This page needs Javascript enabled in order to work properly. Click here for instructions on how to enable it in your browser.
Surname Header Image
Get access to Lye family records.Start a 14-Day Free Trial

Lye Family History

Lye Surname Meaning

English: variant of Lee 1 a topographic name for someone who lived near a patch of arable land or a habitational name from Lye in Herefordshire (with the same etymology).

Norwegian: habitational name from a farmstead in Rogaland named Lye Old Norse Lýgi meaning ‘alliance covenant’ used to denote a place sanctified by such an agreement such as a court or council meeting place.

Altered form of German Ley.

French: habitational name from Lye in Indre.

French (Lyé): habitational name from any of the places called Lié in Deux-Sèvres and Vendée. Chinese: variant of Lai.

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022


Similar surnames: 

Search for a relative to learn more about your family history.

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Lye family from?

You can see how Lye families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Lye family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Lye families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 225 Lye families living in Somerset. This was about 22% of all the recorded Lye's in United Kingdom. Somerset had the highest population of Lye families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Lye surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
Mapbox
© Mapbox © OpenStreetMap Improve this map

What did your Lye ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Gardener and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Lye. 8% of Lye men worked as a Gardener and 67% of Lye women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Lye were Dairy Farmer and Incapacitated.

View Census Data for Lye | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

Top Male Occupations In 1939

  • Gardener
    8%
  • General Labourer
    8%
  • Bricklayer
    8%
  • Dairy Farmer
    7%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    67%
  • Domestic Servant
    3%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    3%
  • Incapacitated
    2%

What Lye family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 24,000 census records available for the last name Lye. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Lye census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Lye

Passenger Lists

There are 2,000 immigration records available for the last name Lye. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the UK, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Lye immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 1,000 military records available for the last name Lye. For the veterans among your Lye ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Lye military records

You've only scratched the surface of Lye family history

Discover More

What is the average Lye lifespan?

Between 1957 and 2004, in the United States, Lye life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1976, and highest in 1986. The average life expectancy for Lye in 1957 was 52, and 80 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Lye

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Lye ancestors lived in harsh conditions. A short lifespan might also indicate health problems that were once prevalent in your family. The SSDI is a searchable database of more than 70 million names. You can find birthdates, death dates, addresses and more.

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Lye family tree

Explore Your Tree
Search for another surname
Enter last name/surname
Start a 14-Day Free Trial