NameCensus.

UK surname

Blackman

An English surname referring to a person with a dark complexion or black hair, or an occupational name for a worker who dealt with black dyes or ink.

In the 1881 census there were 3,643 people recorded with the Blackman surname, ranking it #1,247 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 4,961, ranked #1,361, down from #1,247 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Northfleet, Hastings St Mary-in-the-Castle, Hastings St Andrew and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Shepway, Winchester and Rhondda Cynon Taf.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Blackman is 5,458 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 36.2%.

1881 census count

3,643

Ranked #1,247

Modern count

4,961

2016, ranked #1,361

Peak year

1999

5,458 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Blackman had 3,643 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,247 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 4,961 in 2016, ranked #1,361.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 5,009 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Blackman surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Blackman surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Blackman 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 2,328 #1,274
1861 historical 2,862 #1,019
1881 historical 3,643 #1,247
1891 historical 4,082 #1,179
1901 historical 4,610 #1,231
1911 historical 5,009 #1,045
1997 modern 5,199 #1,257
1998 modern 5,377 #1,268
1999 modern 5,458 #1,254
2000 modern 5,407 #1,261
2001 modern 5,224 #1,274
2002 modern 5,321 #1,276
2003 modern 5,137 #1,291
2004 modern 5,117 #1,296
2005 modern 4,944 #1,319
2006 modern 4,959 #1,317
2007 modern 4,949 #1,331
2008 modern 5,000 #1,331
2009 modern 5,103 #1,334
2010 modern 5,182 #1,343
2011 modern 5,092 #1,346
2012 modern 4,922 #1,360
2013 modern 5,022 #1,354
2014 modern 5,056 #1,355
2015 modern 5,021 #1,350
2016 modern 4,961 #1,361

Geography

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Where Blackmans are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Northfleet, Hastings St Mary-in-the-Castle, Hastings St Andrew, London parishes and Portsmouth, Portsea. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Shepway, Winchester, Rhondda Cynon Taf and Wealden. 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 Northfleet Kent
2 Hastings St Mary-in-the-Castle, Hastings St Andrew Sussex
3 London parishes London 1
4 London parishes London 3
5 Portsmouth, Portsea Hampshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Shepway 010 Shepway
2 Winchester 011 Winchester
3 Winchester 012 Winchester
4 Rhondda Cynon Taf 023 Rhondda Cynon Taf
5 Wealden 006 Wealden

Forenames

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First names often paired with Blackman

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Blackman

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Blackman, 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 Blackman surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Blackman 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, Blackman 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

Blackman is most concentrated in decile 10 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Blackman falls in decile 5 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.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Blackman

The surname BLACKMAN is of English origin, dating back to the medieval period. It is a locational surname, derived from the Old English words 'blæc' meaning black and 'mann' meaning man. This name was likely given to someone who lived near a prominent landmark such as a dark moor or a blacksmith's forge.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname BLACKMAN can be found in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, which lists individuals by their place of residence. One such entry is for a William Blakeman residing in Oxfordshire. In the 14th century, the name appeared in various forms, including Blakeman, Blacman, and Blackman, suggesting regional variations in spelling and pronunciation.

During the 16th century, the surname BLACKMAN is mentioned in the parish records of several English counties, such as Worcestershire, Gloucestershire, and Wiltshire. Notable individuals bearing this name include John Blackman, a yeoman from Worcestershire, who was recorded in the Muster Rolls of 1542.

In the 17th century, the BLACKMAN surname gained prominence with the birth of Benjamin Blackman (1617-1675), an English Puritan minister and author. He served as a chaplain in the Parliamentary army during the English Civil War and later became the rector of Steeple Ashton in Wiltshire.

Another notable figure was George Blackman (1709-1770), an English actor and playwright who performed extensively in London theaters during the mid-18th century. His works included the popular comedy "The Provoked Husband" and several adaptations of French plays.

Moving into the 19th century, the BLACKMAN surname is associated with John Blackman (1783-1857), a British architect known for his work on the Blackman Street development in London's Southwark district. This area was named after him and became a hub for various businesses and residences.

The surname also crossed the Atlantic, with individuals such as Ephraim Blackman (1768-1840), an American Revolutionary War soldier from Massachusetts, and John Blackman (1822-1899), a prominent businessman and politician in New York City, who served as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives.

Throughout its history, the BLACKMAN surname has been linked to various occupations, from clergymen and actors to architects and politicians, reflecting the diverse backgrounds of those who bore this name.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Blackman families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Blackman 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. Kent leads with 749 Blackmans recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.18x.

County Total Index
Kent 749 6.18x
Sussex 670 11.18x
Surrey 590 3.41x
Middlesex 463 1.30x
Hampshire 460 6.32x
Wiltshire 106 3.37x
Berkshire 67 2.51x
Essex 50 0.71x
Huntingdonshire 48 6.80x
Lancashire 48 0.11x
Yorkshire 44 0.12x
Devon 32 0.43x
Buckinghamshire 31 1.44x
Monmouthshire 25 0.97x
Northamptonshire 25 0.75x
Glamorgan 24 0.39x
Staffordshire 19 0.16x
Lincolnshire 18 0.32x
Oxfordshire 18 0.82x
Cornwall 15 0.37x
Gloucestershire 15 0.22x
Cambridgeshire 13 0.58x
Warwickshire 11 0.12x
Durham 9 0.09x
Northumberland 9 0.17x
Worcestershire 9 0.19x
Somerset 8 0.14x
Montgomeryshire 7 0.86x
Suffolk 7 0.16x
Cheshire 6 0.08x
Derbyshire 6 0.11x
Hertfordshire 6 0.24x
Midlothian 6 0.13x
Royal Navy 6 1.42x
Norfolk 5 0.09x
Dorset 4 0.17x
Herefordshire 4 0.27x
Leicestershire 2 0.05x
Nottinghamshire 2 0.04x
Bedfordshire 1 0.05x
Cumberland 1 0.03x
Lanarkshire 1 0.01x
Pembrokeshire 1 0.09x
Rutland 1 0.38x
Selkirkshire 1 0.31x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Portsea in Hampshire leads with 82 Blackmans recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.74x.

Place Total Index
Portsea 82 5.74x
Lambeth 79 2.55x
Brighton 70 5.79x
Camberwell 67 2.95x
East Meon 59 310.36x
Croydon 57 5.93x
Bermondsey 56 5.29x
Bishops Waltham 51 168.09x
Newington 51 3.88x
Arundel 46 137.11x
Northfleet 46 43.06x
Battle 42 103.88x
St Marylebone London 41 2.16x
Kensington London 39 1.97x
Paddington London 38 2.91x
Mile End Old Town London 37 4.89x
Farnham 36 26.74x
Frindsbury 36 78.79x
Yaxley 35 211.99x
Mayfield 29 81.83x
Tonbridge 29 6.63x
Hackney London 28 1.41x
St Pancras London 28 0.98x
Lyneham 27 219.69x
Wadhurst 27 68.63x
Chatham 26 7.79x
Islington London 25 0.73x
South Tidworth 25 871.08x
Battersea 24 1.84x
Dartford 24 19.36x
Farlington 21 141.13x
Hillmarton 20 256.41x
Sittingbourne 20 20.89x
West Ham 20 1.29x
Wimbledon 20 10.29x
Horsham 19 16.32x
Ashford 17 14.40x
Bethnal Green London 17 1.10x
Charlton 17 21.11x
Clapham 17 3.83x
Hammersmith London 17 1.94x
Hastings St Mary In The 17 13.30x
Higham 17 103.85x
Hollington 17 79.74x
Hythe St Leonard 17 39.68x
Rotherhithe 17 3.87x
Cold Waltham 16 331.95x
Hastings All Sts 16 28.34x
Westminster St John 16 3.70x
Wye 16 85.24x
Burnham 15 54.78x
Caterham 15 19.60x
Catsfield 15 174.42x
Headcorn 15 82.60x
Longfield 15 375.94x
Wandsworth 15 4.38x
Bexhill 14 46.89x
High Halden 14 180.88x
St George Hanover Square 14 2.24x
Burbage 13 81.15x
Chelsea London 13 1.21x
Dover St Mary Virgin 13 11.08x
Holy Trinity 13 1.53x
Milton In Gravesend 13 7.15x
New Windsor 13 14.50x
Poplar London 13 1.94x
Shoreditch London 13 0.84x
Southampton St Mary 13 2.84x
Strood 13 18.79x
Upham 13 162.91x
Bromley London 12 1.53x
Earley 12 27.00x
Edmonton 12 4.19x
Greenwich 12 2.12x
Havant 12 32.54x
Herne 12 22.35x
Hove 12 4.56x
Maker 12 32.29x
Wilmington 12 70.92x
Halling 11 69.23x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 187
Elizabeth 118
Sarah 118
Eliza 79
Jane 62
Ellen 60
Emily 54
Ann 51
Emma 51
Alice 47
Annie 45
Edith 36
Louisa 30
Fanny 29
Florence 29
Ada 27
Charlotte 27
Hannah 27
Martha 27
Harriet 24
Caroline 22
Frances 21
Lucy 21
Harriett 20
Kate 20
Maria 20
Rose 17
Clara 16
Margaret 16
Catherine 15
Susan 15
Julia 13
Agnes 12
Minnie 12
Sophia 12
Anne 10
Rebecca 10
Lydia 9
Bertha 8
Matilda 8
Amelia 7
Eleanor 7
Elizth. 7
Esther 7
Flora 7
Susannah 7
Amy 6
Beatrice 6
Maud 6
Nellie 6

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 234
George 158
John 156
James 122
Henry 113
Thomas 112
Charles 79
Alfred 58
Frederick 52
Albert 51
Edward 49
Arthur 43
Walter 39
Harry 34
Robert 34
Richard 30
Ernest 29
Joseph 29
Benjamin 18
Frank 17
David 16
Leonard 12
Wm. 12
Herbert 11
Edwin 10
Percy 9
Sidney 9
Tom 9
Stephen 8
Fredk. 7
Fredrick 7
Jesse 7
Louis 7
Daniel 6
Geo. 6
Horace 6
Samuel 6
Edmund 5
Francis 5
J. 5
Earnest 4
Eli 4
Fred 4
Isaac 4
Jabez 4
Jacob 4
Thos. 4
W. 4
Chas. 3
Christopher 3

FAQ

Blackman surname: questions and answers

How common was the Blackman surname in 1881?

In 1881, 3,643 people were recorded with the Blackman surname. That placed it at #1,247 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Blackman surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 4,961 in 2016. That gives Blackman a modern rank of #1,361.

What does the Blackman surname mean?

An English surname referring to a person with a dark complexion or black hair, or an occupational name for a worker who dealt with black dyes or ink.

What does the Blackman map show?

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