770+ Years of History
25+ Generations
150+ Family Members
1 Historic Manor
Primary Line
Notable Figure (Click for details)
Family Member

Distinguished Members

🌿

Henry Lyte

1529 - 1607

Renowned botanist and naturalist. Translated the "Niewe Herball" - a foundational text in English botanical studies.

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👑

Thomas Lyte

1568 - 1638

Antiquary who created the famous Lyte Pedigree for King James I, receiving the Lyte Jewel (now in British Museum).

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🎵

Rev. Henry Francis Lyte

1793 - 1847

Anglican clergyman who wrote "Abide with Me" - one of the most beloved hymns in the English language.

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📚

Sir Henry Churchill Maxwell-Lyte

1848 - 1940

Distinguished historian and archivist. Deputy Keeper of the Public Records for 40 years.

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📷

Farnham Maxwell-Lyte

1828 - 1906

Pioneer photographer and chemist who revolutionized photographic processing techniques.

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🏰

Lytes Cary Manor

Est. 13th Century

The ancestral home of the Lyte family for 500 years. Now a National Trust property in Somerset.

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The Founding - Medieval Origins 1255 - 1400
Founder
William le Lyt de Cari
fl. 1255/6
First recorded ancestor. Held land at Towkerckary (Lytescary) in 1255/6.
William le Lyt
Lord of the Manor of Kingsdon. "Sergeant at Law" during the reign of Edward I.
= (1) Agnes (2) Margery, daughter of John Blomvill
Robert le Lyt
= Isabella, daughter & heiress of Peter de Draycot
Peter le Lyt
Brother of Robert le Lyt
Robert le Lyt
= Margaret, daughter of Roger of Goathurst
Peter le Lyt
d. 1348
Held land at Lytescary in the 7th year of Edward III's reign. May have died during the Black Death.
= Agnes, daughter of Tristram de Blomvill
Eleanor le Lyt
Daughter of Peter le Lyt
The Tudor Lytes 1400 - 1600
John Lyte
Son of Peter le Lyt
William Lyte
Son of Peter le Lyt
Matilda Lyte
Daughter of Peter le Lyt
Edmund Lyte
d. 1418
= (1) Thomasia, sister of William Carent of Toomer (2) Agnes, daughter of Richard Marleburgh of Loders
Thomas Lyte
Son of Edmund Lyte
Peter Lyte
Son of Edmund Lyte
Lucy Lyte
= Roger Raleigh
Elizabeth Lyte
Daughter
John Lyte
= Agnes Aysshe
Joan Lyte
= Simon Talbot
John Lyte
= Joan, daughter of FitzJames of Redlynch
Thomas Lyte of Okely
Esquire, d. 1468
= Joan Lyte
John Lyte
Esquire
= daughter of Fauntelroy of Marsh
Richard Lyte
Ancestor of Lytes of Easton Percy, Wiltshire
Thomas Lyte
d. 1523
= Margory, daughter of John Drew of Bridgewater
Anthony Lyte
Member of Parliament. Monumental Inscription at Greenwich, Kent.
John Lyte
1498 - 1566
Rebuilt Lytescary Manor. Buried in London.
= (1) Joan, widow of Young of Trent (2) Edith Horsey (d. 1556)
Naturalist
Henry Lyte
1529 - 1607
Renowned botanist and translator of the "Niewe Herball."
= (1) Agnes Kelloway (2) Frances Tiptoft (3) Dorothy Gover
Dorothy Lyte
= Anthony Ashley
The Stuart Lytes 1600 - 1714
Five Daughters
Daughters of Henry Lyte the Naturalist
Hester Lyte
1584
= William Bellamy
John Lyte
b. 1566
Son
Genealogist
Thomas Lyte
1568 - 1638
Created the Lyte Pedigree for King James I. Received the famous Lyte Jewel.
= Constance Huntley
Henry Lyte
Mathematician
= Sibella, daughter of John Markey
Henry Lyte
1597 - 1666
= Constance Baskerville (1621)
Thomas Lyte
d. 1634
Son
Henry Lyte
circa 1629
= Margaret Hippesley
Paul Lyte
1635 - 1722
Emigrated to Barbados. Important branch of the family diaspora.
9 Other Children
Including George Lyte and Ann Lyte
John Lyte
1665 - 1698
= Elizabeth Cooper of Sherborn
Thomas Lyte
1673 - 1748
= (1) Silvestra Bracebridge (2) Anne Baker
The Georgian Lytes 1714 - 1837
Thomas Lyte
Esquire, 1694 - 1761
= Elizabeth Mohun of Fleet, Dorset (1720)
Silvestra Lyte
= Rev. Thomas Blackwell, Rector of St. Clements Dane
Last of Lytescary
John Lyte
b. 1726
Settled at Bath after the sale of Lytescary in 1755. End of 500 years at the manor.
Elizabeth Lyte
1730 - 1777
= Thomas Gybbons of Somerton
Capt. Henry Maximilian Lyte
d. 1834
= Amelia Viney
Captain Thomas Mohun Lyte
1786 - 1850
= (1) Anna Maria Oliver (2) Eliza Naughton
Hymn Writer
Rev. Henry Francis Lyte
1793 - 1847
Author of "Abide with Me." Minister at Brixham for 24 years.
= Anna Maxwell
Francis Henry Lyte
= Jemima Piper
The Victorian Lytes 1837 - 1901
Henry William Lyte
1818 - 1854
Son of Rev. Henry Francis Lyte
John Walker Lyte
Son
Photographer
Farnham Maxwell-Lyte
1828 - 1906
Pioneer photographer and chemist. Son of Rev. Henry Francis Lyte.
William Francis Lyte
1867 - 1876
= Mildred Venable
John Maxwell Lyte
Son
Historian
Sir Henry Churchill Maxwell-Lyte
1848 - 1940
Deputy Keeper of the Public Records. KCB, FBA.
William Venable Lyte
1873 - 1935
American branch of the family.
= Jennie Shackelford
The Modern Lytes 1901 - Present
William Francis Lyte
b. 1901
American branch.
= Norma Pendleton
Lucille Lyte
Daughter
Margaret Lyte
Daughter
Lalla Lyte
Daughter
Dorothy Lyte
Daughter
Read His Memoir
Frederick Pendleton Lyte
Feb 3, 1928 – Oct 5, 2016
VP & General Manager, Retlaw Enterprises (Disney). Chairman, Lyte Enterprises. Stanford '50, MBA '52.
= Marjorie Swingley (Dec 15, 1930 – Oct 4, 2014), Stanford '52
Phillip Lyte
1929 - 1941
Son