This surname is derived from a geographical locality. 'at the lane'(I), from residence therein. Probably one of the many dialectic forms of the word lane.

Thomas in ye Lyen, 1379: Poll Tax of Yorkshire.

Willelmus in ye Lyne, 1379: ibid.

Johannes del Lyen, 1379: ibid.

1582. Buried — William Lyne, sonne of John Lyne; he dyed of ye plague, yers 29: St. Peter, Cornhill.

1606. Richard Lyne, Hampshire: Register of the University of Oxford.

From the old manor of the same name in Peeblesshire. David de Lyne son of Robert de Lyne, granted to Neubode "totam peteram de locqueruard que vocatur Wluesstrother," c. 1165—1214, a grant increased by his son Robert within the same period (Neubotle, 13, 14). Robert de Scrogges having lost his life in the service of this David, his son received a grant of the lands of Scrogges c. 1208 (REG., p. 73). About the year 1208 Robert of Line, son of David, had a dispute with Gregory, the parson of Stobehe (Stobo), regarding the chapel of Line (ibid., p. 72). The family appears to have ended in an heiress late in the thirteenth century who carried the lands to the Hays of Yester, as at about the same period there is mention of Robert filius David quondam dominus de Lochuerwerd (Neubotle, 16).

LYNE, Lynn: The family of Lin or Lynn of that Ilk in the parish of Dairy, Ayrshire, took their name from the cascade on the Water of Caaf, near which stood the ancient castle of Lin (Paterson, III, p. 184). The family is now extinct. Another family of the same name possessed the property of Larg in the parish of Inch, Wigtownshire, in the seventeenth century, and M'Kerlie (I, p. 166) thinks they were a branch of Lynes or Lynns of that Ilk. William Lyne was juror on inquisition held by sheriff of Lanark, 1263 (Bain, I, 2677). Wautier de Lynne of Ayrshire rendered homage, 1296, and in same year was juror on inquest on lands of Lady Elena la Zuche in Conyngham (Bain, II, p. 206,216). Andrew Linn of that Ilk gave sasine of the lands of Highlees to the laird of Hunterston, 1452, Jhone of Leyn witnessed execution of a summons, 1495 (Dobie-Pont, p. 353), and Elizabeth alias Bessie Lyn was heiress of David Lyn, shoemaker of Eister Brigend, Kilwinning, 1628 (Retours, Ayr, 254)

(2) Another old family of the name of Lyne or Len long resided in Perth. Johannes filius Lene and Ricardus de Lenna are witnesses there in the reign of Alexander II (Scon, p. 55). Martin de Lene witnessed a charter by William filius hawoc, burgess of Perth, c. 1245 (Inchaffray, p. 63). William de Len or Lyn who held a land there in 1246 is again referred to in 1258 as William de Lenn (Scon, p. 50, 72). Johannes de Lena witnessed a gift to the church of Glasgow c. 1260, and as Johannes de Lenna appears as charter witness in 1267 (REG., p. 177,181). Simon de Lenna, Ceciha his wife, and John his son and heir occur in Drummond charters, and John de Lenna did homage in 1291 (Inchaffray, p. 283). Adam de Lyn in 1343 rendered to Exchequer the accounts of the provost of Perth at Dundee (ER., I, p. 523). Thomas of Lyne was burgess of Perth in 1421, and Malcolm of Lyn witnessed a charter by Malcolm of Crombeth in Strathearn, 1428 (Athole, p. 706). Philip de Lyn held land in Arnbroath, 1438 (RAA., II, 84), Patrick Lin or de Lyn was burgess of Edinburgh, 1468 (Neubotle, 301,302), James Lyne was prebendary of Abirlade, 1524 (RAA., II, 583), and John Line was trade burgess of Aberdeen, 1656 (ROA., I, p. 233). James Line, fermourer in Kirknewtoune, 1680 (Edin. App.), James Len, late deacon of the Hammermen of Edinburgh, 1720 (Guildry, p. 123).

(English) = Line, q.v. (Celtic) for the Irish O’Laighin, O’Laidhin.

Ó Laighin or Ó Laidhin (W) In the form Lyne this name is nearly always that of a family of Co. Kerry where Lyons is occasionally substituted for it. It is spelt O’Leane in the Map (Kerry), Leane being a variant of Lyne in that county. O’Donovan was of the opinion that the Kerry sept is Ó Laoghain in Irish. IF 215

A parish in Peebles-shire; an estate near Newdigate, co. Surrey; and rivers in cos. Peebles, Devon, and Fife.

Line: are from Luynes in Indre-et-Loire.

The Lynes have been connected for more that 200 years with Liskeard. One of the family was rector of Liskeard last century, and the Lynes, father and son, were at that time masters of the school in the town. Philip Lyne, LL. D., was in the Commission of the Peace for the county in 1803 (A. and P.).