NameCensus.

UK surname

Blagburn

A surname deriving from a location name, likely an English place named with Old English elements meaning "black" and "stream".

In the 1881 census there were 70 people recorded with the Blagburn surname, ranking it #23,670 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 82, ranked #32,895, down from #23,670 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Halifax, Newcastle All Saints and Gateshead. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Bassetlaw, Newcastle upon Tyne and Birmingham.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Blagburn is 109 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 17.1%.

1881 census count

70

Ranked #23,670

Modern count

82

2016, ranked #32,895

Peak year

1998

109 bearers

Map years

2

1861 to 1998

Key insights

  • Blagburn had 70 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #23,670 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 82 in 2016, ranked #32,895.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 104 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Blagburn surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Blagburn surname density by area, 1998 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Blagburn 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 80 #19,558
1861 historical 104 #20,477
1881 historical 70 #23,670
1891 historical 74 #27,538
1901 historical 66 #26,794
1911 historical 88 #24,041
1997 modern 105 #26,188
1998 modern 109 #26,273
1999 modern 101 #27,617
2000 modern 104 #27,150
2001 modern 101 #27,252
2002 modern 103 #27,443
2003 modern 101 #27,561
2004 modern 96 #28,605
2005 modern 88 #29,831
2006 modern 88 #30,160
2007 modern 88 #30,515
2008 modern 83 #31,483
2009 modern 88 #31,352
2010 modern 88 #31,875
2011 modern 89 #31,659
2012 modern 82 #32,701
2013 modern 82 #32,903
2014 modern 81 #33,061
2015 modern 83 #32,847
2016 modern 82 #32,895

Geography

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Where Blagburns are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Halifax, Newcastle All Saints, Gateshead, Tynemouth (Chirton, Preston, Murton, Whitley, Monkseaton), Earsdon (Earsdon) and Almondbury. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Bassetlaw, Newcastle upon Tyne, Birmingham, Northumberland and Sheffield. 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 Halifax Yorkshire, West Riding
2 Newcastle All Saints Northumberland
3 Gateshead Durham
4 Tynemouth (Chirton, Preston, Murton, Whitley, Monkseaton), Earsdon (Earsdon) Northumberland
5 Almondbury Yorkshire, West Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Bassetlaw 014 Bassetlaw
2 Newcastle upon Tyne 031 Newcastle upon Tyne
3 Birmingham 073 Birmingham
4 Northumberland 006 Northumberland
5 Sheffield 009 Sheffield

Forenames

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First names often paired with Blagburn

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Blagburn

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

Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles

Group

Inner London Working Professionals

Within London, Blagburn is most associated with areas classed as Inner London Working Professionals, part of Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles. 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

These primarily Inner London neighbourhoods are more densely populated than the Supergroup average. Residents have a younger over-all age profile than the Supergroup as a whole, and are less likely to be owner occupiers. Full time employment is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup and multiple car ownership is uncommon. Chinese and non-EU-born European migrants are less in evidence than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

These neighbourhoods house people of all ages, predominantly of White British or European extraction. Resident turnover is low. Religious affiliation is less common than average and tends to be Christian if expressed. Homeownership, typically of terraced houses, is common but use of the social rented sector is not. Employment is typically in professional, managerial and associate professional or technical occupations. There are few full-time students. Level 4 qualifications are common. More households lack dependent children than have them which, considered alongside low levels of crowding and over-all age structure, indicates that many households may be post child-rearing and in late middle age. Incidence of disability is low, as is residence in communal establishments.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Blagburn is most concentrated in decile 5 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.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Blagburn falls in decile 8 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Blagburn is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Blagburn, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Blagburn

The surname Blagburn originates from England, specifically from the Yorkshire region, dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old English words "blaec" meaning "black" and "burna" meaning "stream," suggesting a connection to a location near a dark-colored stream or brook.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379, where it appears as "Blaggeburn." This spelling variation highlights the evolution of the name over time, reflecting regional dialects and phonetic adaptations.

In the 16th century, the Blagburn family was documented as landowners in the village of Huddersfield, Yorkshire. Records from this period indicate that a John Blagburn (1520-1589) was a prominent figure in the local community, serving as a church warden and contributing to the construction of the parish church.

During the 17th century, the Blagburn name was also present in the nearby town of Halifax. Notably, a Richard Blagburn (1627-1702) was a successful merchant and a benefactor to the local grammar school, leaving a substantial endowment upon his passing.

In the 18th century, the surname Blagburn appeared in various parish records across Yorkshire, including baptisms, marriages, and burials. One notable individual was Thomas Blagburn (1756-1832), a skilled weaver who played a pivotal role in the development of the local textile industry.

As the Industrial Revolution gained momentum, the Blagburn family spread beyond Yorkshire, with some members relocating to other parts of England and even venturing overseas. One such figure was William Blagburn (1802-1878), a successful entrepreneur who established a thriving textile business in Manchester.

Throughout its history, the surname Blagburn has also been associated with various place names, such as Blagburn Pasture and Blagburn Dene, further reinforcing its connection to specific localities within the Yorkshire region.

While the surname Blagburn may not be as widespread as some other English surnames, its rich history and deep roots in the Yorkshire region have contributed to its enduring legacy and cultural significance.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Blagburn families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Blagburn 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. Northumberland leads with 31 Blagburns recorded in 1881 and an index of 29.67x.

County Total Index
Northumberland 31 29.67x
Essex 13 9.38x
Durham 8 3.83x
Kent 6 2.50x
Warwickshire 4 2.26x
Yorkshire 4 0.57x
Lancashire 3 0.36x
Channel Islands 2 9.61x
Middlesex 1 0.14x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. West Ham in Essex leads with 13 Blagburns recorded in 1881 and an index of 42.47x.

Place Total Index
West Ham 13 42.47x
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 8 128.21x
Tynemouth 8 142.86x
Westoe 5 42.23x
Alnwick 4 222.22x
Chirton 4 169.49x
Coventry Holy Trinity 4 75.61x
Jesmond 4 272.11x
Brightside Bierlow 3 21.98x
Gateshead 3 19.18x
Northfleet 3 142.18x
Hulme 2 11.49x
Kirkley 2 5000.00x
St Martin 2 157.48x
Tonbridge 2 23.15x
Batley 1 15.13x
Cliffe 1 185.19x
Limehouse London 1 12.97x
Newcastle On Tyne St John 1 72.99x
Preston 1 4.48x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 6
Ann 5
Jane 5
Elizabeth 3
Margaret 3
Alice 2
Anna 1
Annie 1
Cath. 1
Catherine 1
Char.Annie 1
Ellen 1
Emma 1
Esther 1
Fanny 1
Hannah 1
Isabella 1
Kate 1
Margt. 1
Minnie 1
Phillis 1
Rachel 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Thomas 6
John 5
William 4
James 3
Joseph 3
Charles 2
George 2
Benjamin 1
J. 1
Maurice 1
Reuben 1
Robert 1
Thos. 1
Willie 1

FAQ

Blagburn surname: questions and answers

How common was the Blagburn surname in 1881?

In 1881, 70 people were recorded with the Blagburn surname. That placed it at #23,670 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Blagburn surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 82 in 2016. That gives Blagburn a modern rank of #32,895.

What does the Blagburn surname mean?

A surname deriving from a location name, likely an English place named with Old English elements meaning "black" and "stream".

What does the Blagburn map show?

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