NameCensus.

UK surname

Blacklaws

In the 1881 census there were 87 people recorded with the Blacklaws surname, ranking it #21,334 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 164, ranked #22,314, down from #21,334 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Kincardine O'Neil, Dunnotter and Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Montrose North, Newtonhill and Fylde.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Blacklaws is 178 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 88.5%.

1881 census count

87

Ranked #21,334

Modern count

164

2016, ranked #22,314

Peak year

1998

178 bearers

Map years

6

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Blacklaws had 87 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #21,334 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 164 in 2016, ranked #22,314.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 117 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities.

Blacklaws surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Blacklaws surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Blacklaws 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 82 #19,317
1861 historical 103 #20,650
1881 historical 87 #21,334
1891 historical 114 #22,006
1901 historical 117 #20,830
1911 historical 7 #33,083
1997 modern 177 #19,018
1998 modern 178 #19,452
1999 modern 172 #20,009
2000 modern 170 #20,120
2001 modern 164 #20,279
2002 modern 162 #20,839
2003 modern 156 #21,115
2004 modern 164 #20,609
2005 modern 165 #20,468
2006 modern 169 #20,294
2007 modern 164 #20,973
2008 modern 163 #21,238
2009 modern 170 #21,095
2010 modern 168 #21,733
2011 modern 164 #21,900
2012 modern 166 #21,683
2013 modern 164 #22,236
2014 modern 163 #22,547
2015 modern 163 #22,407
2016 modern 164 #22,314

Geography

Back to top

Where Blacklaws' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Kincardine O'Neil, Dunnotter, Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry, Brechin and Strachan. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Montrose North, Newtonhill, Fylde, Montrose South and Forfar Central. 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 Kincardine O'Neil Aberdeen
2 Dunnotter Kincardine
3 Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry Forfar
4 Brechin Forfar
5 Strachan Kincardine

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Montrose North Angus
2 Newtonhill Aberdeenshire
3 Fylde 002 Fylde
4 Montrose South Angus
5 Forfar Central Angus

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Blacklaws

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Blacklaws

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Blacklaws, 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 Blacklaws surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities, within Legacy Communities. This does not mean every Blacklaws 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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Blacklaws 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

Blacklaws 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

Blacklaws falls in decile 9 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.

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

1881 census detail

Back to top

Blacklaws families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Blacklaws 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. Kincardineshire leads with 30 Blacklaws' recorded in 1881 and an index of 290.42x.

County Total Index
Kincardineshire 30 290.42x
Angus 25 31.80x
Aberdeenshire 18 22.90x
Fife 10 19.90x
Yorkshire 4 0.48x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. St Cyrus in Kincardineshire leads with 15 Blacklaws' recorded in 1881 and an index of 3488.37x.

Place Total Index
St Cyrus 15 3488.37x
Montrose 13 273.11x
Forgan 10 1041.67x
Aberdeen St Nicholas 8 54.38x
Strachan 7 3500.00x
Aberlemno 5 1724.14x
Kincardine O Neil 5 892.86x
Halifax 4 32.39x
Banchory Ternan 3 337.08x
Aberdeen Old Machar 2 12.19x
Brechin 2 64.72x
Dundee 2 6.81x
Dunnottar 2 273.97x
Tarland 2 588.24x
Fettercairn 1 227.27x
Kingoldrum 1 909.09x
Kinneff Catterline 1 344.83x
Kinnettles 1 909.09x
Marykirk 1 232.56x
Skene 1 192.31x
Tannadice 1 270.27x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Catherine 1
Jane 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
James 1
Walter 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 Blacklaws households.

Occupation Count
Sergeant 1

FAQ

Blacklaws surname: questions and answers

How common was the Blacklaws surname in 1881?

In 1881, 87 people were recorded with the Blacklaws surname. That placed it at #21,334 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Blacklaws surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 164 in 2016. That gives Blacklaws a modern rank of #22,314.

What does the Blacklaws map show?

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