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

Layne, 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 Layne surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Layne in America

Layne is the 2697th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Layne surname appeared 13,367 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 5 people would have the surname Layne.

We can also compare 2010 data for Layne 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 Layne

The surname Layne originates from England and Scotland, emerging in the late 12th century. It is derived from the Old English word "laene," meaning a lane or path, indicating that the name likely referred to someone who lived near a lane or road.

In some early records, the name appeared as "Lene" or "Laine." The earliest recorded instance is found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from 1170, where a person named Robert de Lana is mentioned. These rolls were administrative records maintained by the English Exchequer.

The name Layne is also found in the Domesday Book of 1086, an important medieval census commissioned by William the Conqueror. The book records a place called "Lana" in Shropshire, which may be related to the surname's origins.

During the 13th century, the name appeared in various forms, such as "atte Lane" and "de la Lane," reflecting the regional dialects and the influence of Norman French. These variants suggest that the name referred to someone who lived near a lane or road.

One notable bearer of the name was Sir John de Laune (1348-1399), a prominent English knight who served under King Richard II. He was involved in several military campaigns and held the position of Constable of the Tower of London.

Another historical figure was John Layne (1564-1635), an English clergyman and author who served as the Archdeacon of Bedford. He wrote several religious works, including commentaries on the Book of Proverbs and the Book of Ecclesiastes.

In the 17th century, the name Layne was associated with various place names, such as Layne Farm in Oxfordshire and Layne Green in Worcestershire. These place names likely derived from the Old English word "laene" and may have influenced the surname's spelling and pronunciation.

During the 18th century, the surname Layne was found in various parts of England and Scotland, with notable bearers including Thomas Layne (1723-1795), an English architect who designed several churches and buildings in London.

In the 19th century, the name gained prominence with individuals like William Edward Layne (1826-1895), a British engineer and inventor who contributed to the development of early steam engines and boilers.

Throughout history, the surname Layne has been borne by numerous individuals, reflecting its longevity and the diverse backgrounds of those who carried it.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Layne

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

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 Layne 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 Layne 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 Layne was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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