NameCensus.

UK surname

Blackaby

A topographic name referring to a location containing black mud or soil.

In the 1881 census there were 130 people recorded with the Blackaby surname, ranking it #16,911 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 337, ranked #13,552, up from #16,911 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Stanstead Abbots, Edmonton and Hunsdon. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Lichfield, Tamworth and Monmouthshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Blackaby is 357 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 159.2%.

1881 census count

130

Ranked #16,911

Modern count

337

2016, ranked #13,552

Peak year

1998

357 bearers

Map years

7

1881 to 2016

Key insights

  • Blackaby had 130 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #16,911 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 337 in 2016, ranked #13,552.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 226 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Blackaby surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Blackaby surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Blackaby 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 42 #25,706
1861 historical 49 #27,768
1881 historical 130 #16,911
1891 historical 110 #22,557
1901 historical 226 #14,006
1911 historical 207 #14,635
1997 modern 348 #12,229
1998 modern 357 #12,372
1999 modern 352 #12,552
2000 modern 349 #12,585
2001 modern 334 #12,789
2002 modern 352 #12,557
2003 modern 338 #12,735
2004 modern 346 #12,544
2005 modern 325 #13,080
2006 modern 320 #13,289
2007 modern 313 #13,648
2008 modern 315 #13,686
2009 modern 317 #13,899
2010 modern 322 #14,034
2011 modern 344 #13,249
2012 modern 329 #13,593
2013 modern 347 #13,260
2014 modern 348 #13,320
2015 modern 344 #13,332
2016 modern 337 #13,552

Geography

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Where Blackabys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Stanstead Abbots, Edmonton, Hunsdon, London parishes and St Giles-in-the-Fields. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Lichfield, Tamworth, Monmouthshire, Coventry and Chichester. 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 Stanstead Abbots Hertfordshire
2 Edmonton Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts)
3 Hunsdon Hertfordshire
4 London parishes London 3
5 St Giles-in-the-Fields London (Central Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Lichfield 004 Lichfield
2 Tamworth 007 Tamworth
3 Monmouthshire 011 Monmouthshire
4 Coventry 018 Coventry
5 Chichester 014 Chichester

Forenames

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First names often paired with Blackaby

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Blackaby

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Blackaby, 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

Ageing Communities

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Blackaby is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Blackaby 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

Blackaby falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Blackaby 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 Blackaby, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Blackaby

The surname Blackaby originated in England, specifically in the county of Lincolnshire, during the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "blæc" meaning "black" and "by" meaning "farmstead" or "village." This suggests that the name could have initially referred to someone who lived in a village or settlement with a distinct black or dark feature, such as a building, soil, or landscape.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Blackaby can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of landholdings and properties in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. This historical document mentions a place called "Blackebi" in Lincolnshire, which is likely related to the surname's origin.

During the 13th century, various spellings of the name appeared in historical records, including "Blakeby," "Blakeby," and "Blakeby." These variations reflect the fluidity of English spelling and pronunciation at the time. One notable individual from this era was Richard de Blackeby, a landowner mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Lincolnshire in 1272.

As the name Blackaby spread across England, it was sometimes associated with specific locations or places. For example, in the 16th century, there were references to "Blackaby Grange" and "Blackaby Hall" in Yorkshire, suggesting that some families with this surname may have been connected to these properties.

Over the centuries, several notable individuals have borne the surname Blackaby. One of the earliest was Thomas Blackaby (born around 1500), who was a prominent merchant and landowner in Gloucestershire during the Tudor period. Another notable figure was John Blackaby (1701-1786), an English clergyman and author who published works on theology and philosophy.

In the 19th century, a Blackaby family played a significant role in the development of the coal mining industry in South Wales. William Blackaby (1820-1901) and his son, William Lewis Blackaby (1854-1928), were both influential mine owners and entrepreneurs who helped shape the region's industrial landscape.

Throughout its history, the surname Blackaby has maintained a strong connection to its English origins, with families bearing this name contributing to various aspects of society, including commerce, religion, and industry.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Blackaby families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Blackaby 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. Hertfordshire leads with 67 Blackabys recorded in 1881 and an index of 76.67x.

County Total Index
Hertfordshire 67 76.67x
Middlesex 50 3.94x
Bedfordshire 5 7.62x
Surrey 5 0.81x
Oxfordshire 2 2.55x
Essex 1 0.40x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Sawbridgeworth in Hertfordshire leads with 28 Blackabys recorded in 1881 and an index of 2121.21x.

Place Total Index
Sawbridgeworth 28 2121.21x
Stanstead Abbots 17 3207.55x
Wormley 11 3437.50x
Hackney London 9 12.66x
St Marylebone London 7 10.34x
St Giles In Fields London 6 96.46x
Battersea 5 10.72x
Shepperton 5 892.86x
Clerkenwell London 4 13.36x
Islington London 4 3.25x
Luton 4 35.21x
Poplar London 4 16.72x
Broxbourne 3 173.41x
Kensington London 3 4.26x
Shoreditch London 3 5.46x
Ware 3 119.52x
Bicester Market End 2 138.89x
Hertford St Andrew 2 185.19x
St Pancras London 2 1.96x
Bishop Stortford 1 34.25x
Bromley London 1 3.59x
Cheshunt 1 32.79x
Dunstable 1 49.51x
Gilston 1 833.33x
Hammersmith London 1 3.20x
Hornsey 1 6.24x
West Ham 1 1.81x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 8
Charles 6
Henry 6
Joseph 5
James 4
John 4
Arthur 3
Robert 3
Thomas 3
Benjamin 2
Frank 2
Frederick 2
Herbert 2
Philip 2
Walter 2
Abraham 1
Albert 1
Alfred 1
Bertie 1
Edward 1
Edwin 1
Ernest 1
Fredk. 1
George 1
Levi 1
Peter 1
Samuel 1
Thurlow 1
Wm.John 1

FAQ

Blackaby surname: questions and answers

How common was the Blackaby surname in 1881?

In 1881, 130 people were recorded with the Blackaby surname. That placed it at #16,911 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Blackaby surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 337 in 2016. That gives Blackaby a modern rank of #13,552.

What does the Blackaby surname mean?

A topographic name referring to a location containing black mud or soil.

What does the Blackaby map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Blackaby 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.