The Lindsay surname

In the 2010 U.S. Census, 33,255 people carried this name — #1,052 among all U.S. surnames, about 1 in every 8,870 people counted. That is up 5% from 31,744 in 2000.

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What the name means

The meaning of the Lindsay surname

A Scottish habitational surname from Old English from Lindsey in Lincolnshire, from the Old English name of the city of Lincoln, "Isle of Lind" ("Isle of Lincoln") in reference to it being surrounded by fenland.

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary (en.wiktionary.org) — entry «Lindsay» (English), by Wiktionary contributors · licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 (creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0) · excerpt, lightly adapted.

As an English and Welsh surname

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

An early record he cites: William de Lyndeseye, Northamptonshire, 1291–92 (20 Edward I) — Placita de Quo Warranto.

His entry covers Lindsey, Lindsay and Lincey.

From Charles W. Bardsley, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, with Special American Instances (London: Henry Frowde, 1901), p. 485 · public domain.

In Ireland’s birth registers, 1890

Ireland registered 38 births for the Lindsay name in 1890.

They were registered in all four provinces, most of all in Ulster. By the Registrar-General’s own method — births multiplied by 44.38 — that is about 1,700 people bearing the name in Ireland at the time. 2 of them were indexed under other spellings of the name.

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

Where they were born, 1890

Ulster 31
Leinster 5
Connacht 1
Munster 1

Registrar-General for Ireland, «Special Report on Surnames in Ireland» (R. E. Matheson, 1894), births index of 1890 — public domain.

In France’s civil register

France’s register of deaths holds 26 people named Lindsay.

Most of them — 21 — were born outside France. Those born in France came from 3 départements, most often Hautes-Alpes.

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

Where they were born

Born outside France 21
Hautes-Alpes 3
Bouches-du-Rhône 1
Rhône 1

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

In Switzerland’s population statistics

23 people named Lindsay live in Switzerland.

They live in 3 of Switzerland’s 26 cantons, most of all in Zurich.

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

Where they live today

Zurich 13
Vaud 5
Valais 5

Swiss Federal Statistical Office (FSO), «Surnames of the permanent resident population by canton», 2025, opendata.swiss/en/dataset/nachnamen-der-standigen-wohnbevolkerung-nach-kanton3 · names with fewer than 3 bearers in a canton are not published.

In the Nordic population registers

25 people named Lindsay is counted in Sweden.

Sweden’s figure is from 31 December 2022, the last count Statistics Sweden published.

Counted, by country

Sweden (2022) 25

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).

In Scotland, 1880s

Lindsay was 30 in every 10,000 names in Scotland.

That is about 1 in 333. Its home there, in Guppy’s words: “Ayrshire.” He counted the more than 20,000 names in Halliburton’s County Directory of Scotland, taking Scotland as a whole, and listed only the names that reached 10 in every 10,000.

H. B. Guppy, «Homes of Family Names in Great Britain» (London, 1890), appendix: alphabetical list of the most frequent Scottish names, p. 591 — public domain · names in Halliburton’s County Directory of Scotland, per 10,000 for the whole country.

In Scotland’s registers today

Lindsay was recorded 216 times in Scotland’s registers of births, marriages and deaths in 2025.

That made it the 90th most common name in those registers. In 1975, the first year of the series, the count was 346. Each birth counts the child’s surname, each marriage both partners’ and each death the surname of the person who died — a yearly count of registrations, not of the people who live in Scotland.

National Records of Scotland, «Most Common Surnames, 2025» (published 26 May 2026): every surname recorded 10 or more times in the 2025 registers, and the series from 1975 · different spellings are counted separately — © Crown copyright 2026. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

In print

Lindsay in American newspapers,
1881–1904.

Newspaper page from The Billings Gazette carrying the name Lindsay
The Billings Gazette 1904-11-04
Newspaper page from The Portland Daily Press carrying the name Lindsay
The Portland Daily Press 1881-10-08
Newspaper page from The Anaconda Standard carrying the name Lindsay
The Anaconda Standard 1896-09-23

Chronicling America, Library of Congress — digitised newspapers in the public domain · 8,058 pages in all carry the name.

In print

Lindsay in Australian newspapers,
1810s–2010s.

209,904 articles name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Lindsay. The most, 40,285, 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 the Northern Territory, at 2.1 times its expected share.

Articles, by state

New South Wales 73,196
Victoria 43,463
South Australia 36,422
Queensland 22,184
Western Australia 20,772
Tasmania 10,713
ACT (Canberra) 1,670
Northern Territory 672

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

Who carried it

People named Lindsay,
with a public archive behind them.

  • Robert Lindsay d. 1727 · artist
  • Robert Lindsay d. 1726 · artist
  • William Lindsay d. 1796 · diplomat
  • Ingram Lindsay d. 1458 · Catholic priest
  • David Lindsay d. 1950 · association football player
  • John Lindsay, 19th Earl of Crawford d. 1713 · politician

Wikidata (CC0) · 10 lives in all are documented under this name.

In the public record

People named Lindsay,
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 States4,426 records

4,426 records of the Lindsay name in the United States
  • U.S. Army enlistment records, World War II 1,221
  • Passenger arrivals in the United States, 1820–1912 862
  • Other U.S. records 2,343
  1. A United States Selective Service registration card, 1942
    Example: U.S. registration card, 1942
    Military record Robert W. Lindsay

    Born 1908 in Washington. Enlisted 1942 at Portland, Oregon; accountant. U.S. Army veteran of World War II; died 1953, buried at Golden Gate National Cemetery, California.

    U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain); U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0)
  2. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Janet Lindsay

    Arrived at New York in 1861 aboard the Underwriter from Liverpool, aged 55; housekeeper. From England; bound for Utah.

    U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted)
  3. Names engraved on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Washington, D.C.
    Example: U.S. war memorial
    War record James Rickey Lindsay

    Born 1948; from Maylene, Alabama. U.S. Army, infantryman; killed in action 1969 in Tay Ninh, South Vietnam.

    U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain)

Showing 3 of 4,426 records for Lindsay in the United States.

Counts: U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain) · U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted) · NYC Department of Records & Information Services, Historical Vital Records (NYC Open Data) · U.S. National Archives, Flexoline Index Data File (public domain) · U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0) · New York State Department of Health, Genealogical Research Death Index · U.S. National Archives, Famine Irish Passenger Records (public domain) · Sacramento County, Historic Burials (CC BY 4.0) · 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); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain); Vietnam Veterans Memorial, photo by U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Michael J. Carden, 2009 (public domain).

Australia3,272 records

3,272 records of the Lindsay name in Australia
  • Victoria passenger lists, 1839–1923 1,749
  • Victoria wills and probate, deaths to 2001 566
  • Other Australian records 957
  1. 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 Ann Lindsay

    Transported to Van Diemen's Land aboard the Sir Robert Seppings, sailing from Woolwich in 1852. Native of Forfar, Angus. Applied for permission to marry in Van Diemen's Land in 1857. Married 1857 in Hobart, Tasmania, aged 28.

    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 Margaret Lindsay

    Transported to Van Diemen's Land aboard the Platina, sailing from London in 1837. Native of Liverpool, Lancashire. Applied for permission to marry in Van Diemen's Land in 1841.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)
  3. 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 Alice Lindsay

    Transported to Van Diemen's Land aboard the Aurora, sailing from London in 1851. Native of Oxford, Oxfordshire. Applied for permission to marry in Van Diemen's Land in 1855.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 3,272 records for Lindsay in Australia.

Counts: Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0) · Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0) · Queensland State Archives (CC BY 4.0) · Museums of History NSW – State Archives Collection (CC BY) · State Library of Western Australia (CC BY 4.0) · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · City of Ballarat, Avenue of Honour Plaques (CC BY 3.0 AU) · ACT Government, Transport Canberra and City Services (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Prison-ship in Portsmouth Harbour, with the convicts going on board, etching by Edward William Cooke, 1829, Royal Museums Greenwich (public domain).

Canada600 records

600 records of the Lindsay name in Canada
  • Nova Scotia Archives name indexes 352
  • City of Winnipeg cemetery records 62
  • Other Canadian records 186
  1. A Canadian First World War grave register card for a soldier who died of wounds in 1917
    Example: Canadian war grave register, 1917
    War record John Lindsay

    Served in the No. 2 Construction Battalion in the First World War, private; of Junkins, Alberta.

    Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia.
  2. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record William Lindsay

    Came to Ontario in 1872 aboard the Prussian, landing at Quebec, bound for Barrie, Ontario; English.

    Archives of Ontario. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario.
  3. Fairview Lawn Cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia
    Example: Canadian cemetery
    Burial record Nellie Rose Lindsay

    Buried in 1974 at Burnsland Cemetery, Calgary, Alberta, aged 78.

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

Showing 3 of 600 records for Lindsay in Canada.

Counts: Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia. · City of Winnipeg. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Winnipeg. · City of Vancouver. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Vancouver. · Veterans Affairs Canada. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Canada. · City of Calgary. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – City of Calgary. · Halifax Regional Municipality. Contains information licenced under the Open Government Licence—Halifax. · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · Archives of Ontario. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario. · City of Niagara Falls. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Niagara Falls. Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Canadian First World War circumstances-of-death register (scan by Scottgraham87 via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0); 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 Kingdom237 records

237 records of the Lindsay name in the United Kingdom
  • Stirling Council burial records 142
  • War Office casualty lists, 1917–1919, among the dead 73
  • Other British records 22
  1. A First World War roll of honour of the staff of C. & E. Morton Ltd
    Example: roll of honour, 1914–1919
    War record Robert Lindsay

    Born 1871 at Mortlach. Served in the First World War. Named in the University of Aberdeen roll of service in the Great War, 1914-1919.

    National Library of Scotland, Rolls of Honour (public domain)
  2. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Catherine Lindsay

    Buried in 1988 at Kilmadock Cemetery, Stirling, Scotland, aged 69.

    Stirling Council. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
  3. A petition to the probate court of St. Louis, 1848
    Example: probate petition, 1848
    Probate record John Samuel Lindsay

    Will proved in 1941; of Wrexham, Denbigh.

    National Library of Wales, Wills Index Cards (CC0)

Showing 3 of 237 records for Lindsay in the United Kingdom.

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

New Zealand61 records

61 records of the Lindsay name in New Zealand
  • Christchurch City cemetery records 47
  • Thames-Coromandel District cemetery records 7
  • Other New Zealand records 7
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Irene Elma Lindsay

    Died 1994, aged 77; buried at Fairhall Cemetery, Marlborough.

    Marlborough District Council (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Hilda Mary Lindsay

    Died 1994, aged 89; buried at Waimairi Cemetery, Christchurch, Canterbury.

    Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Emma Lindsay

    Buried in 1928 at Buffalo Cemetery, Thames-Coromandel District, Waikato, aged 57.

    Thames-Coromandel District Council (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 61 records for Lindsay in New Zealand.

Counts: Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0) · Thames-Coromandel District Council (CC BY 4.0) · Waimakariri District Council (CC BY 4.0) · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · Marlborough District Council (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0).

Netherlands14 records

14 records of the Lindsay name in the Netherlands
  • Dutch church registers before 1811 9
  • Dutch civil registers (births, marriages, deaths) 5
  1. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Charles Robert Lindsay

    Married in 1945 in Apeldoorn; railway worker.

    Open Archives, Gelders Archief (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Margarita Lindsay

    Married in 1691 in Heusden; born in Zaltbommel.

    Open Archives, Streekarchief Langstraat Heusden Altena (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 2 of 14 records for Lindsay in the Netherlands.

Counts: Open Archives (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Marriage register, Tilburg, 1911, Regionaal Archief Tilburg (public domain).

France4 records

4 records of the Lindsay 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 Reine Blanche Josephine Lindsay

    Born 1908 in Gap (Hautes-Alpes); died 1993 in Amiens (Somme).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)
  2. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Georges Jean Marie Lindsay

    Born 1910 in Gap (Hautes-Alpes); died 1980 in Marseille (Bouches-du-Rhône).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)

Showing 2 of 4 records for Lindsay 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).

Nearby in the index

Surnames next to Lindsay.

When the index is not enough

This page says where Lindsay 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 Lindsay volume
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