NameCensus.

UK surname

Blackham

An English locational surname referring to a person from Blackham in Sussex.

In the 1881 census there were 717 people recorded with the Blackham surname, ranking it #5,079 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,074, ranked #5,440, down from #5,079 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Wolverhampton, Sedgley and Duffield. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Doncaster, Wolverhampton and Tameside.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Blackham is 1,243 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 49.8%.

1881 census count

717

Ranked #5,079

Modern count

1,074

2016, ranked #5,440

Peak year

1861

1,243 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Blackham had 717 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,079 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,074 in 2016, ranked #5,440.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,243 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Blackham surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Blackham surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Blackham 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 524 #4,784
1861 historical 1,243 #2,293
1881 historical 717 #5,079
1891 historical 1,014 #4,099
1901 historical 992 #4,799
1911 historical 1,005 #4,528
1997 modern 1,042 #5,306
1998 modern 1,090 #5,301
1999 modern 1,086 #5,342
2000 modern 1,082 #5,333
2001 modern 1,057 #5,337
2002 modern 1,123 #5,202
2003 modern 1,108 #5,151
2004 modern 1,088 #5,235
2005 modern 1,068 #5,262
2006 modern 1,063 #5,279
2007 modern 1,071 #5,297
2008 modern 1,060 #5,378
2009 modern 1,084 #5,384
2010 modern 1,096 #5,456
2011 modern 1,096 #5,389
2012 modern 1,075 #5,391
2013 modern 1,085 #5,437
2014 modern 1,095 #5,415
2015 modern 1,078 #5,440
2016 modern 1,074 #5,440

Geography

Back to top

Where Blackhams are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Wolverhampton, Sedgley, Duffield, Birmingham Town: Birmingham and Birmingham Town: Aston. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Doncaster, Wolverhampton, Tameside and Barnsley. 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 Sedgley Staffordshire
3 Duffield Derbyshire
4 Birmingham Town: Birmingham Warwickshire
5 Birmingham Town: Aston Warwickshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Doncaster 001 Doncaster
2 Wolverhampton 035 Wolverhampton
3 Tameside 023 Tameside
4 Wolverhampton 033 Wolverhampton
5 Barnsley 008 Barnsley

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Blackham

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Blackham

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

Baseline UK

Group

Challenged Communities

Nationally, the Blackham surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Blackham household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Residents of these neighbourhoods typically live in households with dependent children, and there are fewer-than-average residents of normal retirement age or over. Identification with ethnic minorities, particularly Black, or Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is common. The rate of Christian religious affiliation is low. Housing predominantly consists of semi-detached houses, along with a significant number of terraced properties and flats. Overcrowded social housing is common, and private renting occurs at average UK levels. Those in employment work mainly in caring leisure and other services; process, plant and machine operation; or elementary occupations. Unemployment is high, and few individuals have degree level qualifications. Many of these neighbourhoods occur in commuter towns or less accessible areas of larger towns and cities.

Wider pattern

This Supergroup exemplifies the broad base to the UK’s social structure, encompassing as it does the average or modal levels of many neighbourhood characteristics, including all housing tenures, a range of levels of educational attainment and religious affiliations, and a variety of pre-retirement age structures. Yet, in combination, these mixes are each distinctive of the parts of the UK. Overall, terraced houses and flats are the most prevalent, as is employment in intermediate or low-skilled occupations. However, this Supergroup is also characterised by above average levels of unemployment and lower levels of use of English as the main language. Many neighbourhoods occur in south London and the UK’s other major urban centres.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Blackham 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

Blackham is most concentrated in decile 9 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.

9
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Blackham 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 Blackham is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Blackham

The surname Blackham traces its origins to the British Isles, specifically England. It is believed to have emerged during the medieval period, around the 12th or 13th century. The name is derived from an Old English or Anglo-Saxon phrase that refers to a hamlet or small village located near a dark or black area, such as a forest or moor.

Historically, the name Blackham has been recorded in various spellings, including Blakeham, Blakham, and Blackam. These variations were common due to the lack of standardized spelling conventions in earlier times. The name's connection to place names is evident, with several villages and hamlets in England bearing similar names, such as Blackham in East Sussex and Blackham Moor in West Yorkshire.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Blackham surname can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which documented landholdings and settlements in England after the Norman Conquest. The entry mentions a place named "Blacheham" in Surrey, which may have been the origin of the surname for some families.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the surname Blackham. One example is Robert Blackham, a 16th-century English clergyman and author who served as the Bishop of Gloucester from 1554 to 1559. Another is John Blackham (1712-1786), a British naval officer who participated in several battles during the Seven Years' War.

In the 18th century, the Blackham family had a presence in Yorkshire, England. Thomas Blackham (1766-1827) was a Yorkshire-born writer and poet who published works on various subjects, including history and theology. Around the same time, Samuel Blackham (1765-1838) was a prominent Anglican clergyman and author who served as the Archdeacon of Norfolk.

Moving into the 19th century, one notable individual with the Blackham surname was James Blackham (1821-1898), a British architect who designed several churches and public buildings in London and the surrounding areas. His works include St. Andrew's Church in Holborn and the former Hackney Town Hall.

Throughout its history, the surname Blackham has maintained a strong connection to its English roots and the places from which it originated. While the name has spread to other parts of the world, its origins can be traced back to the medieval period in Britain and the settlements and hamlets that bore similar names.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Blackham families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Blackham 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 303 Blackhams recorded in 1881 and an index of 12.82x.

County Total Index
Staffordshire 303 12.82x
Warwickshire 101 5.72x
Derbyshire 93 8.48x
Middlesex 62 0.89x
Lancashire 42 0.51x
Yorkshire 19 0.27x
Surrey 18 0.53x
Worcestershire 17 1.86x
Buckinghamshire 8 1.89x
Essex 8 0.58x
Norfolk 8 0.74x
Cheshire 7 0.45x
Leicestershire 7 0.90x
Lincolnshire 7 0.63x
Kent 5 0.21x
Cumberland 3 0.50x
Northamptonshire 2 0.30x
Berkshire 1 0.19x
Fife 1 0.24x
Hampshire 1 0.07x
Midlothian 1 0.11x
Monmouthshire 1 0.20x
Northumberland 1 0.10x
Ross-shire 1 0.52x
Wiltshire 1 0.16x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Sedgley in Staffordshire leads with 73 Blackhams recorded in 1881 and an index of 83.13x.

Place Total Index
Sedgley 73 83.13x
West Bromwich 69 50.98x
Birmingham 59 10.02x
Belper 42 197.55x
Wolverhampton 42 23.10x
Aston 36 7.40x
Tipton 21 29.01x
Heage 17 293.10x
Handsworth 15 25.74x
Darlaston 14 42.85x
Kirkdale 14 10.01x
Harborne 13 17.16x
Whittington 12 79.10x
Smallthorne 11 125.43x
Camberwell 10 2.24x
Edmonton 10 17.72x
Wednesbury 10 16.93x
Kensington London 9 2.31x
Salford 9 3.68x
Shoreditch London 9 2.96x
Cannock 8 19.39x
Kings Norton 8 9.75x
Tettenhall 8 55.36x
Upton Cum Chalvey 8 47.42x
Chelsea London 7 3.32x
Duffield 7 81.02x
Lambeth 7 1.15x
St Pancras London 7 1.24x
West Ham 7 2.29x
Willenhall 7 15.81x
Wirksworth 6 60.18x
Boston 5 14.71x
Burton Upon Trent 5 9.04x
Sandbach 5 37.91x
St Giles In Fields London 5 14.55x
Tottenham 5 4.48x
Yardley 5 21.37x
Chorlton On Medlock 4 3.03x
Heckmondwike 4 17.92x
Islington London 4 0.59x
Leicester St Margaret 4 2.11x
Matlock 4 27.17x
Rotherham 4 10.22x
Brightside Bierlow 3 2.20x
Dartford 3 12.28x
Dudley 3 2.70x
Ellenborough Ewanrigg 3 71.77x
Headingley Cum Burley 3 6.71x
Leeds 3 0.77x
Norwich St Michael At 3 48.00x
Openshaw 3 7.71x
St Marylebone London 3 0.80x
Stoke Upon Trent 3 1.20x
Toxteth Park 3 1.07x
Trowse Cum Newton 3 112.78x
Broughton In Salford 2 2.63x
Coleby West Halton 2 333.33x
Felmingham 2 210.53x
Fillongley 2 79.37x
Loughborough 2 5.68x
Ockbrook 2 42.92x
Peterborough 2 4.19x
Skelton In Guisbrough 2 10.66x
Sutton Coldfield 2 10.77x
Wednesfield 2 5.75x
Wigan 2 1.72x
Aldershot 1 2.08x
Chingford 1 30.03x
Christchurch 1 6.39x
Devizes St Mary 1 15.97x
Hackney London 1 0.25x
Liverpool 1 0.20x
Lochbroom 1 9.96x
Minster In Sheppey 1 2.53x
Muggington 1 212.77x
Newcastle On Tyne 1 89.29x
Unstone 1 23.20x
Walmer 1 9.62x
Westminster St John 1 1.17x
Whitechapel London 1 1.45x

Top female names

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

Name Count
John 51
William 50
Joseph 34
Thomas 25
George 21
Henry 19
James 12
Arthur 11
Benjamin 10
Edward 9
Richard 7
Alfred 6
Frederick 6
Ambrose 5
Charles 5
Harry 5
Robert 5
Samuel 5
Albert 4
Eli 4
Walter 4
Francis 3
Frank 3
Isaac 3
Job 3
Thos. 3
Daniel 2
Ernest 2
Herbert 2
Levi 2
Mortimer 2
Oliver 2
Rueben 2
Wm. 2
Abel 1
Anne 1
Annie 1
Ely 1
Frederic 1
Geo. 1
Harold 1
Jane 1
Jas.M. 1
Jonathan 1
Joshua 1
Josiah 1
Lionel 1
Louis 1
Malcolm 1
Matthias 1

FAQ

Blackham surname: questions and answers

How common was the Blackham surname in 1881?

In 1881, 717 people were recorded with the Blackham surname. That placed it at #5,079 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Blackham surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,074 in 2016. That gives Blackham a modern rank of #5,440.

What does the Blackham surname mean?

An English locational surname referring to a person from Blackham in Sussex.

What does the Blackham map show?

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