NameCensus.

UK surname

Blacklock

A surname relating to a person with dark hair or complexion.

In the 1881 census there were 1,271 people recorded with the Blacklock surname, ranking it #3,206 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,463, ranked #4,208, down from #3,206 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Kelton, Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside and Houghton-le-Spring (West Rainton), Pittington (Pittington). In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include North Tyneside, Allerdale and St Boswells and Newtown Area.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Blacklock is 1,518 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 15.1%.

1881 census count

1,271

Ranked #3,206

Modern count

1,463

2016, ranked #4,208

Peak year

2014

1,518 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Blacklock had 1,271 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,206 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,463 in 2016, ranked #4,208.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,372 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Blacklock surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Blacklock surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Blacklock 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 845 #3,218
1861 historical 922 #3,010
1881 historical 1,271 #3,206
1891 historical 1,320 #3,293
1901 historical 1,372 #3,663
1911 historical 1,153 #4,051
1997 modern 1,387 #4,165
1998 modern 1,461 #4,142
1999 modern 1,483 #4,124
2000 modern 1,457 #4,161
2001 modern 1,438 #4,121
2002 modern 1,474 #4,123
2003 modern 1,431 #4,150
2004 modern 1,447 #4,120
2005 modern 1,415 #4,157
2006 modern 1,420 #4,146
2007 modern 1,451 #4,111
2008 modern 1,446 #4,149
2009 modern 1,467 #4,187
2010 modern 1,494 #4,196
2011 modern 1,460 #4,224
2012 modern 1,447 #4,202
2013 modern 1,478 #4,200
2014 modern 1,518 #4,137
2015 modern 1,500 #4,142
2016 modern 1,463 #4,208

Geography

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Where Blacklocks are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Kelton, Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Houghton-le-Spring (West Rainton), Pittington (Pittington), Gateshead and Tynemouth (Chirton, Preston, Murton, Whitley, Monkseaton), Earsdon (Earsdon). These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to North Tyneside, Allerdale, St Boswells and Newtown Area and Copeland. 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 Kelton Kirkcudbright
2 Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside Durham
3 Houghton-le-Spring (West Rainton), Pittington (Pittington) Durham
4 Gateshead Durham
5 Tynemouth (Chirton, Preston, Murton, Whitley, Monkseaton), Earsdon (Earsdon) Northumberland

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 North Tyneside 023 North Tyneside
2 Allerdale 011 Allerdale
3 St Boswells and Newtown Area Scottish Borders
4 Allerdale 001 Allerdale
5 Copeland 005 Copeland

Forenames

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First names often paired with Blacklock

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Blacklock

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

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Ageing Communities

Nationally, the Blacklock surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Blacklock household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Blacklock is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Blacklock 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

Blacklock falls in decile 3 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.

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Blacklock

The surname Blacklock is of Scottish origin and emerged during the late medieval period. It is a locational name derived from a place called Blacklock, located near the village of Carsphairn in the Glenkens area of Kirkcudbrightshire. The name is believed to be a combination of the Scots words "blak," meaning black, and "lock," referring to a small body of water or a lake.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname can be found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, which list those who swore fealty to King Edward I of England after his invasion of Scotland. The entry "William de Blaclokkis" from Dumfriesshire is likely an early variation of the Blacklock name.

In the 16th century, a notable bearer of the name was John Blacklock, a Scottish clergyman who served as the minister of Stonykirk Parish in Wigtownshire from 1567 to 1584.

During the 17th century, the Blacklock family had a strong presence in the Scottish Borders region. One prominent member was Robert Blacklock (1620-1691), a landowner and farmer in the parish of Cavers, Roxburghshire.

The 18th century saw the birth of one of the most famous individuals with this surname, Thomas Blacklock (1721-1791). He was a Scottish poet and minister who was blind from a young age but became known for his works, including the poem "Paraclesis; or, Consolations deduced from Natural and Moral Subjects."

Another notable bearer of the name was Joseph Blacklock (1786-1858), a Scottish landscape painter who was particularly renowned for his depictions of the Scottish Highlands.

In the 19th century, James Blacklock (1812-1871) was a Scottish engraver and illustrator who produced numerous works for publications such as the Illustrated London News.

The Blacklock surname has also been found in other parts of the United Kingdom, such as England and Ireland, likely due to migration from Scotland over the centuries. However, its origins can be traced back to the Scottish region of Kirkcudbrightshire.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Blacklock families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Blacklock 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. Durham leads with 287 Blacklocks recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.77x.

County Total Index
Durham 287 7.77x
Cumberland 148 13.85x
Dumfriesshire 139 50.71x
Lancashire 118 0.80x
Northumberland 110 5.96x
Kirkcudbrightshire 72 40.08x
Middlesex 55 0.44x
Yorkshire 41 0.33x
Midlothian 30 1.80x
Lanarkshire 28 0.70x
Argyllshire 24 6.95x
Roxburghshire 18 8.01x
Surrey 17 0.28x
Essex 16 0.65x
Kent 15 0.35x
Perthshire 13 2.33x
Derbyshire 12 0.62x
Cheshire 11 0.40x
Gloucestershire 11 0.45x
Hampshire 11 0.43x
Selkirkshire 11 9.80x
Staffordshire 9 0.21x
Angus 8 0.70x
Sussex 8 0.38x
Herefordshire 7 1.38x
Warwickshire 7 0.22x
Berwickshire 6 3.99x
Westmorland 6 2.20x
Devon 5 0.19x
Oxfordshire 5 0.65x
Lincolnshire 4 0.20x
Banffshire 3 1.17x
Cambridgeshire 3 0.38x
Dorset 2 0.25x
Fife 2 0.27x
Renfrewshire 2 0.21x
Wigtownshire 2 1.21x
Worcestershire 2 0.12x
Ayrshire 1 0.11x
Caernarfonshire 1 0.20x
East Lothian 1 0.61x
Norfolk 1 0.05x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bishopwearmouth in Durham leads with 35 Blacklocks recorded in 1881 and an index of 11.05x.

Place Total Index
Bishopwearmouth 35 11.05x
Kelton 31 210.03x
Westoe 31 14.81x
Pittington 28 269.75x
Birtley 21 139.35x
Dumfries 19 70.27x
Monkwearmouth Shore 18 24.98x
Middlebie 16 194.65x
Dryfesdale 15 118.76x
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 15 13.60x
St Cuthbert W O 15 28.81x
Allhallows 14 445.86x
St Pancras London 14 1.40x
Alston 13 66.02x
Everton 13 2.77x
Langholm 13 65.99x
Broughton In Salford 12 8.91x
Byker 12 13.15x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 12 1.79x
Hutton 12 346.82x
Johnstone 12 281.03x
Kensington London 12 1.74x
Kirkdale 12 4.84x
Troqueer 12 50.93x
Darlington 11 7.72x
St Marylebone London 11 1.66x
Stockton On Tees 11 6.18x
West Derby 11 2.55x
Westgate 11 9.62x
Battersea 10 2.19x
Caldewgate 10 17.09x
Gateshead 10 3.62x
Govan 10 1.01x
Holme East Waver 10 520.83x
Southwick 10 28.60x
Barrow In Furness 9 4.49x
Crosscanonby 9 25.47x
Edinburgh Canongate 9 21.28x
Gretna 9 174.42x
Hawick 9 17.89x
Kirkoswald 9 358.57x
Lismore Appin 9 78.33x
Lochmaben 9 74.94x
Low Bolton 9 330.88x
Middlesbrough 9 5.62x
Newabbey 9 234.38x
North Shields 9 24.43x
Swanscombe 9 47.32x
Walthamstow 9 10.21x
Brawby 8 1081.08x
Bristol St James St Paul 8 9.86x
Castleton 8 82.90x
Chirton 8 19.15x
Harrington 8 62.02x
Hedley Woodside 8 421.05x
Kilfinichen 8 93.57x
Penrith 8 20.27x
Tunstall 8 43.53x
Ulverston 8 18.65x
Urr 8 34.25x
Benwell 7 34.69x
Birmingham 7 0.67x
Coundon Grange 7 86.42x
Derby St Alkmund 7 12.02x
Heworth 7 9.62x
Leominster 7 33.24x
Monkwearmouth 7 19.81x
Ryde 7 12.81x
Timperley 7 73.53x
Waldridge 7 113.27x
Walton On Hill 7 8.78x
Birdbrook 6 242.92x
Coldstream 6 55.20x
Coxlodge 6 42.74x
Dundee 6 1.40x
Escomb 6 35.38x
Liverpool 6 0.67x
Mouswald 6 253.16x
Rerrick 6 77.92x
Selkirk 6 18.97x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 77
Elizabeth 47
Jane 37
Sarah 31
Margaret 30
Ellen 16
Hannah 13
Ann 12
Annie 11
Isabella 9
Emily 8
Eliza 7
Martha 7
Catherine 6
Agnes 5
Eleanor 5
Emma 5
Fanny 5
Florence 5
Janet 5
Margt. 5
Alice 4
Charlotte 4
Clara 4
Elizth. 4
Esther 4
Rachel 4
Anne 3
Edith 3
Frances 3
Georgina 3
Harriet 3
Jeanette 3
Jessie 3
Margt.J. 3
Maria 3
Phoebe 3
Ada 2
Barbara 2
Betsy 2
E. 2
Grace 2
Harriett 2
Julian 2
Levina 2
Lizzie 2
Louisa 2
Lydia 2
Marion 2
Nancy 2

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 83
William 52
Thomas 38
Robert 34
James 25
Joseph 25
George 20
Henry 14
Charles 7
David 7
Wm. 6
Alfred 5
Arthur 5
Edward 5
Frank 5
Thos. 5
Jno. 4
Jonathan 4
Richard 4
Tom 4
Benson 3
Frederick 3
Harry 3
Albert 2
Andrew 2
Anthony 2
Archibald 2
Benjamin 2
Cecil 2
Chas. 2
Christopher 2
Francis 2
Mathew 2
Matthew 2
Philip 2
Ralph 2
Robt. 2
Aron 1
Bernard 1
C.W. 1
F.J.I. 1
Fenwick 1
Frances 1
Frederic 1
Fredrick 1
Jos. 1
Jos.R. 1
Josh.H. 1
Josh.Mason 1
Wm.A. 1

FAQ

Blacklock surname: questions and answers

How common was the Blacklock surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,271 people were recorded with the Blacklock surname. That placed it at #3,206 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Blacklock surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,463 in 2016. That gives Blacklock a modern rank of #4,208.

What does the Blacklock surname mean?

A surname relating to a person with dark hair or complexion.

What does the Blacklock map show?

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