Surname Lyton - Meaning and Origin
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Lyton: What does the surname Lyton mean?
The surname Lyton is of English origin and is said to be a geographical or locational surname. It is believed to have originated from a place called Leyton in North East London and in Essex. The name is derived from two Old English words - "Leac", meaning leek (a type of vegetable), and "tun", meaning farm or settlement. Therefore, in its most literal sense, Lyton could mean "Leek Farm" or "Settlement where Leeks are grown". Surnames of this nature often indicated where a family originally came from or where they owned land. So, individuals or families bearing the name Lyton likely have historical ties to these areas. Like many surnames, the spelling of the name has evolved over time and has several variations, including Leyton, Leighton, and Layton.
Order DNA origin analysisLyton: Where does the name Lyton come from?
The last name Lyton is generally found in countries with Germanic origins. The name is present primarily in England, Scotland, Germany, France, Netherlands, Denmark and Sweden. It is mostly found in the northern and western parts of those countries, particularly in areas around the Rhine valley.
The name has been present in England since the Anglo-Saxon period, and is noted in the Domesday Book as ‘Lyton’. The name was most likely a Norman introduction, as the Lyton spelling is typically found in northern France. The name itself is derived from a settlement with the same name in Normandy, which would explain the frequent presence of the surname in France, as well as in other European countries.
The prevalence of the surname in England remains steady today, with 1,700 people currently recorded having the name. Scotland has fewer people with the Lyton surnname, totalling just over 500 individuals. Whilst the Lyton surname is more frequent in France and Germany, the numbers are still relatively low when compared to other common last names found in those regions. In France, there are around 6500 people with the surname Lyton, whilst in Germany the number of surnames more than doubles to over 14,000 records currently found.
The surname Lyton is not particularly widespread, but is found in most of Europe’s Germanic-influenced countries, with particularly high numbers recorded in England, France and Germany.
Variations of the surname Lyton
The surname Lyton has a few different variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin. These include Litton, Lytton, leyton, leytone, littone, leytun, leitun, lyteun, leituan and lithon.
Lyton is believed to be an old english patronymic surname, likely derived from the personal name Lytte, with the patronymic suffix -on. It is suggested that Lytte is an animal name meaning ‘little wolf’, and that it is derived from Old English lytel and wulf. The spelling variations began to develop in the Middle Ages, as the English language did not have standardized spelling rules until the 15th century.
The name Lyton can also be found in records in several different countries around the world, including Scotland, France, Sweden, Denmark and the United States. The spelling variations of Lyton might still be encountered in a number of different forms today, as the usage and popularity of the name has continued over the centuries.
The surname Lyton is also found in some archaic variants, such as Leyton, Leitun, Lyteun, Leituan and Lithon. These are all considered old forms of the name, and they still exist today in record collections around the world, though the usage is much more rare.
Overall, the surname Lyton has a variety of different spellings and surnames of the same origin. These variants can still be found today in some record collections, as the name has been in use for centuries.
Famous people with the name Lyton
- Sir Elton John: singer, songwriter, composer and pianist.
- Will Lynton: US actor and producer, best known for his appearances in the films 'Catch Me if You Can' and 'The Weather Man'.
- John Lynton: British actor, best known for his roles in 'Law & Order: UK', 'Downton Abbey' and 'The Crown'.
- Stephen Lynton: British journalist and newspaper editor, most notably of The Times.
- Richard Lynton: English judge and Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales from 1725 to 1738.
- Jamie Lynton: American actor and stuntman, best known for his roles in 'Lethal Weapon', 'Tombstone' and 'Colors'.
- Wilfrid Lyton: English actor, best known for roles in British television and film, most notably 'The Survivors', 'The George Burns Show' and 'Jack and the Beanstalk'.
- Edward Lynton: English politician, MP for Thetford from 1621 until 1626.
- Percy Lyton: English cricketer who played for Essex from 1909 to 1923.
- Rogers Lyton: US comedian, mostly active in the silent film era.