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

Lytle, 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 Lytle surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Lytle in America

Lytle is the 2781st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Lytle surname appeared 12,970 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 4 people would have the surname Lytle.

We can also compare 2010 data for Lytle 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 Lytle

The surname LYTLE is of English and Scottish origin, derived from the Old English word "lytil," meaning "little" or "small." It was initially used as a descriptive nickname for someone of small stature or a younger child.

The earliest recorded instances of the name date back to the 13th century in various English and Scottish records. One of the earliest known bearers was William le Lytel, mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Nottinghamshire in 1275. The name also appeared in the Hundred Rolls of Buckinghamshire in 1279 as Robertus le Littel.

In Scotland, the name was often spelled as "Lytill" or "Lyttle." One notable early bearer was Robert Lytill, a burgess of Aberdeen, who was recorded in the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland in 1398. The name was particularly prevalent in the Scottish Lowlands and the Borders region.

During the Middle Ages, the LYTLE surname was also associated with various place names, such as Little Town or Little Hill, which may have influenced the name's evolution. Some early records show variations like "atte Lyttle" or "de Lyttle," indicating a connection to a specific location.

As the name spread across England and Scotland, it underwent several spelling variations, including Littel, Litel, Lyttell, Lytell, and Lyttle, among others. These variations reflect the inconsistencies in spelling practices during that time.

Notable bearers of the LYTLE surname throughout history include:

1. Sir Thomas Lyttelton (c. 1421-1481), an English judge and politician who served as Chief Justice of the Common Pleas.
2. William Lyttle (c. 1590-1661), a Scottish mathematician and astronomer known for his contributions to the study of logarithms.
3. John Lytle (1776-1836), an American pioneer and settler in Ohio, who played a significant role in the development of the state's early settlements.
4. Claudius Buchanan Lytle (1845-1916), an American banker and businessman from Ohio, who also served as a brigadier general in the Spanish-American War.
5. William Wertz Lytle (1869-1941), an American businessman and industrialist from Pennsylvania, who founded the Lytle Corporation, a successful manufacturing company.

The LYTLE surname has a rich history spanning centuries and various regions, with its origins rooted in the descriptive nicknames of the Middle Ages. While the spelling and pronunciation may have evolved over time, the name has maintained its connection to the concept of being "little" or "small."

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Lytle

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

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

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

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