NameCensus.

UK surname

Blackhall

A locational surname derived from a place with a dark-colored hall or manor house.

In the 1881 census there were 538 people recorded with the Blackhall surname, ranking it #6,406 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 758, ranked #7,224, down from #6,406 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Coldingham, Edinburgh and Fraserburgh. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Dunecht, Durris and Drumoak, Northumberland and Cromar and Kildrummy.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Blackhall is 781 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 40.9%.

1881 census count

538

Ranked #6,406

Modern count

758

2016, ranked #7,224

Peak year

2010

781 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Blackhall had 538 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,406 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 758 in 2016, ranked #7,224.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 663 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Young Families in Industrial Towns.

Blackhall surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Blackhall surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Blackhall 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 405 #5,976
1861 historical 450 #5,752
1881 historical 538 #6,406
1891 historical 618 #6,247
1901 historical 663 #6,541
1911 historical 287 #11,784
1997 modern 672 #7,476
1998 modern 696 #7,505
1999 modern 701 #7,506
2000 modern 721 #7,339
2001 modern 694 #7,425
2002 modern 714 #7,400
2003 modern 691 #7,457
2004 modern 707 #7,337
2005 modern 715 #7,202
2006 modern 710 #7,273
2007 modern 720 #7,271
2008 modern 717 #7,349
2009 modern 739 #7,331
2010 modern 781 #7,160
2011 modern 746 #7,340
2012 modern 739 #7,312
2013 modern 754 #7,311
2014 modern 764 #7,253
2015 modern 755 #7,266
2016 modern 758 #7,224

Geography

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Where Blackhalls are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Coldingham, Edinburgh, Fraserburgh, Morpeth and St Matthew Bethnal Green. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Dunecht, Durris and Drumoak, Northumberland, Cromar and Kildrummy, Hambleton and Falkirk - Camelon West. 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 Coldingham Berwick
2 Edinburgh Edinburgh
3 Fraserburgh Aberdeen
4 Morpeth Northumberland
5 St Matthew Bethnal Green London (East Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Dunecht, Durris and Drumoak Aberdeenshire
2 Northumberland 001 Northumberland
3 Cromar and Kildrummy Aberdeenshire
4 Hambleton 008 Hambleton
5 Falkirk - Camelon West Falkirk

Forenames

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First names often paired with Blackhall

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Blackhall

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Young Families in Industrial Towns

Nationally, the Blackhall surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Young Families in Industrial Towns, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Blackhall household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods house predominantly young, UK-born individuals identifying with a White ethnic group with dependent children. Long-term disability and unpaid care are prevalent, and religious affiliations are uncommon. Housing is terraced or semi-detached and social rented sector housing is the norm. Unemployment is above the Supergroup average, and employment is principally in elementary occupations, as process plant and machine operatives, or in caring and leisure services. Educational attainment is low. The group is scattered throughout former industrial towns in the Midlands and the South Wales Valleys.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Blackhall is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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 concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Blackhall is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Blackhall falls in decile 10 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

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

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Blackhall

The surname Blackhall has its origins in England, dating back to the medieval period. It is a locational surname derived from various place names containing the elements "black" and "hall." The word "black" is believed to have referred to a dark or gloomy area, while "hall" typically denoted a manor house or a large residence.

One of the earliest records of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Blachala" in reference to a location in Somerset. This entry suggests that the name may have originated from a place called "Black Hall" or a similar variation.

During the 13th and 14th centuries, the surname emerged in various forms, such as Blakhall, Blakehall, and Blackhall. These variations likely reflect the different regional dialects and spelling conventions of the time.

Interestingly, the name Blackhall appears to have been associated with several notable individuals throughout history. In the 15th century, a certain John Blackhall (born around 1420) was mentioned in records as a prominent landowner in Lincolnshire. Another bearer of the name, William Blackhall (1540-1612), was a respected scholar and theologian who served as a chaplain to King James I.

In the 17th century, the Blackhall surname gained further recognition with the birth of Edmund Blackhall (1650-1723), an English clergyman and author who wrote several religious works. His contemporary, Thomas Blackhall (1670-1741), was a renowned mathematician and astronomer who contributed significantly to the field of celestial mechanics.

Moving into the 18th century, one of the most notable figures with the Blackhall surname was Sir John Blackhall (1711-1785), a British naval officer and explorer. He played a pivotal role in mapping the coasts of Newfoundland and Labrador, and his contributions were instrumental in the development of maritime navigation.

Throughout the centuries, the Blackhall name has been associated with various locations across England, including villages and parishes in counties such as Northumberland, Worcestershire, and Somerset. Some of these places, like Blackhall Colliery in County Durham, were named after the surname itself, reflecting the influence and presence of Blackhall families in those areas.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Blackhall families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Blackhall 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. Aberdeenshire leads with 85 Blackhalls recorded in 1881 and an index of 17.52x.

County Total Index
Aberdeenshire 85 17.52x
Middlesex 78 1.49x
Midlothian 61 8.69x
Northumberland 38 4.88x
Berwickshire 36 56.76x
Morayshire 36 44.23x
East Lothian 22 31.71x
Staffordshire 20 1.13x
Lanarkshire 19 1.12x
Sussex 19 2.15x
Essex 15 1.45x
Angus 14 2.88x
Banffshire 13 11.96x
Lancashire 13 0.21x
Fife 11 3.55x
Stirlingshire 11 5.69x
Berkshire 10 2.54x
Surrey 5 0.20x
Durham 4 0.26x
Warwickshire 4 0.30x
Inverness-shire 3 1.92x
Roxburghshire 3 3.16x
Selkirkshire 3 6.33x
Devon 2 0.18x
Hampshire 2 0.19x
Kent 2 0.11x
Kincardineshire 2 3.14x
Norfolk 1 0.12x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.14x
Oxfordshire 1 0.31x
Ross-shire 1 0.70x
Shetland 1 1.87x
Worcestershire 1 0.15x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bethnal Green London in Middlesex leads with 33 Blackhalls recorded in 1881 and an index of 14.50x.

Place Total Index
Bethnal Green London 33 14.50x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 30 10.63x
Fraserburgh 30 219.62x
Morpeth 23 251.09x
West Ham 15 6.57x
West Bromwich 13 12.84x
Echt 11 470.09x
Toxteth Park 11 5.23x
Aberdeen St Nicholas 10 11.02x
Dunse 10 166.11x
South Leith 10 12.66x
Brighton 9 5.05x
Farnell 9 810.81x
Berwick Upon Tweed 8 48.46x
Cookham 8 65.25x
Cramond 8 150.38x
Dunbar 8 82.22x
Elgin 8 50.54x
Keith 8 69.08x
Rye 8 95.35x
Towie 8 588.24x
Aberdeen Old Machar 7 6.91x
Barony 7 1.63x
Edinburgh Lady Yesters 7 144.03x
Edrom 7 257.35x
Falkirk 7 15.48x
Hackney London 7 2.38x
Urquhart 7 181.82x
Coldingham 6 105.26x
Glasgow 6 1.99x
Hume 6 821.92x
Islington London 6 1.18x
Lanark 6 44.02x
Oldhamstocks 6 588.24x
Speymouth 6 508.47x
Wemyss 6 45.73x
Chelsea London 5 3.17x
Rothes 5 125.94x
Skene 5 155.28x
Bow London 4 6.00x
Burton Upon Trent 4 9.67x
Chiswick 4 13.98x
Ealing 4 8.55x
Edinburgh Greenside S 4 157.48x
Fintray 4 216.22x
Gamrie 4 32.98x
Pittenweem 4 104.71x
Poplar London 4 4.05x
Shoreditch London 4 1.76x
St Andrews Lhanbryd 4 159.36x
Stirling 4 16.42x
Alford 3 113.64x
Bellie 3 81.52x
Haddington 3 29.30x
Harborne 3 5.29x
Heworth 3 9.77x
Inverness 3 7.62x
Leamington Priors 3 9.23x
Liff Benvie 3 4.07x
Mordington 3 454.55x
Bermondsey 2 1.28x
Berwick North 2 41.15x
Brechin 2 10.49x
Carham 2 99.01x
Crimond 2 134.23x
Eyemouth 2 37.81x
Gladsmuir 2 64.72x
Hawick 2 9.42x
Heston 2 11.49x
Kensington London 2 0.69x
Kincardine O Neil 2 57.80x
Selkirk 2 14.98x
Speen 2 31.10x
Tormoham 2 4.33x
Winchelsea St Thomas 2 181.82x
Boldon 1 17.99x
Chatton 1 41.84x
Dunnottar 1 22.27x
Lowick 1 36.90x
New Machar 1 36.63x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 10
Elizabeth 7
Alice 6
Jane 6
Isabella 5
Ann 4
Margaret 4
Charlotte 3
Eliza 3
Frances 3
Louisa 3
Rebecca 3
Sarah 3
Amy 2
Catherine 2
Clara 2
Ellena 2
Florence 2
Hannah 2
Kate 2
Martha 2
Rosetta 2
Sophia 2
Amelia 1
Anne 1
Annie 1
Caroline 1
E. 1
Edith 1
Eleanor 1
Eliz. 1
Elizia 1
Ellen 1
Emma 1
Euphenia 1
Grace 1
H. 1
Harriet 1
Helen 1
Hepzibah 1
Hester 1
Isa. 1
J. 1
Keziah 1
Laura 1
Lousia 1
Minnie 1
Rose 1
S. 1
S.V. 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
George 16
John 15
William 13
James 9
Thomas 6
Charles 4
Robert 4
Walter 4
Alexander 3
Frederick 3
Henry 3
Albert 2
Alfred 2
C. 2
Frank 2
Richard 2
Ruben 2
Wm.J. 2
Andrew 1
Benjamin 1
Edward 1
Ernest 1
Harry 1
M. 1
Paul 1
Samuel 1
Sharlton 1

FAQ

Blackhall surname: questions and answers

How common was the Blackhall surname in 1881?

In 1881, 538 people were recorded with the Blackhall surname. That placed it at #6,406 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Blackhall surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 758 in 2016. That gives Blackhall a modern rank of #7,224.

What does the Blackhall surname mean?

A locational surname derived from a place with a dark-colored hall or manor house.

What does the Blackhall map show?

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