NameCensus.

UK surname

Blades

An English occupational surname referring to a bladesmith or cutler, one who forges or sells blades.

In the 1881 census there were 1,703 people recorded with the Blades surname, ranking it #2,524 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,452, ranked #2,686, down from #2,524 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lincoln St Botolph, Brigstock and Middlesborough. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Hambleton, North Lincolnshire and Middlesbrough.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Blades is 2,542 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 44.0%.

1881 census count

1,703

Ranked #2,524

Modern count

2,452

2016, ranked #2,686

Peak year

1999

2,542 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Blades had 1,703 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,524 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,452 in 2016, ranked #2,686.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,262 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Blades surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Blades surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Blades 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 1,121 #2,514
1861 historical 1,173 #2,410
1881 historical 1,703 #2,524
1891 historical 1,836 #2,500
1901 historical 2,143 #2,512
1911 historical 2,262 #2,235
1997 modern 2,467 #2,541
1998 modern 2,535 #2,580
1999 modern 2,542 #2,592
2000 modern 2,484 #2,632
2001 modern 2,439 #2,614
2002 modern 2,505 #2,610
2003 modern 2,427 #2,631
2004 modern 2,425 #2,637
2005 modern 2,401 #2,635
2006 modern 2,386 #2,643
2007 modern 2,417 #2,642
2008 modern 2,416 #2,655
2009 modern 2,472 #2,672
2010 modern 2,519 #2,681
2011 modern 2,477 #2,693
2012 modern 2,462 #2,661
2013 modern 2,497 #2,665
2014 modern 2,499 #2,681
2015 modern 2,466 #2,692
2016 modern 2,452 #2,686

Geography

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Where Blades' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lincoln St Botolph, Brigstock, Middlesborough, Stamford St George, Stamford St Michael and Sheffield. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Hambleton, North Lincolnshire, Middlesbrough, Ryedale and Drumgelloch. 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 Lincoln St Botolph Lincolnshire
2 Brigstock Northamptonshire
3 Middlesborough Durham
4 Stamford St George, Stamford St Michael Lincolnshire
5 Sheffield Yorkshire, West Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Hambleton 004 Hambleton
2 North Lincolnshire 004 North Lincolnshire
3 Middlesbrough 010 Middlesbrough
4 Ryedale 008 Ryedale
5 Drumgelloch North Lanarkshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Blades

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Blades

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

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Blades surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Blades 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 comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Blades is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

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

Blades is most concentrated in decile 6 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Blades 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 Blades 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 Blades, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Blades

The surname Blades is of English origin, deriving from the Old English word 'blæd', meaning a leaf or blade of grass. It likely originated as a descriptive surname, given to a person who lived near a prominent blade-shaped meadow or field.

The name can be traced back to the 13th century, with one of the earliest recorded instances being William Blades, mentioned in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire in 1273. These were ancient census records compiled during the reign of King Edward I.

The Blades surname is also found in the Domesday Book of 1086, a comprehensive record of landholdings across England commissioned by William the Conqueror. This early reference suggests the name had already been established by the 11th century.

In the 14th century, the name appeared in various forms, including Blade, Blad, and Blades, reflecting the fluidity of spelling conventions at the time. Several place names, such as Bladefield and Bladesworth, may have contributed to the development of the surname.

One notable bearer of the Blades surname was William Blades, a renowned English printer and bibliographer born in 1824. He made significant contributions to the study of early printing and typography, publishing works such as "The Life and Typography of William Caxton" and "The Enemies of Books."

Another prominent figure was Thomas Blades, an English clergyman and antiquarian born in 1670. He was the author of several works on ecclesiastical history and antiquities, including "A Catalogue of the Manuscripts in the Library of the Dean and Chapter of York."

In the 17th century, John Blades, a merchant and landowner from Gloucestershire, played a role in the English Civil War, supporting the Parliamentarian cause against King Charles I.

The Blades surname also has connections to the military, with Captain William Blades being a notable officer in the British Army during the late 18th century. He served in the American Revolutionary War and later wrote a memoir detailing his experiences.

Thomas Blades, born in 1808, was a prominent English architect who designed numerous buildings in London, including the iconic Royal Opera House in Covent Garden.

These are just a few examples of individuals who have borne the Blades surname throughout history, reflecting its enduring presence and significance across various fields and eras.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Blades families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Blades 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. Yorkshire leads with 529 Blades' recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.22x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 529 3.22x
Lincolnshire 428 16.14x
Lancashire 120 0.61x
Middlesex 97 0.58x
Durham 91 1.84x
Northamptonshire 45 2.89x
Staffordshire 34 0.61x
Cheshire 29 0.79x
Surrey 29 0.36x
Westmorland 29 7.96x
Lanarkshire 28 0.52x
Kent 27 0.48x
Leicestershire 20 1.09x
Cambridgeshire 19 1.81x
Cumberland 16 1.12x
Nottinghamshire 16 0.72x
Norfolk 14 0.55x
Hampshire 13 0.38x
Merionethshire 13 4.28x
Huntingdonshire 12 3.64x
Rutland 12 9.86x
Stirlingshire 11 1.80x
Essex 10 0.31x
Northumberland 8 0.32x
West Lothian 8 3.20x
Midlothian 7 0.32x
Berkshire 5 0.40x
Derbyshire 5 0.19x
Renfrewshire 5 0.39x
Warwickshire 5 0.12x
Bedfordshire 4 0.47x
Sussex 3 0.11x
Dunbartonshire 2 0.45x
Radnorshire 2 1.49x
Devon 1 0.03x
Gloucestershire 1 0.03x
Somerset 1 0.04x
Wiltshire 1 0.07x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Great Grimsby in Lincolnshire leads with 26 Blades' recorded in 1881 and an index of 15.45x.

Place Total Index
Great Grimsby 26 15.45x
Gargrave 22 300.55x
Middlesbrough 22 10.28x
Brigstock 21 354.73x
Leicester St Margaret 20 4.46x
Hawes 19 176.74x
Bainbridge 18 463.92x
New Monkland 18 11.35x
Richmond 18 70.12x
Bourn 17 79.37x
High Abbotside 17 607.14x
St Botolph Lincoln 17 89.19x
Brightside Bierlow 16 4.96x
Stamford St John 16 445.68x
Garsdale 15 438.60x
Lambeth 15 1.04x
Ingoldmells 14 1014.49x
Redworth 14 444.44x
Stamford St George 14 117.55x
Llanaber 13 108.24x
Sculcoates 13 4.99x
Wensley 13 710.38x
Alford 12 73.04x
Portsea 12 1.80x
Spalding 12 22.81x
West Bromwich 12 3.74x
Islington London 11 0.68x
Stamford St Michael 11 146.08x
Boston 10 12.43x
Carlton In Lindrick 10 168.35x
Chorley 10 9.06x
Clerkenwell London 10 2.55x
Darlington 10 5.25x
Folkestone 10 9.11x
Hutton Bushell 10 352.11x
Marske In Guisbrough 10 34.27x
Shotton 10 81.97x
Skipton 10 19.34x
Worsley 10 8.24x
Askrigg 9 253.52x
Bradford 9 2.26x
Escomb 9 39.70x
Everton 9 1.44x
Hameringham 9 909.09x
Holbeach 9 30.48x
Hulme 9 2.19x
Kensington London 9 0.98x
Mallerstang 9 584.42x
March 9 25.59x
Market Rasen 9 60.73x
Nafferton 9 128.57x
St Pancras London 9 0.67x
Stretford 9 8.31x
West Derby 9 1.56x
Willington 9 31.57x
Bathgate 8 14.75x
Bexley 8 15.99x
Carlton In Leyburn 8 559.44x
Horncastle 8 29.23x
Louth 8 13.16x
New Malton 8 40.71x
Shildon 8 20.18x
Skirbeck 8 53.84x
St Marylebone London 8 0.90x
Stamford All Sts 8 53.91x
Stapeley 8 233.92x
Wetherby 8 74.70x
Willoughby 8 228.57x
Winnington 8 197.53x
Yarwell 8 368.66x
Aby 7 350.00x
Corby 7 157.66x
Dent 7 101.89x
Eskdaleside 7 86.63x
Hackney London 7 0.75x
Haughton Le Skerne 7 172.41x
Hook 7 19.36x
Maryhill 7 6.67x
North Grimston 7 744.68x
Wainfleet St Mary 7 174.56x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 124
William 104
James 65
Thomas 62
George 56
Charles 34
Joseph 34
Henry 27
Robert 27
Richard 19
Alfred 15
Frederick 12
Walter 11
Frank 10
Arthur 9
Francis 9
Samuel 9
Albert 7
Christopher 7
Harry 7
Ralph 6
Stephen 6
Fred 5
Edward 4
Herbert 4
Alexander 3
Chas. 3
Geo. 3
Sherriff 3
Willie 3
Abraham 2
Benjamin 2
Brownlow 2
Cristopher 2
David 2
Edmund 2
Edwin 2
Ernest 2
Foster 2
Fred. 2
Harold 2
Herbt. 2
Hezekiah 2
Isaac 2
Jacob 2
Percy 2
Sherrif 2
Thos. 2
Tom 2
Wm. 2

FAQ

Blades surname: questions and answers

How common was the Blades surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,703 people were recorded with the Blades surname. That placed it at #2,524 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Blades surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,452 in 2016. That gives Blades a modern rank of #2,686.

What does the Blades surname mean?

An English occupational surname referring to a bladesmith or cutler, one who forges or sells blades.

What does the Blades map show?

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