Lyons (surname)

Lyons is a surname with several origins. It is the name of an eminent Anglo-Norman family (originally styled de Lyons, or de Leonne, and also spelled Lyon) that is descended from Ingelram de Lyons, Lord of Lyons, who arrived in England with the Norman Conquest, and from his relation, Nicholas de Lyons, who emigrated from Normandy to England in 1080 and was granted lands at Warkworth, Northamptonshire by William of Normandy. The family originated in the district of the Forest of Lyons, north of the town of Lyons-la-Forêt, in Norman Vexin, where their seat was the Castle of Lyons. The original surname was 'de Lyons' ('of [the Forest and Castle of] Lyons'): subsequently, the 'de' was removed from the name, and some branches removed the 's' from the end of the word, producing 'Lyon'.

During the 14th century, a branch of the family emigrated to Scotland, where they became Clan Lyon, the Lords of Glamis, and the Earls of Strathmore and Kinghorne. During the 15th century, a branch of the family emigrated to Ireland, where they established a seat at King's County that became known as River Lyons, and a seat at County Westmeath that was named Ledestown/Ledistown Hall, from which they served as High Sheriff of Westmeath and as High Sheriff of King's County. This branch of the family owned land in Antigua and later removed from Ireland to England. During the 16th and 17th centuries, including after the English Civil War, some members of the family emigrated to America to New York, America. The descendants of the Warkworth family who remained in England had ceased to reside at Warkworth by the 16th century, and resided on estates in Norfolk, Suffolk, and Middlesex. They intermarried with descendants of the branch of the family that had emigrated to Scotland.

There are other families with the surname that are not related to the Anglo-Norman family, including a Celtic Irish family whose name derives from the Celtic word for 'grey' through the Irish names of Ó Laighin and 'Ó Liatháin. However, there were also in Ireland descendants of the Norman family, which had seats in County Offaly and County Westmeath.

A

 * Aidan Lyons (1878–1910), South African cricketer
 * Al Lyons (1918–1965), US baseball player
 * Sir Algernon Lyons, Admiral of the Fleet and First and Principal Naval Aide-de-Camp to Queen Victoria
 * Andrew Lyons (born 1966), English soccer player
 * Anne Theresa Bickerton Lyons, (1815–1894) British Baroness von Würtzburg.
 * Anthony Lyons (born c. 1968), British property investor
 * Austin Lyons also known as Superblue {born 1956) Trinidadian male soca singer and the father of Fay-Ann Lyons-Alvarez

B

 * Barry Lyons (footballer) (born 1945), English soccer player
 * Barry Lyons (baseball) (born 1960), US baseball player
 * Ben Lyons (born 1981), US film critic
 * Bert Lyons (footballer) (1902–1981), English footballer
 * Bert Lyons (trade unionist) (1929–2008), British trade unionist
 * Bill Lyons (born 1958), US baseball player
 * Billy Red Lyons (1932–2009), Canadian wrestler
 * Bonnie Lyons (born 1944), US writer and educator
 * Brittany Lyons (born 1988), Jamaican model
 * Brooke Lyons (born 1980), US actress

C

 * C. J. Lyons (fl. 2000s), US physician and author
 * C. P. Lyons (1915–1998), Canadian outdoorsman
 * Charlie Lyons, US film producer and financier
 * Charles W. Lyons (1868–1939), American Jesuit and academic administrator
 * Claire Lyons, fictional character
 * Cliff Lyons (born 1961), Australian rugby league player
 * Cliff Lyons (actor) (1901–1974), American motion picture stuntman, second-unit director, and actor
 * Curt Lyons (born 1974), US baseball player
 * Cyril Lyons (born 1959), Irish athlete in hurling

D

 * Dan Lyons, CEO, Centre for Animals and Social Justice
 * Dana Lyons (fl. 1970–2000s), US musician and environmental activist
 * Daniel Lyons (born 1960), US author
 * Danny Lyons (1860–1888), US street gang figure
 * Darryn Lyons (born 1965), Australian-born British news photographer
 * David Lyons (rugby union, born 1980), Australian rugby player
 * David Lyons (actor) (born 1976), Australian television actor
 * David Lyons (rugby union, born 1985), English rugby union player
 * David Lyons (swimmer) (born 1943), US swimmer
 * de Courcy Lyons (cricketer) (1908–1976), Argentine cricketer
 * Deb Lyons (fl. 1980–2000s), US singer and songwriter
 * Denis Lyons (1935–2014), Irish politician
 * Denny Lyons (1866–1929), US baseball player
 * Derek Lyons (fl. 2018), American political advisor
 * Dicky Lyons (born 1947), US football player
 * Donal Lyons (fl. 2000s), Irish politician

E

 * Ed Lyons (1923–2009), US baseball player
 * Eddie Lyons (1886–1926), US film actor
 * Edmund Lyons, 1st Baron Lyons (1790–1858), British diplomat and military leader and Admiral during the Crimean War
 * Captain Edmund Moubray Lyons, Royal Navy Captain during Crimean War (1819–1855)
 * Edward Lyons (disambiguation), several people
 * Eileen Lyons (born 1941), American politician
 * Enid Lyons (1897–1981), Australian politician
 * Ernest Lyon (1860–1938), US-Belizean minister, educator, and diplomat
 * Eric Lyons (1912–1980), British architect
 * Eugene Lyons (1898–1985), US author

F

 * Fay-Ann Lyons (born 1980), Trinidadian singer
 * Francis Stewart Leland Lyons (1923–1983), Irish historian

G

 * Gene Lyons (fl. 1990s), US author and political analyst
 * George Lyons (disambiguation), several people
 * Grace Turk, formerly Grace Lyons (born 1991), American softball player
 * Grace Lyons (cricketer) (born 2005), Australian cricketer
 * Graham Lyons (born 1969), Australian rugby player
 * Grant Lyons (born 1941), writer

H

 * Harry Lyons (disambiguation), several people
 * Henry A. Lyons (c. 1809–1872), second Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of California
 * Sir Henry George Lyons (1864–1944), geologist and director of the Science Museum in London
 * Henry Lyons (b. 1942), former President of the National Baptist Convention
 * Hersh Lyons (1915–2008), US baseball player
 * Humphrey Lyons (1802–1873), English politician in India

I

 * Israel Lyons (1739–1775), English mathematician and botanist

J

 * Jack Lyons (disambiguation), several people
 * Jacques Judah Lyons (1814–1877), US religious figure
 * James J. Lyons (1890–1966), American politician
 * James K. Lyons (1960–2007), American film editor and actor
 * James L. Lyons (1916–1994), founder of the Monterey Jazz Festival
 * James M. Lyons (born 1947), American lawyer, figure in the Whitewater controversy and former federal judicial nominee
 * James W. Lyons (1878–1947), Canadian politician
 * James Lyons (Upper Canada politician)
 * James Lyons (Virginia politician) (1801–1882), Confederate politician
 * James "Ace" Lyons, US Navy admiral, former Commander-in-Chief, Pacific Fleet
 * Jarryd Lyons (born 1992), Australian rules footballer
 * Jason Lyons (born 1970), Australian motorcycle racer
 * Jeffrey S. Lyons (1939 or 1940–2015), Canadian lawyer and community activist
 * Jeffrey Lyons (born 1944), American television and film critic
 * Jimmie Lyons (fl. 1910–1920s), US baseball player
 * Jimmy Lyons (1931–1986), US musician
 * Jimmy Lyons (footballer) (1897–1970), English footballer
 * John Lyons (American football coach) (born 1952), American football coach
 * John Lyons (bishop) (1930–2016), Bishop of Ontario, 1932–52
 * John Lyons (UK politician) (born 1949), English Labour Party politician
 * Captain John Lyons of Antigua, English politician and landowner in Antigua
 * Admiral John Lyons (1787 – 1872), Royal Navy officer fought on HMS Victory at the Battle of Trafalgar
 * John Lyons (VC) (1823–1867), Irish soldier in the British army, recipient of the Victoria Cross
 * John Lyons (ice hockey) (1899–1971), United States ice hockey player who competed in the 1924 Winter Olympics
 * John Lyons (horse trainer), author and horse trainer in the field of Natural horsemanship
 * John Lyons (hurler) (1923–2005), an Irish sportsperson
 * John Lyons (linguist) (1932–2020), English linguist
 * John Lyons (poet) (born 1933) is a Trinidad-born poet and artist
 * John Lyons (actor) (born 1943), English actor
 * John Benignus Lyons (1922–2007), Jack Binignus Lyons, Irish medical historian and author
 * John J. Lyons, Secretary of State of New York 1921–1922
 * John Lyons (Longford politician), Irish independent / Labour Party politician, represented Longford-Westmeath 1922–27
 * Jonathon Lyons (born 1951), British businessman
 * Joseph Lyons (1879–1939), Australian Prime Minister
 * Joseph M. Lyons (born 1951), US politician
 * Judd H. Lyons (born 1962), American general

K

 * Katie Lyons (born 1981), British actress
 * Ken Lyons (1953–2012), US musician
 * Kevin Lyons (1923–2000), Australian politician
 * Kim Lyons (born 1973), US athlete and trainer

L

 * Laura Lyons (born 1954), US model
 * Leanne "Lelee" Lyons (born 1973), US singer (SWV)
 * Leo Lyons (born 1943), English musician
 * Leo Lyons (American football) (1892–1976), US football player and manager
 * Leonard Lyons (1906–1976), US newspaper columnist
 * Leslie A. Lyons (fl. 2000s), US veterinary researcher
 * Lorenzo Lyons (1807–1886), US-born missionary in Hawaii
 * Louis M. Lyons (1897–1982), US journalist

M

 * Mark Lyons, American basketball player in the Israeli Basketball Premier League
 * Marty Lyons (born 1957), US football player
 * Marty Lyons (Australian footballer) (born 1956), Australian rules footballer
 * Mary Lyons (born 1947), British author
 * Michael Lyons (disambiguation), several people
 * Mick Lyons (English footballer) (born 1951)
 * Mick Lyons (Gaelic footballer) (f. 1980s)
 * Miriam Lyons (fl. 2000s), Australian academic and political advisor
 * Mitch Lyons (born 1970), US football player
 * Mossie Lyons (fl. 2000s), Irish football player

N

 * Nancy Lyons (born 1930), Australian swimmer
 * Nathan Lyons (1930–2016), US artist and photographer
 * Ned Lyons (fl. 1800s), US gang leader

O

 * Oren Lyons (born 1930), Native American, Faithkeeper of the Turtle Clan

P

 * Pat Lyons (1860–1914), US baseball player
 * Patrick Lyons (1903–1967), Australian Catholic prelate; Third Bishop of Christchurch, New Zealand, and Fourth Bishop of Sale, Victoria, Australia
 * Paul Lyons, several people, famous American comedian, writer, doctors, and authors
 * Peter Lyons (disambiguation), several people
 * Pratt Lyons (born 1974), US football player

R

 * Reginald Lyons (1922–1976), Irish cricketer
 * Richard Lyons, 1st Earl Lyons, 1st Viscount Lyons, British Ambassador to the United States and France
 * Richard Lyons (disambiguation), several people
 * Robbie Lyons (1972–2003), US criminal convicted of murder
 * Robert Lyons (disambiguation), several people
 * Rodney Lyons (born 1962), African-American politician
 * Roger Lyons (born 1942), British labor leader
 * Ron Lyons (1909–1942), Canadian hockey player
 * Ross Lyons (born 1984), Scottish cricketer
 * Russell Lyons (born 1957), American mathematician
 * Ruth Lyons (disambiguation), several people

S

 * Samuel Lyons (1791–1851), Australian landowner and businessman
 * Shane Lyons (born 1988), US television personality
 * Shelby Lyons (born 1981), US figure skater
 * Simon Lyons (born 1982), English football player
 * Sophie Lyons (1848–1924), US criminal figure
 * Steve Lyons (baseball) (born 1960), US baseball player and announcer
 * Steve Lyons (writer) (fl. 2000s), British writer
 * Steve Lyons (rugby league), rugby league footballer of the 1970s and 1980s
 * Stuart Lyons (1928–1998), British film producer
 * Susan Lyons (born 1957), Australian actress
 * Susanne Lyons (born 1957), chair of the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC)

T

 * Ted Lyons (1900–1986), US baseball player and manager
 * Terah Lyons, American artificial intelligence specialist
 * Terry Lyons (disambiguation), several people
 * Thomas Lyons (disambiguation), several people, including Tom and Tommy Lyons
 * Tracy Lyons (born 1970), British convicted paedophile

V

 * Virginia V. Lyons (born 1944), US politician

W

 * Will Lyons (f. 1990–2000s), British newspaper columnist
 * William Lyons (1901–1985), British motorcar businessman
 * William L. Lyons (1857–1911), American politician
 * Willie James Lyons (1938–1980), American Chicago blues guitarist, singer and songwriter

Z

 * Zoe Lyons (born 1971), English comedy performer