500.00x
Govan 1 0.88x
Gresford Llay 1 370.37x
Horton In Bradford 1 4.54x
Islington London 1 0.72x
Monmouth 1 36.63x
Orford 1 178.57x
Oxford St Peter Le Bailey 1 227.27x
Prees 1 66.67x
St Martin In Fields 1 11.72x
St Martins 1 277.78x
Streatham 1 9.46x
Subdeanery 1 54.95x
Upton Cressett 1 666.67x
Wakefield 1 9.23x
Woolwich 1 5.57x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 10
John 9
George 4
Henry 4
Thomas 4
Richard 3
Alfred 2
Cecil 2
Edward 2
Frederick 2
James 2
Samuel 2
Watkin 2
Abraham 1
Albert 1
Arthur 1
Charles 1
Chesworth 1
Francis 1
Frank 1
Fredk.C. 1
Gerald 1
Harold 1
Hubert 1
Philip 1
Ralph 1
Robert 1
Saml.A. 1
Walter 1

FAQ

Lyster surname: questions and answers

How common was the Lyster surname in 1881?

In 1881, 147 people were recorded with the Lyster surname. That placed it at #15,674 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Lyster surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 209 in 2016. That gives Lyster a modern rank of #19,009.

What does the Lyster surname mean?

An English surname derived from the Anglo-Norman French phrase "le oistre", meaning "the oyster".

What does the Lyster map show?

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