NameCensus.

UK surname

Blain

A Scottish and Irish topographical surname denoting someone who lived by a blain, a blister or sore.

In the 1881 census there were 1,037 people recorded with the Blain surname, ranking it #3,787 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,347, ranked #4,475, down from #3,787 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Inch, Stranraer and Glasgow. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Stranraer South, Machars South and Cheshire West and Chester.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Blain is 1,427 in 2002. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 29.9%.

1881 census count

1,037

Ranked #3,787

Modern count

1,347

2016, ranked #4,475

Peak year

2002

1,427 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Blain had 1,037 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,787 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,347 in 2016, ranked #4,475.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,318 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Blain surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Blain surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Blain 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 789 #3,380
1861 historical 916 #3,026
1881 historical 1,037 #3,787
1891 historical 1,199 #3,573
1901 historical 1,318 #3,795
1911 historical 880 #5,059
1997 modern 1,319 #4,345
1998 modern 1,380 #4,327
1999 modern 1,402 #4,299
2000 modern 1,415 #4,250
2001 modern 1,383 #4,257
2002 modern 1,427 #4,226
2003 modern 1,360 #4,317
2004 modern 1,351 #4,350
2005 modern 1,336 #4,341
2006 modern 1,352 #4,313
2007 modern 1,373 #4,301
2008 modern 1,388 #4,285
2009 modern 1,396 #4,343
2010 modern 1,402 #4,396
2011 modern 1,389 #4,388
2012 modern 1,360 #4,403
2013 modern 1,368 #4,453
2014 modern 1,375 #4,455
2015 modern 1,361 #4,449
2016 modern 1,347 #4,475

Geography

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Where Blains are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Inch, Stranraer, Glasgow, Northill, Sandy and Colmonell. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Stranraer South, Machars South, Cheshire West and Chester, Ibrox and Wigan. 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 Inch Wigtown
2 Stranraer Wigtown
3 Glasgow Lanark
4 Northill, Sandy Bedfordshire
5 Colmonell Ayr

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Stranraer South Dumfries and Galloway
2 Machars South Dumfries and Galloway
3 Cheshire West and Chester 019 Cheshire West and Chester
4 Ibrox Glasgow City
5 Wigan 025 Wigan

Forenames

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First names often paired with Blain

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Blain

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Blain surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Blain household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Blain 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.

Read profile summary

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

Blain is most concentrated in decile 3 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

3
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Blain falls in decile 5 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Blain

The surname BLAIN has its origins in France and dates back to medieval times. It is believed to have derived from the Old French word "blain" or "blain", which meant a small sore or blister. This could suggest that the name may have been a nickname or descriptive name given to someone who had a distinctive physical feature or mark.

The earliest recorded instances of the name BLAIN can be traced back to the 12th century in various regions of France, such as Normandy and Brittany. It is possible that the name may have also been associated with certain place names or localities that have since been lost to history.

In the 13th century, there are records of a Jean Blain who was a prominent landowner in the Normandy region of France. Another notable figure was Étienne Blain, a French poet and scholar born in 1472 who was known for his literary works and contributions to the Renaissance movement.

During the 16th century, the name BLAIN appeared in various historical documents and records across different parts of France. One notable example is Guillaume Blain, a French explorer and navigator who was part of an expedition to the New World in the late 1500s.

As the name spread through Europe, it also found its way to other countries. In England, there are records of a John Blain who was a prominent merchant and trader in the city of London during the 17th century.

Another notable figure with the surname BLAIN was Jean-Baptiste Blain, a French Catholic priest and biographer who lived from 1651 to 1719. He is best known for his literary works and biographies of influential religious figures of his time.

Throughout the centuries, the surname BLAIN has been associated with various professions and fields, from poets and scholars to explorers and merchants. While the name may have originated as a descriptive nickname, it has since become a distinct and recognized surname carried by individuals across different parts of the world.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Blain families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Blain 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. Cheshire leads with 137 Blains recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.12x.

County Total Index
Cheshire 137 6.12x
Ayrshire 130 17.12x
Wigtownshire 127 94.28x
Lancashire 111 0.92x
Middlesex 51 0.50x
Cumberland 47 5.38x
Kirkcudbrightshire 43 29.28x
Bedfordshire 41 7.80x
Northumberland 36 2.39x
Durham 32 1.06x
Yorkshire 32 0.32x
Midlothian 30 2.21x
Lanarkshire 26 0.79x
Staffordshire 25 0.73x
Hertfordshire 20 2.86x
Renfrewshire 19 2.42x
Essex 17 0.85x
Surrey 16 0.32x
Kent 12 0.35x
Warwickshire 12 0.47x
Norfolk 7 0.45x
Glamorgan 6 0.34x
Stirlingshire 6 1.60x
West Lothian 6 3.93x
Angus 5 0.53x
Dumfriesshire 5 2.23x
Lincolnshire 5 0.31x
Nottinghamshire 5 0.37x
Perthshire 5 1.10x
Flintshire 4 1.47x
Fife 3 0.50x
Gloucestershire 3 0.15x
Isle of Man 3 1.59x
Monmouthshire 3 0.41x
Worcestershire 2 0.15x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.16x
Cornwall 1 0.09x
Devon 1 0.05x
Dunbartonshire 1 0.37x
East Lothian 1 0.74x
Northamptonshire 1 0.10x
Sussex 1 0.06x
Westmorland 1 0.45x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Norley in Cheshire leads with 38 Blains recorded in 1881 and an index of 1507.94x.

Place Total Index
Norley 38 1507.94x
Sandy 33 356.37x
Birkenhead 19 10.64x
Stranraer 19 154.22x
Inch 17 129.47x
Kirkdale 17 8.39x
Kirknewton East 17 299.30x
Kilmarnock 15 16.60x
Sorbie 15 254.67x
Sorn 15 100.54x
Islington London 14 1.42x
Ballantrae 13 258.96x
Kirkcolm 13 201.24x
Stoneykirk 13 134.99x
Colmonell 12 157.27x
Toxteth Park 12 2.94x
West Ham 12 2.71x
Auckinleck 11 46.81x
Balmaclellan 11 336.39x
Brampton 11 91.90x
Gateshead 11 4.87x
Kirkmabreck 11 171.34x
Penninghame 11 80.06x
West Greenock 11 7.79x
Westoe 11 6.43x
Coylton 10 92.85x
Leswalt 10 108.34x
Liverpool 10 1.37x
Old Cumnock 10 59.14x
Rowley Regis 10 10.48x
Stoke Newington London 10 12.66x
Tarbolton 10 80.06x
Glasgow 9 1.54x
Lowick 9 171.43x
Thornaby 9 23.96x
Chorlton On Medlock 8 4.18x
Dalmellington 8 35.83x
Minnigaff 8 144.93x
Newton On Ayr 8 35.18x
Wednesbury 8 9.35x
Abbots Langley 7 67.37x
Barnton 7 131.09x
Bishopwearmouth 7 2.70x
Bothwell 7 7.87x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 7 1.28x
Kirkinner 7 125.90x
Kirkmaiden 7 82.06x
Lambeth 7 0.79x
Little Budworth 7 372.34x
Plumstead 7 6.07x
Whitby 7 135.40x
Ashton On Mersey 6 51.81x
Barony 6 0.72x
Birmingham 6 0.70x
Blunham 6 168.54x
Crosscanonby 6 20.77x
Falkirk 6 6.85x
Handsworth 6 7.11x
Kelton 6 49.75x
Linlithgow 6 30.63x
Peover Superior 6 283.02x
Sale 6 21.84x
Alnwick 5 19.27x
Antrobus 5 326.80x
Barrow In Furness 5 3.05x
Bootle Cum Linacre 5 5.23x
Brandon 5 59.67x
Bromborough 5 107.53x
Cheetham 5 5.57x
Codicote 5 119.90x
Cornhill 5 220.26x
East Ham 5 13.46x
Everton 5 1.30x
Great Grimsby 5 4.86x
Oakmere 5 352.11x
Swansea Town 5 3.45x
Tulliallan 5 64.77x
Wheathampstead 5 61.88x
Whithorn 5 48.69x
Portpatrick 4 88.69x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 44
Elizabeth 34
Margaret 22
Sarah 19
Ann 15
Jane 13
Annie 12
Ellen 12
Agnes 6
Alice 6
Eliza 6
Catherine 5
Louisa 5
Fanny 4
Frances 4
Harriet 4
Martha 4
Charlotte 3
Clara 3
Emily 3
Florence 3
Isabella 3
Lucy 3
Rosa 3
Amelia 2
Anne 2
Barbara 2
Catherina 2
Celia 2
Dorothy 2
Elen 2
Emma 2
Gertrude 2
Harriett 2
Helen 2
Jessie 2
Josephine 2
Letitia 2
Lizzie 2
Marion 2
Rachel 2
Sophia 2
Susan 2
Elizh. 1
Ella 1
Ellenor 1
Esther 1
Janet 1
Jennet 1
Vashti 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 47
James 43
John 43
Thomas 24
George 19
Joseph 19
Robert 14
Charles 9
Samuel 8
Arthur 7
David 7
Edward 6
Hugh 6
Frederick 4
Henry 4
Alfred 3
Andrew 3
Michael 3
Richard 3
Herbert 2
Thos. 2
Walter 2
Allan 1
Anthony 1
Arbutlind 1
Benjamin 1
Booth 1
Campbell 1
Christopher 1
Emile 1
Emma 1
Ernest 1
Frank 1
Garl 1
Granville 1
Harry 1
Horatio 1
Joe 1
Josiah 1
Lewis 1
Louis 1
Mark 1
Mathew 1
Matthew 1
Percy 1
Peter 1
Quentin 1
Quintin 1
Ralph 1
Zachariah 1

FAQ

Blain surname: questions and answers

How common was the Blain surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,037 people were recorded with the Blain surname. That placed it at #3,787 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Blain surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,347 in 2016. That gives Blain a modern rank of #4,475.

What does the Blain surname mean?

A Scottish and Irish topographical surname denoting someone who lived by a blain, a blister or sore.

What does the Blain map show?

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