NameCensus.

UK surname

Blacklaw

A locational surname likely from a place with dark-colored soil or a farmstead covered by dark foliage.

In the 1881 census there were 118 people recorded with the Blacklaw surname, ranking it #17,935 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 226, ranked #18,044, down from #17,935 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Traquair, Skirling and Dollar. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Biggar, Symington, Thankerton and Dolphinton, Forth, Braehead and Auchengray and Moodiesburn West.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Blacklaw is 232 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 91.5%.

1881 census count

118

Ranked #17,935

Modern count

226

2016, ranked #18,044

Peak year

2010

232 bearers

Map years

5

1881 to 2016

Key insights

  • Blacklaw had 118 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #17,935 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 226 in 2016, ranked #18,044.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 118 in 1881.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities.

Blacklaw surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Blacklaw surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Blacklaw 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 68 #21,302
1861 historical 79 #23,702
1881 historical 118 #17,935
1891 historical 95 #24,694
1901 historical 115 #21,050
1911 historical 14 #32,045
1997 modern 206 #17,315
1998 modern 205 #17,850
1999 modern 215 #17,425
2000 modern 206 #17,880
2001 modern 206 #17,624
2002 modern 208 #17,848
2003 modern 216 #17,229
2004 modern 206 #17,883
2005 modern 215 #17,334
2006 modern 214 #17,507
2007 modern 219 #17,425
2008 modern 224 #17,337
2009 modern 220 #17,911
2010 modern 232 #17,657
2011 modern 218 #18,206
2012 modern 210 #18,604
2013 modern 213 #18,743
2014 modern 223 #18,279
2015 modern 220 #18,346
2016 modern 226 #18,044

Geography

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Where Blacklaws are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Traquair, Skirling, Dollar, Torosay and Kinlochspervie and Edinburgh. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Biggar, Symington, Thankerton and Dolphinton, Forth, Braehead and Auchengray, Moodiesburn West, Ythsie and Stobswell. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Traquair Peebles
2 Skirling Peebles
3 Dollar Clackmannan
4 Torosay and Kinlochspervie Argyll
5 Edinburgh Edinburgh

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Biggar, Symington, Thankerton and Dolphinton South Lanarkshire
2 Forth, Braehead and Auchengray South Lanarkshire
3 Moodiesburn West North Lanarkshire
4 Ythsie Aberdeenshire
5 Stobswell Dundee City

Forenames

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First names often paired with Blacklaw

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Blacklaw

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

Legacy Communities

Group

Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities

Nationally, the Blacklaw surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities, within Legacy Communities. This does not mean every Blacklaw household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Households in these areas often include divorced or separated parents and commonly include children and young adults. The age structure is heavily skewed towards the most advanced age groups. Individuals identifying as members of ethnic minorities are not present in large numbers. Flats predominate, with some terraced, semi-detached, and detached units. Multiple car ownership is low, and housing is predominantly in the private and social rented sectors. Employment is less skewed towards traditional routine industrial occupations. Levels of educational attainment are generally low. The Group occurs principally in the Central Lowlands of Scotland and other Scottish towns.

Wider pattern

These neighbourhoods characteristically comprise pockets of flats that are scattered across the UK, particularly in towns that retain or have legacies of heavy industry or are in more remote seaside locations. Employed residents of these neighbourhoods work mainly in low-skilled occupations. Residents typically have limited educational qualifications. Unemployment is above average. Some residents live in overcrowded housing within the social rented sector and experience long-term disability. All adult age groups are represented, although there is an overall age bias towards elderly people in general and the very old in particular. Individuals identifying as belonging to ethnic minorities or Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups are uncommon.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Blacklaw is most associated with areas classed as Settled Semi-Detached Asians, part of Suburban Asian Communities. 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 residents share Supergroup characteristics of large (non-Chinese) Asian populations but those identifying as Bangladeshi are notably absent. Many residents were born in the UK, while other more recent migrants have African birthplaces. Semi-detached housing, much of it owner occupied, prevails in these suburban residential locations.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Blacklaw 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

Blacklaw 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 Blacklaw is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 25-30 mbit/s.

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

5
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Blacklaw

The surname Blacklaw has its origins in Scotland, dating back to the 12th century. It is believed to have originated from the Old English word "blæc," meaning "black," and the Scots word "law," referring to a hill or mound. This suggests that the name may have been initially given to someone who lived near a dark-colored hill or mound.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, a historical document containing the names of Scottish landowners who swore allegiance to King Edward I of England. The name is listed as "Blaklau," indicating its ancient roots and variations in spelling.

In the 14th century, the Blacklaw family held lands in the Scottish Borders region, particularly in the areas of Berwickshire and Roxburghshire. Historical records from this period mention individuals such as John Blacklaw, who was a prominent landowner in Berwickshire around 1380.

During the 16th century, the Blacklaw name appeared in various legal and church documents, including the Register of the Great Seal of Scotland. One notable figure was Robert Blacklaw, who served as the Bishop of Glasgow from 1492 to 1508. He played a significant role in the ecclesiastical affairs of Scotland during his tenure.

In the 17th century, the Blacklaw family had a strong presence in the Scottish Lowlands. Sir James Blacklaw, born in 1620, was a respected lawyer and judge who served as a Lord of Session in the Court of Session, the highest civil court in Scotland.

Another prominent figure with the Blacklaw surname was Thomas Blacklaw, a Scottish mathematician and astronomer born in 1671. He made notable contributions to the field of astronomy and served as the Professor of Mathematics at Marischal College, Aberdeen.

Throughout the 18th and 19th centuries, the Blacklaw name continued to be found in various parts of Scotland, with some members of the family migrating to other parts of the British Isles and beyond. One example is William Blacklaw, born in 1807, who became a prominent merchant and philanthropist in Edinburgh, Scotland.

While the Blacklaw surname is not as common today as some other Scottish surnames, it remains a part of Scotland's rich historical and cultural heritage, with its roots tracing back to the medieval era and the Scottish Borders region.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Blacklaw families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Blacklaw 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. Midlothian leads with 37 Blacklaws recorded in 1881 and an index of 25.98x.

County Total Index
Midlothian 37 25.98x
Angus 13 13.20x
Clackmannanshire 11 125.28x
Aberdeenshire 10 10.16x
Peeblesshire 8 160.00x
Perthshire 8 16.77x
Lanarkshire 5 1.45x
Middlesex 5 0.47x
Flintshire 2 7.00x
Lancashire 2 0.16x
Warwickshire 2 0.75x
Durham 1 0.32x
East Lothian 1 7.10x
Glamorgan 1 0.54x
Kincardineshire 1 7.72x
Royal Navy 1 7.89x
Worcestershire 1 0.72x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Edinburgh St Cuthberts in Midlothian leads with 26 Blacklaws recorded in 1881 and an index of 45.38x.

Place Total Index
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 26 45.38x
Dollar 11 1208.79x
Dundee 9 24.48x
Traquair 7 2500.00x
Newton 6 1250.00x
Aberdeen St Nicholas 5 27.14x
Alyth 5 390.63x
Biggar 5 641.03x
Stoke Newington London 4 48.31x
Aberdeen Old Machar 3 14.59x
Edinburgh New 3 270.27x
Birmingham 2 2.24x
Forfar 2 37.52x
Hope 2 140.85x
Kinnoull 2 160.00x
Auchtergaven 1 125.00x
Banchory Ternan 1 89.29x
Cardiff St Mary 1 9.80x
Cortachy 1 833.33x
Daviot 1 526.32x
Dudley 1 5.92x
Edinburgh Canongate 1 27.62x
Gateshead 1 4.22x
Haddington 1 48.08x
Keithhall 1 312.50x
Lasswade 1 30.67x
Liverpool 1 1.31x
Monifieth 1 28.74x
Skirling 1 1000.00x
St Mary Le Strand London 1 256.41x
West Derby 1 2.71x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Agnes 1
Clara 1
Elizabeth 1
Emma 1
Helen 1
Hellen 1
Kate 1
Sarah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Henry 2
David 1
J. 1
Robert 1
William 1

Top occupations

Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Blacklaw households.

FAQ

Blacklaw surname: questions and answers

How common was the Blacklaw surname in 1881?

In 1881, 118 people were recorded with the Blacklaw surname. That placed it at #17,935 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Blacklaw surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 226 in 2016. That gives Blacklaw a modern rank of #18,044.

What does the Blacklaw surname mean?

A locational surname likely from a place with dark-colored soil or a farmstead covered by dark foliage.

What does the Blacklaw map show?

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