NameCensus.

UK surname

Blackhurst

A habitational or locational surname referring to a person from a location with a dark wooded area.

In the 1881 census there were 526 people recorded with the Blackhurst surname, ranking it #6,513 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 948, ranked #6,053, up from #6,513 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Great Budworth (Hulse, Birches Lach Dennis), Davenham (Shurlach, Rudheath, Newhall), Middlewich (Stu, Wolstanton and Preston. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Stockport, Huntingdonshire and Shropshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Blackhurst is 968 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 80.2%.

1881 census count

526

Ranked #6,513

Modern count

948

2016, ranked #6,053

Peak year

2014

968 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Blackhurst had 526 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,513 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 948 in 2016, ranked #6,053.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 831 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Young Families in Industrial Towns.

Blackhurst surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Blackhurst surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Blackhurst 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 354 #6,678
1861 historical 457 #5,681
1881 historical 526 #6,513
1891 historical 638 #6,075
1901 historical 788 #5,711
1911 historical 831 #5,313
1997 modern 850 #6,239
1998 modern 895 #6,186
1999 modern 929 #6,054
2000 modern 917 #6,095
2001 modern 903 #6,068
2002 modern 910 #6,149
2003 modern 898 #6,099
2004 modern 906 #6,067
2005 modern 877 #6,139
2006 modern 892 #6,090
2007 modern 892 #6,127
2008 modern 918 #6,047
2009 modern 944 #6,027
2010 modern 956 #6,097
2011 modern 931 #6,167
2012 modern 930 #6,093
2013 modern 938 #6,156
2014 modern 968 #6,028
2015 modern 958 #6,024
2016 modern 948 #6,053

Geography

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Where Blackhursts are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Great Budworth (Hulse, Birches Lach Dennis), Davenham (Shurlach, Rudheath, Newhall), Middlewich (Stu, Wolstanton, Preston, Liverpool and Glasgow. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Stockport, Huntingdonshire, Shropshire, South Ribble and Tameside. 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 Great Budworth (Hulse, Birches Lach Dennis), Davenham (Shurlach, Rudheath, Newhall), Middlewich (Stu Cheshire
2 Wolstanton Staffordshire
3 Preston Lancashire
4 Liverpool Lancashire
5 Glasgow Lanark

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Stockport 010 Stockport
2 Huntingdonshire 005 Huntingdonshire
3 Shropshire 001 Shropshire
4 South Ribble 011 South Ribble
5 Tameside 019 Tameside

Forenames

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First names often paired with Blackhurst

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Blackhurst

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Blackhurst, 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 Blackhurst surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Young Families in Industrial Towns, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Blackhurst 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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Blackhurst is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Blackhurst 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

Blackhurst 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 Blackhurst 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 Blackhurst, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Blackhurst

The surname Blackhurst has its origins in England, dating back to the medieval period. It is a locational name derived from the Old English words "blæc" meaning black and "hyrst" meaning a wooded hill or grove. This suggests that the name originally referred to someone who lived near a dark or densely forested area.

The earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in various historical documents from the 13th and 14th centuries. One notable mention is in the Subsidy Rolls of Yorkshire from 1297, which lists a Richard de Blakhurst. Additionally, the Placita de Quo Warranto from 1292 mentions a Thomas de Blakhurst.

During the 16th century, the name appeared in various spellings such as Blackhirst, Blackhirst, and Blackhyrst, reflecting the regional variations in pronunciation and spelling at the time. One example is John Blackhyrst, who was recorded in the Parish Registers of Cumbria in 1568.

In the 17th century, the name Blackhurst began to take on its more modern spelling. One notable figure from this era was William Blackhurst, a prominent merchant and landowner in Lancashire, who lived from 1625 to 1698.

The 18th century saw the rise of several notable individuals bearing the Blackhurst name. Richard Blackhurst (1723-1801) was a renowned clock and watchmaker from Wigan, whose timepieces were highly sought after. Another notable figure was John Blackhurst (1747-1819), a successful businessman and philanthropist from Manchester.

In the 19th century, the name continued to be represented across various fields. James Blackhurst (1819-1892) was a prominent politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Huddersfield, while Thomas Blackhurst (1842-1912) was a highly regarded architect known for his work in the Gothic Revival style.

Throughout its history, the name Blackhurst has been associated with various locations in England, particularly in the counties of Lancashire, Yorkshire, and Cheshire, where it was most prevalent. However, as families migrated and spread across the country and beyond, the name can now be found in many regions.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Blackhurst families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Blackhurst 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. Lancashire leads with 210 Blackhursts recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.46x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 210 3.46x
Cheshire 112 9.93x
Staffordshire 74 4.29x
Middlesex 37 0.72x
Lanarkshire 29 1.75x
Warwickshire 16 1.24x
Yorkshire 9 0.18x
Durham 7 0.46x
Essex 7 0.69x
Herefordshire 5 2.39x
Shropshire 5 1.13x
Nottinghamshire 4 0.58x
Norfolk 2 0.25x
Northumberland 2 0.26x
Devon 1 0.09x
Flintshire 1 0.73x
Hampshire 1 0.10x
Kent 1 0.06x
Surrey 1 0.04x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Wolstanton in Staffordshire leads with 35 Blackhursts recorded in 1881 and an index of 66.79x.

Place Total Index
Wolstanton 35 66.79x
Preston 28 17.25x
Barony 22 5.26x
Rudheath 18 2022.47x
Everton 17 8.79x
Liverpool 15 4.07x
Bethnal Green London 14 6.30x
Kirkby 14 571.43x
Burslem 13 26.30x
Aston 12 3.38x
Litherland 12 94.64x
Ormskirk 12 103.36x
Brereton Cum Smethwick 11 1028.04x
Buglawton 11 404.41x
Siddington 10 1408.45x
Shoreditch London 9 4.06x
Leyland 8 75.83x
Oldham 8 4.09x
Stone 8 36.25x
Burland 7 608.70x
Grimsargh With 7 1076.92x
Hurdsfield 7 100.86x
Latchford 7 93.33x
Longton 7 274.51x
Salford 7 3.92x
Southwick 7 48.61x
West Ham 7 3.14x
Bispham With Norbreck 6 472.44x
Bow London 6 9.22x
Great Crosby 6 36.28x
Hutton 6 882.35x
Orell Ford 6 540.54x
Wolstanton Chatterly 6 338.98x
Adderley 5 657.89x
Broughton In Salford 5 9.02x
Govan 5 1.22x
Great Bolton 5 6.22x
Hereford St Owen 5 72.25x
Odd Rode 5 89.45x
Ulnes Walton 5 735.29x
Harborne 4 7.23x
Hartford 4 156.86x
Macclesfield 4 7.98x
Monks Coppenhall 4 9.39x
Nether Hallam 4 5.84x
Newhall In Nantwich 4 320.00x
Nottingham Standard 4 227.27x
Ribby With Wray 4 571.43x
Toxteth Park 4 1.95x
Worsley 4 10.70x
Birmingham 3 0.70x
Lunt 3 1666.67x
Manchester 3 1.10x
Mile End Old Town London 3 2.76x
Over 3 26.16x
St Luke London 3 3.66x
Burscough 2 215.05x
Dodcott Cum Wilkesley 2 173.91x
Farnworth 2 5.50x
Fulwood 2 30.53x
Hinderwell 2 46.30x
Lakenham 2 17.91x
Leek Lowe 2 8.71x
Middlewich 2 86.21x
Pelsall 2 38.99x
Pendleton In Salford 2 2.77x
Weaverham Cum Milton 2 67.11x
West Derby 2 1.13x
Weston In Nantwich 2 219.78x
Acton In Nantwich 1 222.22x
Cheadle 1 4.64x
Devonport 1 8.18x
Glasgow 1 0.34x
Keele 1 54.64x
Middlesbrough 1 1.52x
Newchurch 1 2.02x
Portsea 1 0.49x
Shurlach 1 322.58x
Thornton In Sefton 1 208.33x
Windle 1 2.93x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 47
Elizabeth 19
Sarah 17
Margaret 16
Ellen 10
Jane 10
Annie 9
Alice 8
Ann 8
Emma 7
Emily 6
Martha 5
Agnes 3
Edith 3
Eliza 3
Hannah 3
Isabella 3
Julia 3
Amelia 2
Anne 2
Betsy 2
Caroline 2
Catherine 2
Charlotte 2
Clara 2
Gertrude 2
Harriet 2
Harriett 2
Kate 2
Rhoda 2
Anna 1
Christiana 1
Dorathy 1
Dorothy 1
Eleanor 1
Elizth. 1
Ellafenda 1
Elln 1
Esther 1
Florence 1
Frances 1
Janet 1
Katherine 1
Lilley 1
Lucy 1
Lydia 1
Margretta 1
Margt.H. 1
Maria 1
William 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 33
James 29
William 28
Henry 20
Thomas 18
George 15
Joseph 10
Robert 9
Frederick 8
Samuel 8
Isaac 6
Richard 5
Harry 4
Albert 3
Alfred 3
Arthur 3
Charles 3
David 3
Frank 3
Joshua 3
Abraham 2
Edward 2
Peter 2
Septimus 2
Thos. 2
Thurston 2
Walter 2
Wm. 2
Alexander 1
Alferd 1
Clement 1
Daniel 1
Ernest 1
Francis 1
Fred 1
Fredrick 1
Herbert 1
Infant 1
Jabez 1
Mary 1
Percival 1
Percy 1
Ralph 1
Rd. 1
Reginald 1
Stephen 1
Timothy 1
W.H. 1
Washington 1
Wesley 1

FAQ

Blackhurst surname: questions and answers

How common was the Blackhurst surname in 1881?

In 1881, 526 people were recorded with the Blackhurst surname. That placed it at #6,513 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Blackhurst surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 948 in 2016. That gives Blackhurst a modern rank of #6,053.

What does the Blackhurst surname mean?

A habitational or locational surname referring to a person from a location with a dark wooded area.

What does the Blackhurst map show?

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