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

Lyn, 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 Lyn surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Lyn in America

Lyn is the 22827th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Lyn surname appeared 1,122 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 Lyn.

We can also compare 2010 data for Lyn 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 Lyn

The surname LYN is believed to have originated in England, with its earliest known records dating back to the 13th century. The name is thought to be derived from the Old English word "lyn," meaning a pool or a lake, suggesting that the earliest bearers of this name may have lived near a body of water.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name LYN can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Huntingdonshire, a medieval census document from 1273, which mentions a person named William de Lyn. This entry indicates that the name was already in use as a surname by the late 13th century.

In the 14th century, the name LYN appeared in various forms, including Lyne, Lynne, and Lynde, reflecting the variations in spelling and pronunciation that were common during that era. One notable historical figure bearing this surname was Sir Humphrey Lynde (c. 1480 - 1542), a Member of Parliament and Sheriff of Cambridgeshire.

The LYN surname was also associated with several place names in England, such as Lyn in Norfolk and Lynton in Devon. These place names were likely derived from the same Old English word "lyn," further reinforcing the connection between the surname and bodies of water.

In the 16th century, the surname LYN gained prominence with the birth of Sir Walter Lynde (c. 1565 - 1628), a Member of Parliament and Lord Chief Baron of the Exchequer. He was a notable figure in English legal history and served during the reign of King James I.

Moving into the 17th century, another prominent individual with the LYN surname was Sir Humphrey Lynde (1579 - 1636), an English politician and lawyer who served as a Member of Parliament and held the position of Chief Baron of the Exchequer in Ireland.

As the centuries progressed, the LYN surname continued to be present in various historical records, with individuals bearing this name making contributions in various fields, including politics, law, and literature. One such figure was Reverend James Lyn (1635 - 1705), an English clergyman and author who published several religious works during his lifetime.

While the surname LYN may not be as common as some other English surnames, it has a rich history and can be traced back to its Old English roots, reflecting the connection between the earliest bearers of this name and the natural landscape of lakes and pools.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Lyn

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

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

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

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