Lyle

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A proper noun used as a male given name; a surname of English origin; occasionally used as a place name in English-speaking regions
2. A personal name traditionally given to males; a family name passed down through generations; sometimes the designation of specific locations or entities
3. An English-origin male first name; a hereditary last name; sometimes identifying towns, buildings, or other geographical or structural landmarks

Etymology: Lyle began as a surname drawn from a place. It comes from the Old French phrase "de l'isle," meaning "of the island," so the first bearers were named for where they lived or held land. The name crossed into Britain with Norman families and took root in Scotland, where it became a hereditary surname, and it is still common there. Over time the surname became a given name. Many people now carry it as a first name, often because it was a family surname passed down. Its spelling varies, and Lisle is the older form that still appears in some families and place names.