Lytes
An English surname derived from a location with a bright or shining meadow.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 103 Americans carry the last name Lytes. That puts it at #157,234 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.03 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 3,327,712 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Lytes 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
103
1 in 3,327,712
Census rank
#157,234
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
103
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 103 bearers of the surname Lytes in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.03 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 157234th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Lytes, the largest self-reported group is Black at 96.1%.
Origin
Meaning and origin of Lytes
The surname Lytes has its origins in England, with records indicating that it first appeared in the 11th century. The name is believed to be derived from the Old English word "lyte," which means "small" or "little." This suggests that the name may have been initially given as a descriptive nickname for someone of small stature or a younger child.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Lytes can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of land ownership in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. The name appears as "Lyte" in this historical document, indicating its prevalence in the region during that time.
The surname Lytes has also been associated with various place names throughout England. For example, the village of Lytes Cary in Somerset may have been named after an early bearer of the surname, as the place was once referred to as "Cary Lytes" in historical records. Additionally, the surname has been linked to the village of Lyte's Carey in Gloucestershire, further solidifying its connection to specific locations.
Notable individuals with the surname Lytes include John Lytes, a merchant and Member of Parliament for Bodmin in Cornwall during the 16th century (born around 1520, died in 1595). Another prominent figure was Sir Richard Lytes, a baronet and landowner in Wiltshire who lived in the 17th century (born in 1619, died in 1681).
In the literary world, Henry Francis Lytes (1793-1847) was an Anglican clergyman and hymn writer, best known for his hymn "Abide with Me." His work has been celebrated and sung in churches worldwide.
Moving into the 20th century, Sir Felton Lytes (1903-1978) was a prominent British businessman and politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Westbury from 1945 to 1970. He made significant contributions to the development of the aerospace industry in the United Kingdom.
It is worth noting that variations in spelling, such as Lyte and Lyte-Smythe, have also been recorded throughout history, reflecting the evolution of the surname over time and across different regions.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Lytes
Among Census respondents with the surname Lytes, the largest self-reported group is Black at 96.1%.
The bar chart below shows how Lytes 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 Lytes surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- Black or African American96.1%
- Unknown or suppressed3.9%
Year on year
2000 vs 2010 Census
How has the Lytes 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 | #147,095 | #157,234 | -6.9% |
| Count | 103 | 103 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.04 | 0.03 | -25.0% |
Between the 2000 and 2010 Census, the number of Lytes bearers went from 103 to 103 (+0.0% change). The surname moved down 10,139 positions in the national ranking, going from #147,095 to #157,234.
FAQ
Lytes surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Lytes?
The surname Lytes holds position #157,234 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 103 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.03 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Lytes surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Lytes, the largest self-reported group is Black at 96.1%. 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.