NameCensus.

UK surname

Blagden

An English locational surname derived from a place name meaning "valley of the golden brook."

In the 1881 census there were 283 people recorded with the Blagden surname, ranking it #10,119 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 625, ranked #8,440, up from #10,119 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Plumstead and Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Doncaster, Sheffield and Hambleton.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Blagden is 648 in 2011. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 120.8%.

1881 census count

283

Ranked #10,119

Modern count

625

2016, ranked #8,440

Peak year

2011

648 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Blagden had 283 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #10,119 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 625 in 2016, ranked #8,440.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 426 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Blagden surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Blagden surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Blagden 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 208 #10,107
1861 historical 165 #14,112
1881 historical 283 #10,119
1891 historical 343 #9,994
1901 historical 359 #10,242
1911 historical 426 #8,856
1997 modern 584 #8,299
1998 modern 609 #8,299
1999 modern 618 #8,282
2000 modern 618 #8,263
2001 modern 604 #8,260
2002 modern 608 #8,381
2003 modern 607 #8,255
2004 modern 597 #8,375
2005 modern 607 #8,206
2006 modern 605 #8,236
2007 modern 620 #8,149
2008 modern 616 #8,237
2009 modern 625 #8,328
2010 modern 646 #8,285
2011 modern 648 #8,171
2012 modern 635 #8,220
2013 modern 646 #8,252
2014 modern 644 #8,324
2015 modern 635 #8,350
2016 modern 625 #8,440

Geography

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Where Blagdens are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Plumstead, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard and East and West Lavington. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Doncaster, Sheffield and Hambleton. 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 London parishes London 1
2 Plumstead London (South Districts)
3 London parishes London 3
4 Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard Nottinghamshire
5 East and West Lavington Wiltshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Doncaster 022 Doncaster
2 Doncaster 018 Doncaster
3 Sheffield 004 Sheffield
4 Hambleton 004 Hambleton
5 Doncaster 029 Doncaster

Forenames

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First names often paired with Blagden

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Blagden

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

Baseline UK

Group

Challenged Communities

Nationally, the Blagden surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Blagden household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

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Group profile

Residents of these neighbourhoods typically live in households with dependent children, and there are fewer-than-average residents of normal retirement age or over. Identification with ethnic minorities, particularly Black, or Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is common. The rate of Christian religious affiliation is low. Housing predominantly consists of semi-detached houses, along with a significant number of terraced properties and flats. Overcrowded social housing is common, and private renting occurs at average UK levels. Those in employment work mainly in caring leisure and other services; process, plant and machine operation; or elementary occupations. Unemployment is high, and few individuals have degree level qualifications. Many of these neighbourhoods occur in commuter towns or less accessible areas of larger towns and cities.

Wider pattern

This Supergroup exemplifies the broad base to the UK’s social structure, encompassing as it does the average or modal levels of many neighbourhood characteristics, including all housing tenures, a range of levels of educational attainment and religious affiliations, and a variety of pre-retirement age structures. Yet, in combination, these mixes are each distinctive of the parts of the UK. Overall, terraced houses and flats are the most prevalent, as is employment in intermediate or low-skilled occupations. However, this Supergroup is also characterised by above average levels of unemployment and lower levels of use of English as the main language. Many neighbourhoods occur in south London and the UK’s other major urban centres.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Blagden is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

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Group profile

These neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Blagden is most concentrated in decile 7 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.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Blagden

The surname Blagden has its origins in England, dating back to the medieval period. It is believed to be a locational name derived from the village of Blagdon in Somerset, which was recorded as Blakedene in the Domesday Book of 1086. The name is thought to be derived from the Old English words "blæc" meaning "black" and "denu" meaning "valley," referring to the black or dark valley where the village was situated.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Blagden can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Somerset from 1230, where a William de Blagdene is mentioned. This suggests that the surname was already in use by the 13th century, likely adopted by individuals who hailed from the village of Blagdon.

Throughout the centuries, various spellings of the name have been observed, including Blagden, Blagdon, Blagdone, and Blagdyn. These variations were common due to the inconsistent spelling practices of the time and regional dialects.

The Blagden family can trace their ancestry to several notable individuals in history. One such figure was Sir Thomas Blagden (c. 1499-1571), a prominent lawyer and judge during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. He served as a Justice of the King's Bench and was known for his legal expertise.

Another distinguished bearer of the name was John Blagden (c. 1640-1711), an English clergyman and author who served as the Rector of Bangor in Wales. He wrote several theological works and was regarded as a learned scholar of his time.

In the 18th century, Charles Blagden (1748-1820) made significant contributions to the field of chemistry. He was a fellow of the Royal Society and conducted important research on the properties of gases and heat. His scientific work earned him recognition and respect among his contemporaries.

Moving into the 19th century, Isa Blagden (1817-1895) was a British author and literary critic. She was known for her works on Italian literature and her translations of Italian poetry. Her writings helped to promote and preserve the cultural heritage of Italy.

More recently, Sir Claude Blagden (1877-1954) was a British civil servant and administrator who served as the Governor of Madras Presidency (now known as Tamil Nadu) in India from 1927 to 1932. He played a significant role in the governance of British India during the early 20th century.

Throughout its history, the surname Blagden has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including lawyers, clergymen, scientists, authors, and administrators. While the name may have originated from a small village in Somerset, it has since spread and left its mark on different parts of the world, reflecting the rich tapestry of human migration and cultural exchange.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Blagden families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Blagden 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 63 Blagdens recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.31x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 63 2.31x
Derbyshire 41 9.52x
Kent 33 3.52x
Nottinghamshire 26 7.01x
Wiltshire 26 10.69x
Middlesex 25 0.91x
Lancashire 21 0.64x
Buckinghamshire 14 8.42x
Surrey 8 0.60x
Sussex 6 1.29x
Devon 5 0.87x
Gloucestershire 5 0.93x
Cumberland 3 1.27x
Hampshire 2 0.35x
Monmouthshire 2 1.01x
Leicestershire 1 0.33x
Somerset 1 0.23x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Ecclesall Bierlow in Yorkshire leads with 21 Blagdens recorded in 1881 and an index of 37.88x.

Place Total Index
Ecclesall Bierlow 21 37.88x
West Lavington 20 1709.40x
Plumstead 17 54.35x
Radford 15 79.62x
Balby Cum Hexthorpe 11 338.46x
Sheffield 11 12.68x
Bakewell 9 381.36x
Calver 9 2195.12x
Newton Longville 8 1818.18x
Camberwell 7 3.98x
Islington London 7 2.63x
West Wickham 7 769.23x
Hughenden 6 352.94x
Lenton 6 68.73x
Market Lavington 6 454.55x
Nether Hallam 6 16.27x
Petworth 6 216.61x
Bradford 5 32.72x
Broadwoodwidger 5 769.23x
Chapel En Le Frith 5 127.23x
Edensor 5 1851.85x
Nottingham St Mary 5 5.21x
St Marylebone London 5 3.40x
Urmston 5 235.85x
Woolwich 5 14.42x
Fairfield 4 138.89x
Hartshead 4 327.87x
Minchinhampton 4 93.02x
Murston 4 481.93x
Pilsley 4 281.69x
Ashton Under Lyne 3 4.21x
Brightside Bierlow 3 5.61x
Crumpsall 3 39.01x
Doncaster 3 15.07x
Great Longstone With 3 652.17x
Hampstead London 3 7.00x
Millom 3 41.32x
Beverley St Nicholas 2 89.29x
Edmonton 2 9.03x
Kensington London 2 1.31x
Paddington London 2 1.98x
Shoreditch London 2 1.68x
St Andrew Holborn London 2 16.79x
Wormhill 2 222.22x
Aighton Bailey 1 63.69x
Barnoldswick 1 26.25x
Caldicot 1 75.76x
Clifton 1 3.67x
Farnborough 1 16.89x
Hinckley 1 13.83x
Holdenhurst 1 6.76x
Manchester 1 0.68x
Newport 1 10.54x
Normanton 1 12.21x
North Meols 1 3.13x
Openshaw 1 6.54x
Spotland 1 2.76x
Streatham 1 4.90x
Walcot 1 4.24x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 13
Elizabeth 11
Emma 11
Ann 9
Sarah 7
Ellen 5
Jane 5
Kate 5
Eliza 4
Ada 3
Frances 3
Grace 3
Hannah 3
Harriett 3
Martha 3
Amelia 2
Annie 2
Charlotte 2
Clara 2
Dorcas 2
Harriet 2
Isabella 2
Lucy 2
Margaret 2
Minnie 2
Sophia 2
Agness 1
Beatrice 1
Bernard 1
Caroline 1
Carrie 1
Constance 1
Edith 1
Elinor 1
Fanny 1
Hilda 1
Isabel 1
Jessie 1
Katey 1
Lilian 1
Lizzie 1
Malurine 1
Marianne 1
Meary 1
R.A. 1
Rachel 1
Rebecca 1
Rhoda 1
Salome 1
Winifred 1

Top male names

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

FAQ

Blagden surname: questions and answers

How common was the Blagden surname in 1881?

In 1881, 283 people were recorded with the Blagden surname. That placed it at #10,119 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Blagden surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 625 in 2016. That gives Blagden a modern rank of #8,440.

What does the Blagden surname mean?

An English locational surname derived from a place name meaning "valley of the golden brook."

What does the Blagden map show?

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