LAY
Lay
Lay is a surname of English origin, derived from the Middle English word "lay(e)", meaning a non-clerical person or someone who is not in holy orders. It is an occupational surname, denoting someone who was a layman or a commoner, as opposed to being part of the clergy. The name is found throughout the United Kingdom, with a concentration in the southern counties of England.
The surname Lay has various spellings and forms, including Laye, Lea, and Leigh. It has been recorded in English documents since the medieval period, indicating its long-standing usage as a hereditary surname. Those who bear the name Lay may have ancestral roots in the regions of Lancashire, Yorkshire, and Essex, among others.
Notable individuals with the surname Lay include John Lay, a 17th-century English politician, and Kenneth Lay, an American businessman of British descent who was the founder and CEO of the Enron Corporation.
The surname Lay continues to be borne by families across the United Kingdom and in various parts of the world due to migration and diaspora. It remains a part of British heritage and genealogy, representing the diverse histories and lineages of its bearers.
There are approximately 4,034 people named Lay in the UK. That makes it roughly the 2,321st most common surname in Britain. Around 62 in a million people in Britain are named Lay.
Surname type: From given name or forename
Origin: Celtic
Region of origin: British Isles
Country of origin: Scotland
Religion of origin: Christian
Language of origin: Gaelic
Typical given names associated with the surname
Male
- Andrew
- Christopher
- David
- James
- John
- Michael
- Peter
- Richard
- Robert
- Stephen
Female
- Deborah
- Jane
- Jennifer
- Karen
- Margaret
- Mary
- Michelle
- Nicola
- Patricia
- Rebecca
- Sarah
- Susan
- Victoria
Similar and related surnames
Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.