NameCensus.

UK surname

Blaine

A Scottish and Irish topographic surname referring to someone who lived on a moor or open plain.

In the 1881 census there were 77 people recorded with the Blaine surname, ranking it #22,617 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 209, ranked #19,009, up from #22,617 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Cheshunt St Mary, Hawick and Wilton and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Rochdale, West Lindsey and Cheshire East.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Blaine is 209 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 171.4%.

1881 census count

77

Ranked #22,617

Modern count

209

2016, ranked #19,009

Peak year

2016

209 bearers

Map years

5

1891 to 2016

Key insights

  • Blaine had 77 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #22,617 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 209 in 2016, ranked #19,009.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 144 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Blaine surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Blaine surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Blaine 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 33 #27,390
1861 historical 64 #25,747
1881 historical 77 #22,617
1891 historical 144 #18,842
1901 historical 111 #21,492
1911 historical 82 #24,635
1997 modern 141 #21,941
1998 modern 152 #21,481
1999 modern 161 #20,868
2000 modern 170 #20,120
2001 modern 165 #20,199
2002 modern 167 #20,457
2003 modern 155 #21,217
2004 modern 163 #20,685
2005 modern 166 #20,379
2006 modern 169 #20,294
2007 modern 165 #20,893
2008 modern 166 #20,966
2009 modern 179 #20,418
2010 modern 189 #20,171
2011 modern 197 #19,483
2012 modern 194 #19,606
2013 modern 194 #19,932
2014 modern 200 #19,713
2015 modern 198 #19,714
2016 modern 209 #19,009

Geography

Back to top

Where Blaines are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Cheshunt St Mary, Hawick and Wilton, London parishes, Manchester and Walcott, Charlcome. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Rochdale, West Lindsey, Cheshire East, Basildon and Harborough. 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 Cheshunt St Mary Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts)
2 Hawick and Wilton Roxburgh
3 London parishes London 3
4 Manchester Lancashire
5 Walcott, Charlcome Somerset

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Rochdale 022 Rochdale
2 West Lindsey 007 West Lindsey
3 Cheshire East 019 Cheshire East
4 Basildon 014 Basildon
5 Harborough 009 Harborough

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Blaine

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Blaine

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Blaine, 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 Blaine surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Blaine household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Blaine 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

Blaine 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

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

Meaning and origin of Blaine

The surname Blaine has its origins in France and is derived from the Old French word "blain" or "blein," which means "discolored" or "pale." This name likely originated as a nickname for someone with a light complexion or pale appearance.

The name can be traced back to the 11th century in Normandy, France, where it was first recorded as "de Blain" or "de Blein." These early forms suggest that the name may have been associated with a specific place or region within Normandy.

One of the earliest known records of the name Blaine is found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a survey commissioned by William the Conqueror to record land ownership and taxation in England. The name appears as "Blainus" and "Blein" in this historic document.

In the 12th century, the name Blaine began to spread across England and other parts of Europe, often taking on different spellings such as "Blayne," "Blane," and "Blain." This variation in spelling was common during this period due to the lack of standardized spelling conventions.

Notable individuals with the surname Blaine throughout history include:

1. James G. Blaine (1830-1893), an American statesman who served as a U.S. Senator from Maine and was the Republican nominee for President in 1884.

2. Mahlon Dickerson Blaine (1819-1889), an American jurist and politician who served as a judge and as the United States Secretary of the Interior under President Zachary Taylor.

3. Robert Blaine (c. 1459-1536), a Scottish clergyman who served as the Bishop of Aberdeen and was a prominent figure during the Scottish Reformation.

4. Vivien Blaine (1921-1995), an American actress and singer best known for her role as Miss Adelaide in the original Broadway production of "Guys and Dolls."

5. Hubert Blaine Wolfeschlegelsteinhausenbergerdorff Sr. (1904-1985), an American man who held the record for the longest personal name in the Guinness Book of World Records until 2012.

Throughout its history, the surname Blaine has been associated with various place names and locations, such as Blain in Brittany, France, and Blaine in Washington, United States, which was named after James G. Blaine. The name continues to be found in many countries around the world, reflecting its enduring presence throughout the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Blaine families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Blaine 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. Lanarkshire leads with 11 Blaines recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.65x.

County Total Index
Lanarkshire 11 4.65x
Middlesex 11 1.50x
Cheshire 9 5.57x
Hertfordshire 7 13.88x
Lancashire 7 0.81x
Somerset 6 5.10x
Roxburghshire 5 37.74x
Gloucestershire 4 2.79x
Sussex 3 2.43x
Perthshire 2 6.09x
Surrey 2 0.56x
Berwickshire 1 11.29x
Derbyshire 1 0.87x
Devon 1 0.66x
Kent 1 0.40x
Leicestershire 1 1.23x
Staffordshire 1 0.41x
Wigtownshire 1 10.30x
Yorkshire 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. Cheshunt in Hertfordshire leads with 7 Blaines recorded in 1881 and an index of 397.73x.

Place Total Index
Cheshunt 7 397.73x
Kensington London 6 14.75x
Maryhill 6 129.59x
Chorlton On Medlock 5 36.26x
Wilton 5 344.83x
Marple 4 360.36x
Walcot 4 63.80x
Birkenhead 3 23.31x
Bristol St Paul In 3 78.53x
Govan 3 5.13x
Henfield 3 638.30x
Hackney London 2 4.88x
Hornsey 2 21.62x
Killin 2 625.00x
Oakmere 2 2000.00x
Yeovil 2 83.68x
Ashton Under Lyne 1 5.27x
Barlborough 1 238.10x
Barony 1 1.67x
Bawtry 1 434.78x
Burnley 1 13.68x
Camberwell 1 2.14x
Cottesbach 1 2000.00x
Eltham 1 68.49x
Glasgow 1 2.38x
Kingswinford 1 11.15x
Lauder 1 204.08x
Paddington London 1 3.72x
Penninghame 1 101.01x
Rotherhithe 1 11.06x
Shipton Moyne 1 909.09x
Tormoham 1 15.53x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 6
Sarah 4
Ann 2
Emma 2
Annie 1
Caroline 1
Catherine 1
Charity 1
Edith 1
Eliz. 1
Elizabeth 1
Emily 1
Fanny 1
Helen 1
Jane 1
Kate 1
Mabel 1
Maude 1
Olive 1
Susan 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Charles 3
George 3
Joseph 3
William 3
Delalere 2
Edward 2
John 2
Benjamin 1
Ernest 1
Flemming 1
Frdk.J. 1
Frederick 1
Gilbert 1
Lucas 1

Top occupations

Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Blaine households.

FAQ

Blaine surname: questions and answers

How common was the Blaine surname in 1881?

In 1881, 77 people were recorded with the Blaine surname. That placed it at #22,617 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Blaine surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 209 in 2016. That gives Blaine a modern rank of #19,009.

What does the Blaine surname mean?

A Scottish and Irish topographic surname referring to someone who lived on a moor or open plain.

What does the Blaine map show?

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