Lynde
A locative surname referring to someone from Lind, a place name of uncertain etymology.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 1,268 Americans carry the last name Lynde. That puts it at #23,555 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.37 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 270,311 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Lynde 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
1.3K
1 in 270,311
Census rank
#23,555
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.4
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
1.1K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 1,078 bearers of the surname Lynde in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.37 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 23555th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Lynde, the largest self-reported group is White at 96.4%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (1.9%) and Black (0.7%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Lynde
The surname LYNDE is of Anglo-Saxon origin and is derived from the Old English word "lind" or "linden", which means a lime tree. The surname likely originated in England, where it was initially used as a topographic name for someone who lived near a lime tree or a grove of lime trees.
The earliest recorded use of the surname LYNDE dates back to the late 11th century, shortly after the Norman Conquest of England in 1066. One of the earliest known bearers of the name was Radulfus de la Linde, who was mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086, a comprehensive survey of land ownership and taxation in England commissioned by William the Conqueror.
In the 12th and 13th centuries, the surname LYNDE appeared in various forms, such as de Linde, de la Lynde, and Lynde, reflecting the transition from Norman French to English orthography. One notable bearer of the name was Sir Humphrey Lynde (c. 1480-1536), a distinguished English soldier and courtier during the reigns of Henry VII and Henry VIII.
During the 16th and 17th centuries, the LYNDE family established themselves as prominent landowners and gentry in several counties in England, including Buckinghamshire, Essex, and Hertfordshire. One of the most famous members of the family was Sir Humphrey Lynde (1579-1636), an English politician and judge who served as a Member of Parliament and Chief Baron of the Exchequer.
Another notable bearer of the surname LYNDE was Benjamin Lynde (1666-1745), an American merchant and politician who served as the Chief Justice of the Superior Court of Judicature in Massachusetts Bay Colony. He was also a member of the Council of the Province of Massachusetts Bay and played a significant role in the colonial government.
In the 18th and 19th centuries, the LYNDE surname spread across the Atlantic to the United States and Canada, with many families settling in New England and other parts of North America. One prominent figure from this period was Sir Robert Lynde (1753-1838), a British naval officer and colonial administrator who served as the Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia from 1816 to 1820.
Throughout its history, the LYNDE surname has been associated with various place names, such as Lynde Green in Buckinghamshire, Linden in Herefordshire, and Lyndon in Rutland, all of which are likely derived from the Old English word "lind" or "linden".
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Lynde
Among Census respondents with the surname Lynde, the largest self-reported group is White at 96.4%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (1.9%) and Black (0.7%).
The bar chart below shows how Lynde 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 Lynde surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White96.4%
- Hispanic or Latino1.9%
- Unknown or suppressed0.7%
- Black or African American0.7%
- Two or more races0.5%
Year on year
2000 vs 2010 Census
How has the Lynde 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 | #22,427 | #23,555 | -5.0% |
| Count | 1,071 | 1,078 | 0.7% |
| Per 100K | 0.40 | 0.37 | -7.5% |
Between the 2000 and 2010 Census, the number of Lynde bearers went from 1,071 to 1,078 (+0.7% change). The surname moved down 1,128 positions in the national ranking, going from #22,427 to #23,555.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Lynde
FAQ
Lynde surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Lynde?
The surname Lynde holds position #23,555 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 1,268 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.37 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Lynde surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Lynde, the largest self-reported group is White at 96.4%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (1.9%) and Black (0.7%). 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.