UK surname
A surname derived from a nickname for a fair-complexioned person.
In the 1881 census there were 9 people recorded with the Blach surname, ranking it #32,416 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 53, ranked #34,727, down from #32,416 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to New Monkland, Rearsby and Halifax. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Blach is 146 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 488.9%.
1881 census count
9
Ranked #32,416
Modern count
53
2016, ranked #34,727
Peak year
1861
146 bearers
Map years
2
1861 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Blach surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Blach surname density by area, 1891 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 39 | #26,319 |
| 1861 | historical | 146 | #15,628 |
| 1881 | historical | 9 | #32,416 |
| 1891 | historical | 146 | #18,664 |
| 1901 | historical | 55 | #28,064 |
| 1911 | historical | 26 | #30,547 |
| 1997 | modern | 39 | #33,759 |
| 1998 | modern | 38 | #34,066 |
| 1999 | modern | 39 | #34,058 |
| 2000 | modern | 47 | #33,358 |
| 2001 | modern | 37 | #34,082 |
| 2002 | modern | 39 | #34,219 |
| 2003 | modern | 32 | #34,862 |
| 2004 | modern | 34 | #34,868 |
| 2005 | modern | 35 | #34,982 |
| 2006 | modern | 36 | #35,131 |
| 2007 | modern | 38 | #35,153 |
| 2008 | modern | 44 | #34,865 |
| 2009 | modern | 42 | #35,148 |
| 2010 | modern | 46 | #35,062 |
| 2011 | modern | 48 | #34,926 |
| 2012 | modern | 48 | #34,938 |
| 2013 | modern | 49 | #34,952 |
| 2014 | modern | 52 | #34,803 |
| 2015 | modern | 52 | #34,775 |
| 2016 | modern | 53 | #34,727 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around New Monkland, Rearsby, Halifax, Dundonald and Eckington. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Monkland | Lanark |
| 2 | Rearsby | Leicestershire |
| 3 | Halifax | Yorkshire, West Riding |
| 4 | Dundonald | Ayr |
| 5 | Eckington | Derbyshire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Blach surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Blach, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Blach surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Blach household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Blach is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Blach is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Blach, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname BLACH is of German origin, with its earliest recorded instances found in the southern regions of Germany during the late 16th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old High German word "blah," which translates to "pale" or "white." This suggests that the name may have initially referred to someone with a pale or fair complexion.
One of the earliest documented references to the BLACH surname can be found in a baptismal record from the town of Freiburg, dated 1589. The name appears as "Blach," which aligns with the original Old High German spelling.
In the 17th century, the BLACH surname began to spread across various parts of central Europe, including regions of modern-day Austria, Switzerland, and the Netherlands. During this period, variations in spelling emerged, such as "Blach," "Blache," and "Blachius."
Notable individuals bearing the BLACH surname include Johann Michael Blach (1700-1768), a German painter and engraver renowned for his religious artwork. Another prominent figure was Friedrich Blach (1825-1898), a German philosopher and professor who taught at the University of Heidelberg.
In the 19th century, the BLACH surname found its way to the United States through German immigration. One of the earliest recorded instances was Johann Blach (1820-1892), a farmer who settled in Pennsylvania with his family in 1848.
Throughout the centuries, the BLACH surname has also been associated with various place names in Germany, such as Blachau, a village in Bavaria, and Blacherberg, a hill in the Black Forest region.
Other notable individuals with the BLACH surname include Hans Blach (1888-1962), a German architect known for his modernist designs, and Karl Blach (1899-1977), a German painter and printmaker who was part of the Expressionist movement.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Blach surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Middlesex leads with 7 Blachs recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.99x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Middlesex | 7 | 7.99x |
| Cumberland | 2 | 26.49x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. St Marylebone London in Middlesex leads with 7 Blachs recorded in 1881 and an index of 149.57x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| St Marylebone London | 7 | 149.57x |
| Preston Quarter | 2 | 952.38x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Blach surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Blach surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Blach households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 4 |
| Carter | 1 |
| Pianoforte Maker | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 9 people were recorded with the Blach surname. That placed it at #32,416 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 53 in 2016. That gives Blach a modern rank of #34,727.
A surname derived from a nickname for a fair-complexioned person.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Blach bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.