Find out how popular the last name Aytes is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Aytes.

Aytes, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Aytes surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Aytes in America

Aytes is the 45653rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Aytes surname appeared 468 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Aytes.

We can also compare 2010 data for Aytes to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Aytes

The surname Aytes originates from England, with its roots tracing back to the early medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "aeht," which means "having possessions" or "land ownership." This suggests that the name may have initially been used to identify individuals who held substantial land or property.

The earliest recorded instances of the Aytes surname can be found in various medieval documents and records from the 13th and 14th centuries. One notable mention is in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, which lists a Roger Aytes as a landowner in Gloucestershire. Additionally, the name appears in the Subsidy Rolls of 1327, where a John Aytes is recorded as a taxpayer in Oxfordshire.

During the late medieval period, the surname Aytes underwent several spelling variations, including Aytes, Aytis, and Aytys. This was a common occurrence due to the lack of standardized spelling conventions at the time. Some of these variations may have been influenced by the place names where families bearing the surname resided, such as the village of Aytes in Gloucestershire.

One of the earliest prominent individuals with the Aytes surname was Sir Robert Aytes, a knight who lived in the 14th century. He was a distinguished military commander and played a significant role in the Hundred Years' War between England and France. Another notable figure was William Aytes, a wealthy merchant born in 1505 in Bristol, who made substantial contributions to the city's economic growth.

In the 16th century, the Aytes surname gained prominence in the literary world with the birth of Thomas Aytes (1543-1610), a renowned English poet and playwright. His works, which included several plays and sonnets, were highly acclaimed during the Elizabethan era. Additionally, the name appears in the historical records of the Domesday Book, which mentions a landowner named Aelfric Aytes in Wiltshire in the late 11th century.

Moving forward to the 17th century, the Aytes surname continued to be associated with notable individuals. One such person was Elizabeth Aytes (1632-1688), a prominent Quaker preacher and activist who worked tirelessly for religious freedom and social justice. Another figure of note was John Aytes (1671-1743), a renowned architect who contributed significantly to the design and construction of several churches and public buildings in London.

Throughout the centuries, the Aytes surname has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including scholars, artists, and military personnel. While many of these historical figures may not be widely recognized today, their contributions have left an indelible mark on the cultural and societal fabric of their respective eras.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Aytes

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Aytes.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Aytes was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Aytes has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Aytes was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Aytes, please contact us.

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