NameCensus.

UK surname

Arblaster

A surname derived from the occupation of an arbalester or crossbowman.

In the 1881 census there were 191 people recorded with the Arblaster surname, ranking it #13,224 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 342, ranked #13,398, down from #13,224 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Wolverhampton, Norton-under-Cannock with Little Wyrley and Colwich (Colwich), Stowe, Colton. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include South Staffordshire, Barnsley and Walsall.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Arblaster is 375 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 79.1%.

1881 census count

191

Ranked #13,224

Modern count

342

2016, ranked #13,398

Peak year

1999

375 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Arblaster had 191 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #13,224 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 342 in 2016, ranked #13,398.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 305 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Arblaster surname distribution map

The map shows where the Arblaster surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Arblaster surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Arblaster over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 120 #15,144
1861 historical 101 #20,955
1881 historical 191 #13,224
1891 historical 233 #13,392
1901 historical 281 #12,167
1911 historical 305 #11,307
1997 modern 361 #11,892
1998 modern 370 #12,052
1999 modern 375 #12,004
2000 modern 372 #12,020
2001 modern 369 #11,928
2002 modern 372 #12,077
2003 modern 367 #11,988
2004 modern 365 #12,077
2005 modern 358 #12,176
2006 modern 341 #12,684
2007 modern 351 #12,571
2008 modern 357 #12,509
2009 modern 352 #12,918
2010 modern 361 #12,933
2011 modern 361 #12,800
2012 modern 355 #12,816
2013 modern 357 #12,984
2014 modern 365 #12,853
2015 modern 352 #13,109
2016 modern 342 #13,398

Geography

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Where Arblasters are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Wolverhampton, Norton-under-Cannock with Little Wyrley, Colwich (Colwich), Stowe, Colton, Ogly Hay and Walsall. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to South Staffordshire, Barnsley and Walsall. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Wolverhampton Staffordshire
2 Norton-under-Cannock with Little Wyrley Staffordshire
3 Colwich (Colwich), Stowe, Colton Staffordshire
4 Ogly Hay Staffordshire
5 Walsall Staffordshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 South Staffordshire 004 South Staffordshire
2 Barnsley 001 Barnsley
3 Walsall 038 Walsall
4 Walsall 015 Walsall
5 Walsall 016 Walsall

Forenames

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First names often paired with Arblaster

These lists show first names that appear often with the Arblaster surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Arblaster

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Arblaster, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Arblaster surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Arblaster household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Arblaster is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Arblaster is most concentrated in decile 5 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Arblaster falls in decile 7 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Arblaster is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Arblaster, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Arblaster

The surname Arblaster has its origins in England, where it first emerged in the late 13th century. It is derived from the Old French word "arbalestier" or "arbalestrier," which referred to a skilled crossbowman or maker of crossbows. These weapons, known as "arbalests" or "arbalistes," were widely used in medieval warfare and hunting.

During the Middle Ages, the Arblaster family likely hailed from the county of Nottinghamshire, where the name is first recorded in historical documents. One of the earliest known references is found in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, which mentions a William le Arbelastere residing in Nottinghamshire.

The surname Arblaster appeared in various spellings throughout its early history, including Arbelaster, Arblastier, and Arbalister. These variations reflect the influence of regional dialects and the inconsistencies in spelling practices before the standardization of modern English orthography.

In the 14th century, the Arblaster name is documented in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire, where a Thomas Arbelaster is recorded as a taxpayer in 1379. This record suggests that members of the Arblaster family had established themselves in different parts of England by this time.

One notable figure with the Arblaster surname was John Arblaster, a prominent English poet and playwright born in the late 16th century. He is best known for his work "The Metamorphosis of Ajax," published in 1596.

Another historical figure bearing this name was Sir Ralph Arblaster, a military commander who served during the English Civil War in the 17th century. He fought for the Royalist cause and was knighted for his service to King Charles I.

In the 18th century, the Arblaster name is found in parish records from various counties, including Gloucestershire, Wiltshire, and Somerset. One such record mentions the marriage of John Arblaster and Mary Brent in the village of Brinkworth, Wiltshire, in 1743.

During the Victorian era, the Arblaster family had members who achieved notable positions. Thomas Arblaster (1811-1879) was a respected architect who designed several churches and public buildings in the West Midlands region of England.

It is worth mentioning that the Arblaster surname has also been associated with place names, such as the village of Arblaster in Gloucestershire, which likely derived its name from the family that once resided there.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Arblaster families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Arblaster surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Staffordshire leads with 125 Arblasters recorded in 1881 and an index of 19.98x.

County Total Index
Staffordshire 125 19.98x
Warwickshire 28 5.99x
Derbyshire 13 4.48x
Yorkshire 8 0.44x
Gloucestershire 7 1.93x
Nottinghamshire 6 2.40x
Devon 1 0.26x
Monmouthshire 1 0.75x
Worcestershire 1 0.41x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Norton Canes in Staffordshire leads with 24 Arblasters recorded in 1881 and an index of 1052.63x.

Place Total Index
Norton Canes 24 1052.63x
Cannock 17 155.68x
Walsall Foreign 17 52.60x
Aston 16 12.43x
Edgbaston 9 62.11x
Wednesbury 9 57.58x
Normanton 8 144.93x
Wednesfield 8 86.86x
Burslem 7 39.06x
Eckington 7 99.29x
Hammerwich 6 674.16x
Pelsall 6 322.58x
Sutton In Ashfield 6 110.70x
Westbury On Severn East 6 72.99x
Colwich 5 335.57x
Killamarsh 5 277.78x
Penkridge 5 310.56x
Sandon 5 1515.15x
Aldridge 4 333.33x
Birmingham 3 1.93x
Darlaston 3 34.68x
Longdon 2 229.89x
Ogley Hay 2 153.85x
Stoke Upon Trent 2 3.01x
Tipton 2 10.44x
Bromsgrove 1 12.27x
Newent 1 54.05x
Stafford St Mary 1 11.29x
Stapenhill 1 23.15x
Stoke 1 64.10x
Trevethin 1 7.91x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Arblaster surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Mary 16
Sarah 10
Emma 5
Ann 4
Charlotte 3
Edith 3
Elizabeth 3
Fanny 3
Jane 3
Lucy 3
Annie 2
Eliza 2
Ellen 2
Emily 2
Florence 2
Maria 2
Ada 1
Alice 1
Bessie 1
Betsy 1
Clara 1
Elisabeth 1
Elizth. 1
Eugenie 1
F. 1
Georgina 1
Hannah 1
Harriet 1
Helena 1
Henrietta 1
Isabella 1
Livinia 1
Louisa 1
Marth 1
Martha 1
Minie 1
Minnie 1
Olive 1
Pricilla 1
Priscilla 1
Rachel 1
Susannah 1
Weber 1
Winnie 1

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Arblaster surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Charles 13
William 8
Thomas 7
George 6
Henry 6
Edward 5
John 5
Richard 5
Samuel 5
Amos 3
Albert 2
Edmund 2
Harry 2
James 2
Ralph 2
Saml 2
Stephen 2
Alfred 1
Benjamin 1
Chas. 1
Daniel 1
Edmond 1
Elijah 1
Eustace 1
Frank 1
Frederic 1
Geo. 1
Herbert 1
Joseph 1
Lev 1
Levi 1
Louis 1
Phillip 1
Saml. 1
Timothy 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Arblaster surname: questions and answers

How common was the Arblaster surname in 1881?

In 1881, 191 people were recorded with the Arblaster surname. That placed it at #13,224 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Arblaster surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 342 in 2016. That gives Arblaster a modern rank of #13,398.

What does the Arblaster surname mean?

A surname derived from the occupation of an arbalester or crossbowman.

What does the Arblaster map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Arblaster bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.