Lyster is a settler name of English origin that became part of the gentry of the Irish midlands.
Where does the Lyster name come from?
Lyster is a variant of the English name Lister, an occupational surname from the Middle English litster, meaning a dyer of cloth. A family bearing the name descended from an ancestor in that trade. It is not a native Gaelic Irish name; it came to Ireland with English settlers and is sometimes also spelled Lister.
Lyster in Ireland
In Ireland the name became established among the landed families of the midlands, particularly counties Roscommon and Westmeath, where the Lysters held estates over several generations. As a settler gentry name its numbers were never large, but it left a steady mark on the records of the region. Today Lyster is found in Ireland and among the diaspora in the United States, Canada, Australia and Britain.
Related Irish family names
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Lyster mean?
It is a variant of Lister, an occupational name from the Middle English word for a dyer of cloth.
Where in Ireland is the Lyster name found?
Chiefly in the midlands, particularly counties Roscommon and Westmeath, where the family held estates.
Is there a Lyster family crest?
Browse our Lyster Irish family gifts to explore the available collection.