Lyne
An English habitational surname derived from the place named Lyne in Sussex.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 1,268 Americans carry the last name Lyne. That puts it at #23,238 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 Lyne 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
#23,238
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.4
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
1.1K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 1,097 bearers of the surname Lyne in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.37 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 23238th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Lyne, the largest self-reported group is White at 88.6%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (4.9%) and Black (4.5%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Lyne
The surname Lyne has its origins in England, with records dating back to the 13th century. The name is derived from the Old English word "lin," which means a pool, lake, or stream. It is believed to have originally referred to someone who lived near a body of water or in an area where flax was grown.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, which lists a Nicholas de la Lyne in Oxfordshire. The Domesday Book of 1086 also mentions several places with names that could be linked to the surname, such as Lyne in Herefordshire and Linley in Shropshire.
In the 14th century, the surname appeared in various spellings, including Lyne, Lyn, Lynne, and Ligne. One notable bearer of the name from this period was John de Lyne, a member of the English Parliament in 1348.
The Lyne surname has also been associated with several place names, such as Lyne in Perthshire, Scotland, and Lyne in Staffordshire, England. These place names likely influenced the surname's spelling and distribution.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have carried the surname Lyne. One such figure was Sir Humphrey Lyne (c. 1490-1545), a member of the English gentry and a supporter of the Protestant Reformation. Another prominent bearer of the name was Reverend Nathaniel Lyne (1628-1673), an English clergyman and author.
In the 18th century, John Lyne (1737-1773) was a prominent English architect who designed several notable buildings, including the Guildhall in Bath. William Lyne (1767-1847) was a British naval officer who served during the Napoleonic Wars and later became a Member of Parliament.
Moving into the 19th century, Charles Lyne (1799-1861) was an English artist and engraver known for his landscape paintings and etchings. Thomas Lyne (1850-1919) was a British trade unionist and Labour politician who played a significant role in the establishment of the Labour Party.
These examples illustrate the rich history and diverse backgrounds of individuals who have carried the surname Lyne throughout the centuries.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Lyne
Among Census respondents with the surname Lyne, the largest self-reported group is White at 88.6%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (4.9%) and Black (4.5%).
The bar chart below shows how Lyne 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 Lyne surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White88.6%
- Hispanic or Latino4.9%
- Black or African American4.5%
- Two or more races1.2%
- Unknown or suppressed0.8%
Year on year
2000 vs 2010 Census
How has the Lyne 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 | #22,240 | #23,238 | -4.5% |
| Count | 1,082 | 1,097 | 1.4% |
| Per 100K | 0.40 | 0.37 | -7.5% |
Between the 2000 and 2010 Census, the number of Lyne bearers went from 1,082 to 1,097 (+1.4% change). The surname moved down 998 positions in the national ranking, going from #22,240 to #23,238.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Lyne
FAQ
Lyne surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Lyne?
The surname Lyne holds position #23,238 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 Lyne surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Lyne, the largest self-reported group is White at 88.6%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (4.9%) and Black (4.5%). 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.