NameCensus.

UK surname

Blackstock

A locational surname referring to someone who lived by a place called Blackstock, likely derived from "black stump."

In the 1881 census there were 441 people recorded with the Blackstock surname, ranking it #7,422 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 557, ranked #9,196, down from #7,422 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Killean and Kilchenzie, Brampton (including Midgeholme) and Lanercost and Govan Combination. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Hyndburn, Campbeltown and Brent.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Blackstock is 588 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 26.3%.

1881 census count

441

Ranked #7,422

Modern count

557

2016, ranked #9,196

Peak year

2010

588 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Blackstock had 441 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #7,422 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 557 in 2016, ranked #9,196.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 547 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Blackstock surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Blackstock surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Blackstock 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 264 #8,419
1861 historical 331 #7,706
1881 historical 441 #7,422
1891 historical 518 #7,216
1901 historical 547 #7,555
1911 historical 220 #14,088
1997 modern 484 #9,531
1998 modern 506 #9,501
1999 modern 501 #9,648
2000 modern 500 #9,632
2001 modern 480 #9,760
2002 modern 509 #9,509
2003 modern 498 #9,512
2004 modern 520 #9,244
2005 modern 525 #9,120
2006 modern 532 #9,053
2007 modern 533 #9,113
2008 modern 549 #8,978
2009 modern 571 #8,911
2010 modern 588 #8,923
2011 modern 574 #8,976
2012 modern 552 #9,138
2013 modern 571 #9,049
2014 modern 569 #9,132
2015 modern 555 #9,243
2016 modern 557 #9,196

Geography

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Where Blackstocks are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Killean and Kilchenzie, Brampton (including Midgeholme) and Lanercost, Govan Combination, Edinburgh and Manchester. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Hyndburn, Campbeltown, Brent, York and Kensington and Chelsea. 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 Killean and Kilchenzie Argyll
2 Brampton (including Midgeholme) and Lanercost Cumberland
3 Govan Combination Lanark
4 Edinburgh Edinburgh
5 Manchester Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Hyndburn 003 Hyndburn
2 Campbeltown Argyll and Bute
3 Brent 027 Brent
4 York 003 York
5 Kensington and Chelsea 021 Kensington and Chelsea

Forenames

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First names often paired with Blackstock

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Blackstock

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

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations

Nationally, the Blackstock surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Blackstock household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group is often found in less central parts of London and other major towns and cities. Adults are more likely than the Supergroup average to have never been married and are typically aged less than 45 years. Many have young dependent children and individuals may have been born in Africa. There are many members identifying with a Black ethnic group, with the other ethnic groups (as listed in the glossary) also represented, though Chinese less so. Accommodation in flats, frequently socially rented, is common in these neighbourhoods. Part time employment is also common, and work is often in elementary occupations, while unemployment is also the highest within this Supergroup.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Blackstock is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Blackstock 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

Blackstock falls in decile 1 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.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Blackstock

The surname Blackstock originated in Scotland, with records dating back to the late 16th century. It is a locational name derived from the lands of Blackstock, a small village located near Ayr in Ayrshire, Scotland. The name is believed to be a combination of the Old English words "blæc" meaning black and "stoc" meaning stock or trunk, referring to a dark or black piece of land.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name is found in the Register of the Privy Council of Scotland in 1592, where a Robert Blackstock is mentioned as a resident of Ayrshire. Another early record is from the Parish Register of Lochwinnoch, Renfrewshire, Scotland, which lists the marriage of John Blackstock and Marjorie Wilson in 1647.

In the late 17th century, the Blackstock name appears in the records of the Presbytery of Ayr, with several individuals bearing the name serving as elders or ministers in various parishes within the region. One notable figure was Reverend William Blackstock, who was minister of the parish of Ochiltree in Ayrshire from 1681 to 1721.

The Blackstock surname can also be found in historical records from other parts of Scotland, such as the Borders region. In the 18th century, a James Blackstock from Berwickshire served as a surgeon in the British Navy and was involved in the exploration of the Pacific Ocean under the command of Captain James Cook.

Other notable individuals bearing the Blackstock surname include:

1. Sir Nigel Blackstock (1895-1975), a British military officer who served in both World War I and World War II. 2. Alexander Blackstock (1784-1853), a Scottish-born merchant and politician who served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Upper Canada (now Ontario). 3. John Blackstock (1815-1899), a Canadian businessman and politician who served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario. 4. William Blackstock (1834-1910), a Canadian businessman and politician who served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario. 5. George Blackstock (1869-1944), a Canadian lawyer and judge who served as the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Alberta.

While the Blackstock name has its roots in Scotland, it has since spread to various parts of the world, including England, Ireland, Canada, and the United States, as a result of migration and settlement patterns over the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Blackstock families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Blackstock 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. Lanarkshire leads with 108 Blackstocks recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.76x.

County Total Index
Lanarkshire 108 7.76x
Dumfriesshire 97 102.07x
Lancashire 52 1.02x
Argyllshire 41 34.24x
Cumberland 24 6.48x
Dunbartonshire 11 9.52x
Midlothian 11 1.91x
Middlesex 10 0.23x
Cheshire 9 0.95x
Selkirkshire 9 23.12x
Surrey 8 0.38x
Derbyshire 7 1.04x
Fife 7 2.75x
Pembrokeshire 7 5.12x
Staffordshire 6 0.41x
Westmorland 6 6.35x
Renfrewshire 5 1.50x
Kirkcudbrightshire 4 6.42x
Nottinghamshire 4 0.69x
Flintshire 3 2.59x
Kent 3 0.20x
Ross-shire 3 2.54x
Buteshire 2 7.67x
Angus 1 0.25x
Perthshire 1 0.52x
Wigtownshire 1 1.75x
Worcestershire 1 0.18x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Barony in Lanarkshire leads with 30 Blackstocks recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.52x.

Place Total Index
Barony 30 8.52x
Govan 29 8.43x
Glasgow 28 11.33x
Campbeltown 23 159.17x
Dryfesdale 21 479.45x
Killean Kilchenzie 13 640.39x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 11 4.74x
Hamilton 11 28.35x
Kirkpatrick Juxta 11 709.68x
Moss Side 10 37.23x
Galashiels 9 62.54x
Dumbarton 8 49.72x
Old Monkland 8 14.49x
Wamphray 8 1194.03x
Abbotshall 7 73.53x
Brimstage 7 2592.59x
Camberwell 7 2.55x
Dumfries 7 74.71x
Fernilee 7 445.86x
Hackney London 7 2.90x
Hubberston 7 348.26x
Manchester 7 3.05x
Stretford 7 24.93x
Allhallows 6 550.46x
Brampton 6 118.11x
Oldham 6 3.64x
Torthorwald 6 410.96x
Dornock 5 416.67x
Hayton Mealo 5 1162.79x
Hoddam 5 218.34x
Hutton 5 416.67x
Keir 5 454.55x
Kings Bromley 5 602.41x
Morland 5 909.09x
St Cuthbert W O 5 27.70x
St Mungo 5 510.20x
Cathcart 4 22.17x
Chorlton On Medlock 4 4.93x
Middlebie 4 140.35x
Moffat 4 92.17x
Troqueer 4 48.96x
Warrington 4 6.61x
Bodfari 3 447.76x
Durrisdeer 3 184.05x
Hulme 3 2.82x
Milton In Gravesend 3 13.63x
Old Kilpatrick 3 21.96x
Saddell Skipness 3 175.44x
Urquhart 3 186.34x
Annan 2 24.51x
Bulwell 2 15.86x
Cambuslang 2 14.26x
Kensington London 2 0.84x
Lochmaben 2 48.08x
Medlar With Wesham 2 130.72x
Nottingham St Nicholas 2 25.32x
Rothesay 2 15.85x
Southend 2 141.84x
Blackburn 1 0.74x
Canonbie 1 24.75x
Carlaverock 1 64.52x
Casterton 1 116.28x
Dull 1 25.84x
Dundee 1 0.67x
Eaglesham 1 49.02x
Everton 1 0.61x
Glassonby 1 416.67x
Great Budworth 1 59.52x
Hardhorn With Newton 1 161.29x
Holywood 1 62.89x
Keele 1 64.94x
Kirkcolm 1 36.50x
Layton With Warbreck 1 5.34x
Liverpool 1 0.32x
Paddington London 1 0.63x
Poulton Le Fylde 1 55.25x
Tinwald 1 78.74x
Toxteth Park 1 0.58x
Whitehaven 1 5.07x
Worcester St John 1 14.90x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 6
Jane 5
Ann 3
Annie 3
Ellen 3
Sarah 3
Agnes 2
Alice 2
Augusta 2
Elizabeth 2
Hannah 2
Helen 2
Henrietta 2
Jeanette 2
Louisa 2
Olive 2
Ada 1
Amelia 1
Bertha 1
Charlotte 1
Eleanor 1
Emily 1
Emma 1
Emmeline 1
Ester 1
Fanny 1
Frances 1
Grace 1
Harriet 1
Jiffie 1
Kate 1
Lettice 1
Maggie 1
Margaret 1
Maria 1
Nancy 1
Pheobe 1
Rosa 1
Sophia 1
Susanne 1
Teraessa 1
Venet 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 13
James 9
William 9
George 5
Richard 4
Robert 4
Joseph 3
Arthur 2
Edward 2
Thomas 2
Walter 2
A. 1
Albert 1
Alexander 1
Andrew 1
Charles 1
Daniel 1
David 1
Edgar 1
Frederick 1
Geo.Albert 1
Harry 1
Herbert 1
Peter 1
Sam 1
Wm. 1
Wm.Alfred 1

FAQ

Blackstock surname: questions and answers

How common was the Blackstock surname in 1881?

In 1881, 441 people were recorded with the Blackstock surname. That placed it at #7,422 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Blackstock surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 557 in 2016. That gives Blackstock a modern rank of #9,196.

What does the Blackstock surname mean?

A locational surname referring to someone who lived by a place called Blackstock, likely derived from "black stump."

What does the Blackstock map show?

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