Lyas
A variant spelling of the surname Lies, derived from a place name.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 171 Americans carry the last name Lyas. That puts it at #127,494 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.05 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,004,411 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Lyas surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
171
1 in 2,004,411
Census rank
#127,494
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.1
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
134
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 134 bearers of the surname Lyas in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.05 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 127494th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Lyas, the largest self-reported group is Black at 89.5%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (5.2%) and White (3.7%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Lyas
The surname Lyas is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period. It is likely derived from the Old English word "leah," which means a woodland clearing or meadow. The name may have been initially used to identify someone who lived near or worked in such a clearing.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Lyas can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from the 13th century, where a person named Robert de Lyas is mentioned. This suggests that the name was already established in the northern regions of England by that time.
In the 14th century, the name appeared in various forms, such as Lyas, Lyes, and Lyasse, reflecting the variations in spelling and pronunciation common during that era. The Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire from 1273 list a certain William Lyes, indicating the presence of the name in the eastern part of the country as well.
The Lyas surname is also associated with several place names in England, such as Lyas Green in Lancashire and Lyas Farm in Derbyshire. These locations may have been named after individuals bearing the Lyas surname or vice versa, reflecting the close ties between surnames and geographic locations in medieval times.
One notable historical figure with the surname Lyas was John Lyas (c. 1570-1631), an English composer and organist who served at the Chapel Royal during the reigns of Elizabeth I and James I. His contributions to sacred music and organ compositions were significant during the Renaissance period.
Another individual of note was Elizabeth Lyas (1694-1774), a British philanthropist and benefactor who donated substantial sums of money to support education and charitable causes in her hometown of Nottingham.
In the 18th century, William Lyas (1729-1799) was a prominent English clockmaker and inventor, known for his innovative clock designs and contributions to the field of horology.
The Lyas surname also has ties to the military, with Captain John Lyas (1812-1876) serving in the British Army during the Crimean War and later becoming a member of the prestigious Order of the Bath.
Finally, John Lyas (1877-1955) was a prominent English cricketer who played for Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club and captained the team for several seasons in the early 20th century.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Lyas
Among Census respondents with the surname Lyas, the largest self-reported group is Black at 89.5%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (5.2%) and White (3.7%).
The bar chart below shows how Lyas bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Lyas surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- Black or African American89.5%
- Hispanic or Latino5.2%
- White3.7%
- Unknown or suppressed1.5%
Year on year
2000 vs 2010 Census
How has the Lyas surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2000 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #118,236 | #127,494 | -7.8% |
| Count | 136 | 134 | -1.5% |
| Per 100K | 0.05 | 0.05 | 0.0% |
Between the 2000 and 2010 Census, the number of Lyas bearers went from 136 to 134 (-1.5% change). The surname moved down 9,258 positions in the national ranking, going from #118,236 to #127,494.
FAQ
Lyas surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Lyas?
The surname Lyas holds position #127,494 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 171 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.05 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Lyas surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Lyas, the largest self-reported group is Black at 89.5%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (5.2%) and White (3.7%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.