UK surname
An English locational surname possibly derived from a place name meaning "dark valley".
In the 1881 census there were 112 people recorded with the Blackney surname, ranking it #18,501 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 31, ranked #35,942, down from #18,501 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Kingsclere, St Agnes and Govan Combination. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Blackney is 131 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 72.3%.
1881 census count
112
Ranked #18,501
Modern count
31
2016, ranked #35,942
Peak year
1891
131 bearers
Map years
3
1851 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Blackney surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Blackney surname density by area, 1881 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 109 | #16,212 |
| 1861 | historical | 95 | #21,768 |
| 1881 | historical | 112 | #18,501 |
| 1891 | historical | 131 | #20,073 |
| 1901 | historical | 90 | #24,021 |
| 1911 | historical | 87 | #24,147 |
| 1997 | modern | 47 | #32,975 |
| 1998 | modern | 42 | #33,651 |
| 1999 | modern | 46 | #33,424 |
| 2000 | modern | 50 | #33,087 |
| 2001 | modern | 41 | #33,753 |
| 2002 | modern | 41 | #34,032 |
| 2003 | modern | 37 | #34,432 |
| 2004 | modern | 41 | #34,306 |
| 2005 | modern | 40 | #34,562 |
| 2006 | modern | 38 | #35,003 |
| 2007 | modern | 34 | #35,410 |
| 2008 | modern | 35 | #35,441 |
| 2009 | modern | 36 | #35,496 |
| 2010 | modern | 33 | #35,794 |
| 2011 | modern | 33 | #35,777 |
| 2012 | modern | 35 | #35,645 |
| 2013 | modern | 36 | #35,643 |
| 2014 | modern | 34 | #35,784 |
| 2015 | modern | 32 | #35,876 |
| 2016 | modern | 31 | #35,942 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Kingsclere, St Agnes, Govan Combination, London parishes and Eltham. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kingsclere | Hampshire |
| 2 | St Agnes | Cornwall |
| 3 | Govan Combination | Lanark |
| 4 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 5 | Eltham | London (South Districts) |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Blackney surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Blackney, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Blackney surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Blackney household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Blackney is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Blackney is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Blackney, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Blackney is of English origin, and it can be traced back to the late 16th century. It is believed to have originated from the villages of Blackney and Blackney Green in Somerset, England. These place names are thought to derive from the Old English words "blaec" and "ey," which together mean "black island" or "dark island."
The earliest recorded instance of the surname Blackney appears in the parish records of St. Mary's Church in Taunton, Somerset, in the year 1592. The record mentions a John Blackney, who was born in the nearby village of Blackney Green.
In the 17th century, the Blackney family was well-established in the Somerset area, with several members holding prominent positions in the local community. One notable figure was William Blackney (1625-1698), who served as the mayor of Taunton in 1675.
During the 18th and 19th centuries, the Blackney surname spread to other parts of England, particularly to the neighboring counties of Devon and Dorset. In 1792, a Thomas Blackney (1758-1821) was born in the village of Blackney, Somerset. He later became a successful merchant and businessman in Bristol.
Another significant bearer of the Blackney name was Reverend John Blackney (1809-1879), an Anglican clergyman who served as the vicar of St. Peter's Church in Tiverton, Devon, from 1850 until his death.
In the 20th century, one of the most prominent individuals with the Blackney surname was Sir Richard Blackney (1905-1988), a British civil servant and diplomat. He served as the Ambassador to Yugoslavia from 1957 to 1961 and later held various other diplomatic positions.
It is worth noting that the Blackney surname has also been recorded with slight variations in spelling, such as Blackny, Blacknay, and Blacknee, particularly in older historical records.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Blackney surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Kent leads with 23 Blackneys recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.23x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Kent | 23 | 6.23x |
| Lanarkshire | 15 | 4.28x |
| Cornwall | 13 | 10.61x |
| Angus | 10 | 9.97x |
| Cumberland | 8 | 8.58x |
| Midlothian | 7 | 4.83x |
| Surrey | 6 | 1.14x |
| Derbyshire | 5 | 2.95x |
| Devon | 5 | 2.22x |
| Nottinghamshire | 5 | 3.43x |
| Sutherland | 3 | 36.01x |
| Warwickshire | 3 | 1.10x |
| Gloucestershire | 2 | 0.94x |
| Middlesex | 2 | 0.18x |
| Cheshire | 1 | 0.42x |
| Dunbartonshire | 1 | 3.44x |
| Hampshire | 1 | 0.45x |
| Perthshire | 1 | 2.06x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Govan in Lanarkshire leads with 15 Blackneys recorded in 1881 and an index of 17.32x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Govan | 15 | 17.32x |
| Dundee | 10 | 26.71x |
| Cleator | 7 | 180.41x |
| Edinburgh St Cuthberts | 7 | 12.00x |
| Plumstead | 7 | 56.86x |
| Chislehurst | 6 | 303.03x |
| Redruth | 6 | 172.91x |
| Eltham | 5 | 231.48x |
| Mansfield | 5 | 99.01x |
| Smalley | 5 | 1666.67x |
| Stoke Damerel | 5 | 31.71x |
| St Agnes | 4 | 232.56x |
| Penge | 3 | 43.35x |
| Rogart | 3 | 652.17x |
| Rugby | 3 | 81.30x |
| Dursley | 2 | 229.89x |
| Maker | 2 | 176.99x |
| Orpington | 2 | 176.99x |
| Windlesham | 2 | 202.02x |
| Cardross | 1 | 28.65x |
| Chelsea London | 1 | 3.07x |
| Chester St Oswald | 1 | 23.09x |
| Halstead | 1 | 555.56x |
| Inchture | 1 | 416.67x |
| Kingsclere | 1 | 99.01x |
| Paddington London | 1 | 2.51x |
| Seaton | 1 | 91.74x |
| Southwark Christchurch | 1 | 19.72x |
| St Clement | 1 | 78.13x |
| St Lawrence | 1 | 39.37x |
| St Mary Cray | 1 | 140.85x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Blackney surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Blackney surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
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 Blackney households.
FAQ
In 1881, 112 people were recorded with the Blackney surname. That placed it at #18,501 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 31 in 2016. That gives Blackney a modern rank of #35,942.
An English locational surname possibly derived from a place name meaning "dark valley".
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Blackney bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.