NameCensus.

UK surname

Blagg

Derived from a nickname for someone with dark hair or a swarthy complexion, from Middle English "blagg" meaning "black."

In the 1881 census there were 542 people recorded with the Blagg surname, ranking it #6,362 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 601, ranked #8,708, down from #6,362 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ordsall, Bridgford, East and Davenham. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Bassetlaw, Rushcliffe and Bolsover.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Blagg is 682 in 2000. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 10.9%.

1881 census count

542

Ranked #6,362

Modern count

601

2016, ranked #8,708

Peak year

2000

682 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Blagg had 542 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,362 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 601 in 2016, ranked #8,708.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 680 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Blagg surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Blagg surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Blagg 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 395 #6,095
1861 historical 432 #5,954
1881 historical 542 #6,362
1891 historical 610 #6,300
1901 historical 654 #6,607
1911 historical 680 #6,214
1997 modern 605 #8,094
1998 modern 643 #7,969
1999 modern 677 #7,715
2000 modern 682 #7,643
2001 modern 661 #7,692
2002 modern 655 #7,896
2003 modern 650 #7,830
2004 modern 623 #8,109
2005 modern 606 #8,216
2006 modern 592 #8,368
2007 modern 605 #8,297
2008 modern 598 #8,437
2009 modern 617 #8,414
2010 modern 642 #8,326
2011 modern 628 #8,384
2012 modern 614 #8,453
2013 modern 618 #8,538
2014 modern 614 #8,643
2015 modern 599 #8,750
2016 modern 601 #8,708

Geography

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Where Blaggs are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ordsall, Bridgford, East, Davenham, East Retford and Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Bassetlaw, Rushcliffe and Bolsover. 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 Ordsall Nottinghamshire
2 Bridgford, East Nottinghamshire
3 Davenham Cheshire
4 East Retford Nottinghamshire
5 Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard Nottinghamshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Bassetlaw 005 Bassetlaw
2 Rushcliffe 001 Rushcliffe
3 Bolsover 002 Bolsover
4 Bassetlaw 009 Bassetlaw
5 Bassetlaw 008 Bassetlaw

Forenames

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First names often paired with Blagg

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Blagg

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

Blagg 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

Blagg 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 Blagg is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Blagg

The surname Blagg is of English origin, with roots dating back to the 13th century. It is derived from the Old English word "blæc," meaning "black" or "dark," and was likely initially used as a nickname for someone with dark hair or a swarthy complexion.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Blagg can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Staffordshire in 1199, where it is listed as "Blac." Over time, the spelling evolved to its modern form, Blagg.

In the 14th century, the Blagg surname appeared in various historical records, including the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire in 1327, where it was spelled "Blagge." This suggests that the name had spread to different regions of England by this time.

A notable early bearer of the Blagg surname was John Blagg, who lived in the 15th century and was mentioned in the Court Rolls of the Manor of Wakefield in Yorkshire in 1459.

The Blagg surname is also associated with several place names in England, such as Blagg Mere in Staffordshire and Blagg Lane in Lancashire, further indicating the long-standing presence of the name in various parts of the country.

Throughout history, several individuals with the surname Blagg have left their mark. One such person was Robert Blagg (1795-1878), an English architect and surveyor who designed several notable buildings in London, including the Royal Panopticon of Science and Art.

Another notable figure was Thomas Blagg (1617-1688), an English Roman Catholic priest who served as a chaplain to Queen Catherine of Braganza, the wife of King Charles II.

In the 18th century, John Blagg (1711-1768) was an English clergyman and author who wrote several religious works, including "The Scriptural Testimonies in Favour of the Divinity of Christ Vindicated."

Mary Blagg (1858-1944) was a British artist known for her paintings of landscapes and portraits, while William Henry Blagg (1856-1925) was an English cricketer who played for Gloucestershire County Cricket Club in the late 19th century.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Blagg families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Blagg 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. Nottinghamshire leads with 156 Blaggs recorded in 1881 and an index of 21.85x.

County Total Index
Nottinghamshire 156 21.85x
Lancashire 80 1.27x
Cheshire 66 5.64x
Yorkshire 44 0.84x
Middlesex 39 0.74x
Staffordshire 38 2.13x
Lincolnshire 20 2.36x
Shropshire 16 3.50x
Surrey 13 0.50x
Derbyshire 12 1.45x
Norfolk 7 0.86x
Somerset 7 0.82x
Durham 6 0.38x
Kent 6 0.33x
Sussex 6 0.67x
Cambridgeshire 4 1.19x
Gloucestershire 4 0.39x
Leicestershire 4 0.68x
Essex 2 0.19x
Hertfordshire 2 0.55x
Suffolk 2 0.31x
Bedfordshire 1 0.36x
Berkshire 1 0.25x
Caernarfonshire 1 0.47x
Lanarkshire 1 0.06x
Montgomeryshire 1 0.82x
Northamptonshire 1 0.20x
Oxfordshire 1 0.31x
Warwickshire 1 0.07x
Worcestershire 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. Ordsall in Nottinghamshire leads with 26 Blaggs recorded in 1881 and an index of 475.32x.

Place Total Index
Ordsall 26 475.32x
Wharton 23 361.07x
Oldham 20 9.86x
Clarborough 19 355.81x
East Bridgford 18 1104.29x
Stoke Upon Trent 16 8.44x
Kensington London 14 4.75x
Cheadle 11 128.06x
Stockport 10 16.62x
Drayton In Hales 9 95.44x
East Retford 9 145.40x
Hunslet 9 11.00x
Salford 9 4.87x
Worksop 9 42.51x
Anlaby 8 701.75x
Bethnal Green London 8 3.48x
Nottingham St Mary 8 4.33x
Beswick 7 43.56x
Holbeck 7 1555.56x
Langford 7 2333.33x
Stoke St Gregory 7 270.27x
Bingham 6 197.37x
Chester St John Baptist 6 28.54x
Flawborough 6 4285.71x
Great Yarmouth 6 8.89x
Greencroft 6 207.61x
Halliwell 6 26.24x
Little Bolton 6 7.42x
North Meols 6 9.75x
Quarrington 6 909.09x
South Collingham 6 425.53x
Ashton Under Lyne 5 3.64x
Handsworth 5 36.02x
North Collingham 5 297.62x
Openshaw 5 16.98x
Scarcliff 5 446.43x
Spittlegate 5 42.70x
Tooting Graveney 5 69.64x
Wales 5 120.48x
Willaston In Nantwich 5 138.50x
Buerton In Nantwich 4 470.59x
Burslem 4 7.81x
Chelsea London 4 2.51x
Epperstone 4 506.33x
Finchley 4 19.69x
Manchester 4 1.42x
Nantwich 4 29.43x
Pendleton In Salford 4 5.34x
Preston 4 25.66x
Rotherham 4 13.52x
Sandiacre 4 135.14x
Scarrington 4 1052.63x
St Clement Cambridge 4 287.77x
Aldbrough 3 967.74x
Audlem 3 108.70x
Broughton In Salford 3 5.22x
Carlton 3 36.81x
Clifton 3 5.71x
Flintham 3 434.78x
Harworth 3 300.00x
Haxey 3 83.33x
Kinderton Cum Hulme 3 306.12x
Leicester St Nicholas 3 90.09x
Madeley 3 17.88x
Milton In Milton 3 39.06x
Newark Upon Trent 3 11.69x
Whitchurch 3 33.78x
Whitechapel London 3 5.75x
Wolstanton 3 5.52x
Church Coppenhall 2 38.24x
Clapham 2 3.02x
Ecclesall Bierlow 2 1.87x
Folkingham 2 192.31x
Garston 2 10.78x
Gorleston 2 12.20x
Islington London 2 0.39x
Lambeth 2 0.43x
New Sleaford 2 36.83x
Repton 2 63.90x
Sheffield 2 1.20x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 37
Sarah 30
Elizabeth 26
Ann 14
Annie 11
Charlotte 8
Eliza 8
Jane 8
Alice 7
Emily 7
Hannah 7
Margaret 6
Frances 5
Harriet 5
Betsy 4
Emma 4
Maria 4
Martha 4
Susan 4
Amelia 3
Ellen 3
Grace 3
Louisa 3
Selina 3
Ada 2
Agnes 2
Anne 2
Eva 2
Florence 2
Gertrude 2
Kate 2
Matilda 2
Rebecca 2
Rose 2
Susannah 2
Beatrice 1
Catherine 1
Clara 1
Elizth. 1
Emeline 1
Ethel 1
Fanney 1
Fanny 1
Isabelle 1
Jenie 1
Jessie 1
Julia 1
Katie 1
L. 1
Winifred 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 41
George 30
John 27
Henry 13
Thomas 13
Joseph 12
Arthur 11
Charles 11
James 8
Samuel 8
Francis 4
Harry 4
Robert 4
Tom 4
Walter 4
Edward 3
Frank 3
Herbert 3
Albert 2
Alfred 2
Daniel 2
David 2
Enos 2
Ernest 2
Frederic 2
Frederick 2
Percy 2
Sidney 2
Chrisn. 1
Edmund 1
Edwin 1
Eli 1
Fred 1
Humphrey 1
J.H.M. 1
Jacob 1
Jas. 1
Josuah 1
Matthew 1
Page 1
Peter 1
Rd. 1
Reuben 1
Richard 1
Richd. 1
Robt. 1
Sam 1
Saml. 1
Sep 1
Wm.T. 1

FAQ

Blagg surname: questions and answers

How common was the Blagg surname in 1881?

In 1881, 542 people were recorded with the Blagg surname. That placed it at #6,362 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Blagg surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 601 in 2016. That gives Blagg a modern rank of #8,708.

What does the Blagg surname mean?

Derived from a nickname for someone with dark hair or a swarthy complexion, from Middle English "blagg" meaning "black."

What does the Blagg map show?

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