The Bye surname

In the 2010 U.S. Census, 3,423 people carried this name — #9,496 among all U.S. surnames, about 1 in every 86,200 people counted. That is down 8% from 3,704 in 2000.

Look up another surname

Share

What the name means

The meaning of the Bye surname

As an English and Welsh surname

Bardsley classes it as a local name, from where the family lived: ‘at the bye’.

From Charles W. Bardsley, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, with Special American Instances (London: Henry Frowde, 1901), p. 153 · public domain.

In France’s civil register

France’s register of deaths holds 28 people named Bye.

6 of them were born outside France. Those born in France came from 6 départements, most often Haute-Garonne.

Too few records to say where it concentrates region by region — these are plain counts, not shares.

Where they were born

Born outside France 6
Haute-Garonne 13
Pyrénées-Orientales 4
Paris 2
Bouches-du-Rhône 1
Rhône 1
Seine-Saint-Denis 1

Fichier des personnes décédées, INSEE — Licence Ouverte 2.0 · deaths recorded in France since 1970, by place of birth.

In the Nordic population registers

2,498 people named Bye are counted in Norway and Sweden.

Sweden’s figure is from 31 December 2022, the last count Statistics Sweden published. Norway publishes only surnames with 200 or more bearers.

Counted, by country

Norway (2025) 2,387
Sweden (2022) 111

Own calculations based on data from Statistics Sweden (SCB), surnames with at least two bearers, 31 December 2022 — CC BY 4.0 (names with 20 or more bearers shown) · Statistics Norway (SSB, ssb.no), table 12891, 2025 — CC BY 4.0.

In print

Bye in American newspapers,
1889–1916.

Newspaper page from The Ladysmith News And Ingram News carrying the name Bye
The Ladysmith News And Ingram News 1906-05-05
Newspaper page from The Seattle Star carrying the name Bye
The Seattle Star 1916-01-03
Newspaper page from Pittsburg Dispatch carrying the name Bye
Pittsburg Dispatch 1889-05-19

Chronicling America, Library of Congress — digitised newspapers in the public domain · 5,945 pages in all carry the name.

In print

Bye in Australian newspapers,
1820s–2000s.

15,098 articles name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Bye. The most, 3,450, date from the 1930s. New South Wales has the most articles, but weighed against how much of each state’s press from the same decades has been digitised, the name stands out most in Tasmania, at 4.9 times its expected share.

Articles, by state

New South Wales 5,027
Tasmania 4,352
Victoria 2,559
Queensland 1,648
Western Australia 878
South Australia 551
ACT (Canberra) 45
Northern Territory 25

Trove, National Library of Australia (trove.nla.gov.au) · articles in its digitised newspapers that name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Bye.

Who carried it

People named Bye,
with a public archive behind them.

  • Johan Peter Bye
    Johan Peter Bye 1808–1863 · politician
  • Anton Bye
    Anton Bye 1832–1918 · politician
  • Julia Bye d. 2009
  • Thomas Bye 1601–1666
  • Johan de Bye 1621–1672 · art collector
  • Thomas Bye 1640–1726

Wikidata (CC0) · portraits via Wikimedia Commons, shown cropped, in the public domain or CC0 · 10 lives in all are documented under this name.

In the public record

People named Bye,
in the records of 7 countries.

Soldiers, farmers, migrants and neighbours who carried the name and left a trace in public archives. Everyone shown here died long ago or was born more than a century ago.

United States385 records

385 records of the Bye name in the United States
  • U.S. alien registration index, 1940–1955 107
  • U.S. Army enlistment records, World War II 97
  • Other U.S. records 181
  1. A United States Selective Service registration card, 1942
    Example: U.S. registration card, 1942
    Military record Arel E. Bye

    Born 1916 in North Dakota. Enlisted 1942 at Jamestown; stock clerk. U.S. Army Air Forces veteran of World War II; died 1999, buried at Prairie Home Cemetery, Gilby, North Dakota.

    U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain); U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0)
  2. Names engraved on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Washington, D.C.
    Example: U.S. war memorial
    War record Robert Anthony Bye

    Born 1948; from Casselberry, Florida. U.S. Marine Corps, rifleman; killed in action 1969 in Quang Nam, South Vietnam.

    U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain)
  3. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Hrye Bye

    Arrived at New York in 1907 aboard the Badenia from Hamburg, aged 31; farm laborer. From Jablonica, Austria.

    U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted)

Showing 3 of 385 records for Bye in the United States.

Counts: U.S. National Archives, Flexoline Index Data File (public domain) · U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain) · U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0) · NYC Department of Records & Information Services, Historical Vital Records (NYC Open Data) · U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted) · New York State Department of Health, Genealogical Research Death Index · U.S. National Archives, Famine Irish Passenger Records (public domain) · U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: U.S. Selective Service registration card, 1942 (public domain); Vietnam Veterans Memorial, photo by U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Michael J. Carden, 2009 (public domain); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain).

Norway1,216 records

1,216 records of the Bye name in Norway Norway's 1910 census
  1. A page of the 1910 United States census, Milwaukee
    Example: U.S. census, 1910
    Census record Malene Bye

    Census of 1910: Korsgaten, Trondhjem; nurse, born 1849 in Bynæset.

    Arkivverket, Digitalarkivet, 1910 census (CC BY 3.0 NO)
  2. A page of the 1910 United States census, Milwaukee
    Example: U.S. census, 1910
    Census record Mons Bye

    Census of 1910: Bye nedre, Ringsaker; farmer, born 1858 in Ringsaker.

    Arkivverket, Digitalarkivet, 1910 census (CC BY 3.0 NO)
  3. A page of the 1910 United States census, Milwaukee
    Example: U.S. census, 1910
    Census record Nils Bye

    Census of 1910: Blautekjær, Aamli; master tailor, born 1861 in Melund.

    Arkivverket, Digitalarkivet, 1910 census (CC BY 3.0 NO)

Showing 3 of 1,216 records for Bye in Norway.

Counts: Arkivverket, Digitalarkivet, 1910 census (CC BY 3.0 NO). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: U.S. census of 1910, Milwaukee (public domain).

Australia523 records

523 records of the Bye name in Australia
  • Tasmanian Names Index 285
  • Victoria passenger lists, 1839–1923 121
  • Other Australian records 117
  1. A petition to the probate court of St. Louis, 1848
    Example: probate petition, 1848
    Probate record James Bye

    Died 1887 in Longford, Tasmania, aged 67. Will registered in Tasmania in 1887.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)
  2. An 1829 etching of convicts being rowed out to the prison ship York in Portsmouth Harbour
    Pictured: convicts going on board a prison ship, 1829
    Transportation record James Bye

    Transported to New South Wales aboard the Asia, arriving 1832; ticket of leave 1836.

    Museums of History NSW – State Archives Collection (CC BY)
  3. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Luke Bye

    Arrived in Queensland in 1888 aboard the Waroonga, aged 22.

    Queensland State Archives (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 523 records for Bye in Australia.

Counts: Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0) · Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0) · Queensland State Archives (CC BY 4.0) · Museums of History NSW – State Archives Collection (CC BY) · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Petition to the probate court, St. Louis, 1848, Missouri Historical Society (public domain); Prison-ship in Portsmouth Harbour, with the convicts going on board, etching by Edward William Cooke, 1829, Royal Museums Greenwich (public domain); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain).

Canada17 records

17 records of the Bye name in Canada
  • Canadian Virtual War Memorial 4
  • City of Niagara Falls (Ontario) cemetery records 4
  • Other Canadian records 9
  1. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Joseph Bye

    Came to Ontario in 1873 aboard the Nestorian, landing at Quebec, bound for Thorald, Ontario; English.

    Archives of Ontario. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario.
  2. Fairview Lawn Cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia
    Example: Canadian cemetery
    Burial record Sarah Bye

    Buried in 1915 at Fairview Cemetery, Niagara Falls, Ontario.

    City of Niagara Falls. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Niagara Falls.
  3. Fairview Lawn Cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia
    Example: Canadian cemetery
    Burial record Oscar Bye

    Died 1941; buried at Mountain View Cemetery, Vancouver, British Columbia.

    City of Vancouver. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Vancouver.

Showing 3 of 17 records for Bye in Canada.

Counts: Veterans Affairs Canada. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Canada. · City of Niagara Falls. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Niagara Falls. · City of Winnipeg. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Winnipeg. · Archives of Ontario. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario. · City of Calgary. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – City of Calgary. · Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia. · City of Vancouver. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Vancouver. Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain); Fairview Lawn Cemetery, Halifax, photo by Edgar El (CC BY 3.0).

United Kingdom15 records

15 records of the Bye name in the United Kingdom
  • War Office casualty lists, 1917–1919, among the dead 13
  • Welsh wills index cards 1
  • St James's burial ground, Euston (London), 1789–1853 1
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Joseph Bye

    Buried in 1840 at St James's burial ground, Euston, London, aged 30.

    MOLA and HS2, St James's burial ground data. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
  2. A petition to the probate court of St. Louis, 1848
    Example: probate petition, 1848
    Probate record William Luthor John Bye

    Will proved in 1924; of Ammanford, Carmarthenshire.

    National Library of Wales, Wills Index Cards (CC0)
  3. A First World War roll of honour of the staff of C. & E. Morton Ltd
    Example: roll of honour, 1914–1919
    War record C. A. Bye

    Royal Fusiliers. Listed among the dead in the War Office casualty list of 1917.

    National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain)

Showing 3 of 15 records for Bye in the United Kingdom.

Counts: National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · National Library of Wales, Wills Index Cards (CC0) · MOLA and HS2, St James's burial ground data. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0); Petition to the probate court, St. Louis, 1848, Missouri Historical Society (public domain); C. & E. Morton Ltd roll of honour, 1914–1919, photo by Adrian S Pye via Geograph (CC BY-SA 2.0).

France14 records

14 records of the Bye name in France France's national death register, 1970–2001
  1. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Rene Bye

    Born 1913 in Prades; died 1999 in Perpignan (Pyrénées-Orientales).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)
  2. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Anna Francoise Josephine Bye

    Born 1892 in Aussonne; died 1992 in Saint-Loup-Cammas (Haute-Garonne).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)
  3. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Moise Gerard Bye

    Born 1930 in Paris; died 1978 in Toulouse (Haute-Garonne).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)

Showing 3 of 14 records for Bye in France.

Counts: Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Death register of Nice, 1930, Archives départementales des Alpes-Maritimes (public domain).

Netherlands7 records

7 records of the Bye name in the Netherlands
  • Dutch population registers 4
  • Dutch civil registers (births, marriages, deaths) 2
  • Dutch church registers before 1811 1
  1. A page of the 1910 United States census, Milwaukee
    Example: U.S. census, 1910
    Population register Jan Stoffelse Bye

    In the population register of Vlissingen; porter, born 1798 in Burcht.

    Open Archives, Zeeuws Archief (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Arthur Edwin Bye

    Married in 1911 in Amsterdam.

    Open Archives, Noord-Hollands Archief (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Susanna Bye

    Buried in 1644 in Rotterdam.

    Open Archives, Stadsarchief Rotterdam (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 7 records for Bye in the Netherlands.

Counts: Open Archives (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: U.S. census of 1910, Milwaukee (public domain); Marriage register, Tilburg, 1911, Regionaal Archief Tilburg (public domain); Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0).

Nearby in the index

Surnames next to Bye.

When the index is not enough

This page says where Bye is.
A volume says what happened to it.

Every page in the index is free and stays free. The Heritage Volume is the long form: the full paper trail, the arms, the crossing — bound, and yours.

See the Bye volume
Scroll to Top