Lay Name Origin, Meaning and Family History

Discover how your Lay ancestors earned their living and spread across the country. Find out more about your family history by using the Free Search box.

Surname Distribution

Census frequency by county

Name Concentrations Within England and Wales

Lay Surname Statistics


Top Professions for the Lay family

Profession Census Frequency
Agricultural Labourer 98
Female Servant 69
Independent 40
Labourer 31
Male Servant 22
Farmer 21
Tailor 15
Shoe Maker 11
Ag Labourer 11
Carpenter 7
Silk Winder 7
Soldier 6
Butcher 6
Weaver 5
Servant 5
Ag Lab 5
Clerk 5
Pauper 4
Wool Comber 4
Smith 4
Publican 4
Gardener 4
Porter 4
Sawyer 4
Blacksmith 3

Lay Surname Variants Ranking

Rank Surname Match Census Frequency
1 Lay 100% 17,630
2 Eley 50% 13,721
3 Ely 33% 12,676
4 Ley 67% 10,502
5 Lye 33% 6,717
6 Lait 50% 2,735
7 Ealey 40% 2,444
8 Loy 67% 2,069
9 Aley 50% 1,828
10 Iley 50% 1,726
11 Leay 75% 1,019
12 Oley 50% 651
13 Laye 75% 642
14 Loye 50% 425
15 Ealy 50% 393
16 Elay 75% 272
17 Ailey 40% 270
18 Laitt 40% 250
19 Leoy 50% 213
20 Auley 40% 164
21 Eeley 40% 119
22 Eloy 50% 115
23 Oaley 40% 110
24 Laigh 40% 109

Did you know?

The surname Lay is the most popular version of all its varients

Search for the Lay family