NameCensus.

UK surname

Blackburn

A locational surname referring to someone who lived by a dark or black stream.

In the 1881 census there were 11,287 people recorded with the Blackburn surname, ranking it #380 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 13,427, ranked #478, down from #380 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Halifax, London parishes and Batley. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Northumberland, Stockton-on-Tees and Allerdale.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Blackburn is 14,882 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 19.0%.

1881 census count

11,287

Ranked #380

Modern count

13,427

2016, ranked #478

Peak year

1911

14,882 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Blackburn had 11,287 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #380 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 13,427 in 2016, ranked #478.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 14,882 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Blackburn surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Blackburn surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Blackburn 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 6,943 #401
1861 historical 7,284 #390
1881 historical 11,287 #380
1891 historical 12,216 #365
1901 historical 13,931 #376
1911 historical 14,882 #328
1997 modern 13,432 #451
1998 modern 13,806 #458
1999 modern 13,826 #461
2000 modern 13,678 #463
2001 modern 13,448 #459
2002 modern 13,738 #459
2003 modern 13,280 #462
2004 modern 13,327 #462
2005 modern 13,125 #463
2006 modern 13,084 #466
2007 modern 13,222 #465
2008 modern 13,306 #466
2009 modern 13,669 #465
2010 modern 13,842 #468
2011 modern 13,622 #471
2012 modern 13,328 #473
2013 modern 13,562 #476
2014 modern 13,641 #476
2015 modern 13,509 #478
2016 modern 13,427 #478

Geography

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Where Blackburns are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Halifax, London parishes, Batley, Preston and Bradford. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Northumberland, Stockton-on-Tees, Allerdale, Pendle and West Lindsey. 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 Halifax Yorkshire, West Riding
2 London parishes London 3
3 Batley Yorkshire, West Riding
4 Preston Lancashire
5 Bradford Yorkshire, West Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Northumberland 038 Northumberland
2 Stockton-on-Tees 020 Stockton-on-Tees
3 Allerdale 003 Allerdale
4 Pendle 008 Pendle
5 West Lindsey 001 West Lindsey

Forenames

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First names often paired with Blackburn

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Blackburn

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Blackburn, 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 Blackburn surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Blackburn 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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Blackburn 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

Blackburn is most concentrated in decile 8 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

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

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Blackburn falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

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

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Blackburn

The surname Blackburn originated in England during the medieval period. It is a locational surname derived from the town of Blackburn in Lancashire, which was first recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 as Blacheburne. The name itself is composed of the Old English words "blæc," meaning "black," and "burna," meaning "stream" or "brook."

Blackburn was a significant settlement in the Middle Ages, and its name appeared in various historical records. One notable example is the Whalley Coucher Book, a medieval manuscript dating back to the 13th century, which mentions individuals with the surname Blackburn.

The earliest recorded bearer of the surname Blackburn was William de Blackburn, who was mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Lancashire in 1199. Another early instance is Robert de Blackburn, who was recorded in the Assize Rolls of Yorkshire in 1219.

Over the centuries, the surname Blackburn has been associated with several notable individuals. One such person was Thomas Blackburn (1701-1787), an English mathematician and clergyman who made significant contributions to the study of calculus and published several works on the subject.

Another notable bearer of the surname was Joseph Blackburn (1819-1879), an English railway engineer and inventor who developed various improvements to locomotive design and is credited with inventing the Blackburn's Eccentric Rudder for ships.

In the literary world, Hugh Blackburn (1835-1909) was a Scottish writer and journalist who authored several books, including "The Pardoner's Wallet" and "The Pupil of Aurelius."

The surname Blackburn also has ties to the world of sports. Noel Blackburn (1892-1981) was an English cricketer who played for Lancashire and England, and George Blackburn (1903-1981) was a Scottish professional golfer who won the British Open in 1938.

One of the most renowned individuals with the surname Blackburn was Graham Blackburn (1935-2015), a British cyclist and Olympic medalist. He won silver medals in the team pursuit event at the 1956 and 1960 Olympic Games.

While the surname Blackburn is primarily associated with England and the United Kingdom, it has also been adopted by families in other parts of the world, reflecting the migration patterns and historical connections of English settlers and immigrants.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Blackburn families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Blackburn 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. Yorkshire leads with 4,373 Blackburns recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.01x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 4,373 4.01x
Lancashire 3,048 2.33x
Middlesex 518 0.47x
Durham 477 1.46x
Lincolnshire 397 2.25x
Northumberland 334 2.04x
Surrey 273 0.51x
Cumberland 225 2.37x
Cheshire 199 0.82x
Norfolk 196 1.16x
Kent 176 0.47x
Staffordshire 98 0.26x
Lanarkshire 97 0.27x
Renfrewshire 84 0.98x
Derbyshire 82 0.48x
Essex 78 0.36x
Warwickshire 76 0.27x
Nottinghamshire 64 0.43x
Hampshire 45 0.20x
Suffolk 45 0.34x
Gloucestershire 42 0.19x
Midlothian 29 0.20x
Berkshire 28 0.34x
Glamorgan 27 0.14x
Leicestershire 25 0.20x
Caernarfonshire 23 0.52x
Sussex 23 0.12x
Devon 22 0.10x
Westmorland 18 0.74x
Isle of Man 15 0.73x
Monmouthshire 15 0.19x
Somerset 13 0.07x
Worcestershire 12 0.08x
Huntingdonshire 11 0.50x
Northamptonshire 9 0.09x
Denbighshire 8 0.19x
Wigtownshire 8 0.55x
Ayrshire 7 0.08x
Flintshire 7 0.24x
Hertfordshire 7 0.09x
Angus 6 0.06x
Bedfordshire 6 0.11x
Cambridgeshire 5 0.07x
Cardiganshire 4 0.15x
East Lothian 4 0.27x
Roxburghshire 4 0.20x
Royal Navy 3 0.23x
West Lothian 3 0.18x
Channel Islands 2 0.06x
Clackmannanshire 2 0.22x
Herefordshire 2 0.04x
Oxfordshire 2 0.03x
Shropshire 2 0.02x
Stirlingshire 2 0.05x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.02x
Buteshire 1 0.15x
Fife 1 0.02x
Kirkcudbrightshire 1 0.06x
Montgomeryshire 1 0.04x
Pembrokeshire 1 0.03x
Ross-shire 1 0.03x
Rutland 1 0.12x
Selkirkshire 1 0.10x
Wiltshire 1 0.01x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Leeds in Yorkshire leads with 252 Blackburns recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.09x.

Place Total Index
Leeds 252 4.09x
Preston 206 5.89x
Great Little Marsden 187 31.23x
Trawden 144 176.08x
Dewsbury 139 12.42x
Liversedge 130 26.76x
Batley 118 11.38x
Wakefield 108 12.89x
Mirfield 104 17.36x
Bradford 99 3.75x
Blackburn 96 2.76x
Gomersal 87 17.08x
Manchester 87 1.48x
Cleckheaton 86 21.39x
Rothwell 84 38.10x
Chorley 80 10.91x
Halifax 79 4.93x
Little Bolton 79 4.70x
Almondbury 75 14.21x
Heckmondwike 75 21.36x
Huddersfield 74 4.65x
Hunslet 73 4.29x
Everton 70 1.68x
Sheffield 68 1.96x
Sculcoates 67 3.87x
West Derby 63 1.65x
Holbeck 62 8.57x
Oldham 61 1.45x
Horton In Bradford 60 3.52x
Barnsley 59 5.24x
Colne 59 15.15x
Holy Trinity 59 2.25x
Thornhill 59 18.53x
Salford 55 1.43x
Longwood 54 30.70x
Golcar 53 18.37x
Govan 52 0.59x
Hipperholme Cum 52 10.84x
Kirkdale 51 2.32x
Camberwell 49 0.70x
Burnley 47 4.27x
Gateshead 47 1.92x
Islington London 47 0.44x
Ripon 47 18.56x
Birmingham 46 0.50x
Wigan 46 2.52x
Great Bolton 45 2.60x
Lambeth 44 0.46x
Skircoat 44 10.22x
St Pancras London 42 0.47x
Abbey 41 3.15x
Stanley Cum Wrenthorpe 41 8.09x
Pudsey 40 6.86x
St Marylebone London 40 0.68x
Out Rawcliffe 39 125.24x
Rastrick 39 12.86x
Ramsgate 38 6.19x
Westoe 38 2.05x
Alverthorpe Cum Thornes 37 9.33x
Clitheroe 37 9.62x
Hackney London 37 0.60x
Newchurch 37 3.46x
Horsforth 36 15.04x
West Ham 36 0.75x
Kensington London 35 0.57x
Liverpool 35 0.44x
Wombwell 35 11.00x
Bootle Cum Linacre 34 3.28x
Habergham Eaves 34 2.85x
Chorlton On Medlock 33 1.59x
Old Buckenham 33 76.04x
Mile End Old Town London 32 1.37x
Newington 32 0.79x
North Meols 32 2.50x
Ossett Cum Gawthorpe 32 8.21x
Wortley In Bramley 32 3.70x
Armley 31 6.44x
Goole 31 16.95x
Headingley Cum Burley 31 4.41x
Stockton On Tees 31 1.96x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 829
Sarah 456
Elizabeth 429
Jane 289
Ann 260
Alice 197
Margaret 186
Hannah 175
Annie 174
Ellen 161
Emma 153
Eliza 144
Martha 139
Emily 85
Ada 72
Harriet 70
Edith 67
Maria 61
Isabella 59
Charlotte 49
Clara 48
Anne 45
Agnes 44
Lucy 43
Florence 40
Louisa 40
Catherine 36
Frances 36
Fanny 35
Caroline 30
Kate 30
Ruth 30
Susannah 29
Susan 27
Esther 26
Eleanor 24
Nancy 24
Gertrude 22
Betsy 21
Elizth. 20
Rebecca 20
Rose 20
Amy 19
Betty 19
Grace 18
Rachel 18
Amelia 17
Ethel 17
Lizzie 15
Sophia 15

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 744
William 634
Thomas 371
George 338
James 307
Joseph 285
Robert 183
Henry 180
Charles 159
Richard 144
Edward 114
Arthur 105
Walter 83
Alfred 78
Samuel 69
Albert 64
Fred 62
Harry 51
Wm. 51
Frederick 48
Herbert 48
Benjamin 37
David 37
Tom 35
Thos. 34
Edwin 33
Joe 26
Ernest 25
Peter 25
Frank 24
Sam 24
Francis 21
Chas. 19
Jno. 19
Joshua 19
Robt. 18
Willie 16
Geo. 15
Hartley 14
Percy 14
Isaac 13
Mark 13
Abraham 12
Christopher 12
Alexander 11
Jas. 9
Jesse 9
Matthew 9
Ralph 9
Stephen 9

FAQ

Blackburn surname: questions and answers

How common was the Blackburn surname in 1881?

In 1881, 11,287 people were recorded with the Blackburn surname. That placed it at #380 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Blackburn surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 13,427 in 2016. That gives Blackburn a modern rank of #478.

What does the Blackburn surname mean?

A locational surname referring to someone who lived by a dark or black stream.

What does the Blackburn map show?

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