NameCensus.

UK surname

Blakeley

From the Old English words "blæc" and "lēah," referring to a person who lived by a dark wood or clearing.

In the 1881 census there were 1,241 people recorded with the Blakeley surname, ranking it #3,271 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,783, ranked #3,532, down from #3,271 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Thornhill, Manchester and Batley. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Kirklees and Wigan.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Blakeley is 1,963 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 43.7%.

1881 census count

1,241

Ranked #3,271

Modern count

1,783

2016, ranked #3,532

Peak year

1911

1,963 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Blakeley had 1,241 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,271 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,783 in 2016, ranked #3,532.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,963 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Blakeley surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Blakeley surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Blakeley 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 784 #3,406
1861 historical 654 #4,101
1881 historical 1,241 #3,271
1891 historical 1,342 #3,248
1901 historical 1,679 #3,072
1911 historical 1,963 #2,530
1997 modern 1,775 #3,373
1998 modern 1,785 #3,474
1999 modern 1,810 #3,458
2000 modern 1,798 #3,461
2001 modern 1,738 #3,497
2002 modern 1,753 #3,554
2003 modern 1,720 #3,545
2004 modern 1,733 #3,515
2005 modern 1,717 #3,509
2006 modern 1,711 #3,525
2007 modern 1,720 #3,540
2008 modern 1,744 #3,526
2009 modern 1,762 #3,565
2010 modern 1,814 #3,541
2011 modern 1,797 #3,537
2012 modern 1,744 #3,563
2013 modern 1,774 #3,571
2014 modern 1,777 #3,582
2015 modern 1,778 #3,554
2016 modern 1,783 #3,532

Geography

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Where Blakeleys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Thornhill, Manchester, Batley, Dewsbury and Prestwich. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Kirklees 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 Thornhill Yorkshire, West Riding
2 Manchester Lancashire
3 Batley Yorkshire, West Riding
4 Dewsbury Yorkshire, West Riding
5 Prestwich Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Kirklees 002 Kirklees
2 Kirklees 006 Kirklees
3 Kirklees 028 Kirklees
4 Wigan 034 Wigan
5 Kirklees 018 Kirklees

Forenames

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First names often paired with Blakeley

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Blakeley

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

Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living

Nationally, the Blakeley surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Blakeley household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Families with resident dependent children (but not students) are common. Established family groups and White ethnicity predominate, as do individuals born in the UK. They are more likely than the Supergroup average to have been resident in their terraced, semi-detached, or detached houses for more than one year. Levels of multiple car ownership are high. Properties are owned and typically have surplus living space. Associate professionals and administrative occupations are prevalent, and parents are likely to be in middle age or approaching retirement. Educational attainment is above the Supergroup average. Scattered developments and concentrations are found in many small towns.

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, Blakeley 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

Blakeley 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

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

Meaning and origin of Blakeley

The surname Blakeley originated in England, deriving from the Old English words 'blæc' meaning 'black' and 'leah' meaning 'woodland' or 'clearing'. It is believed to have first appeared in the 11th century as a locational name for someone residing near a dark forest or wooded area.

One of the earliest recorded references to the name Blakeley can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of landowners and tenants commissioned by William the Conqueror. In this document, the name is spelled as 'Blachelie'.

During the Middle Ages, the name Blakeley was relatively common in various parts of England, particularly in the northern counties of Lancashire and Yorkshire. Different spellings such as 'Blackley', 'Blakeley', and 'Blakely' were used interchangeably.

A notable bearer of the name Blakeley was John Blakeley (c. 1600-1662), an English politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Wigan during the English Civil War. Another prominent figure was Sir Edward Blakeley (1723-1781), a British naval officer who played a significant role in the American Revolutionary War.

In the 19th century, the name Blakeley gained further recognition with the accomplishments of Johnston Blakeley (1781-1814), an American naval officer and captain of the USS Wasp during the War of 1812. His victories over British ships earned him fame and the nickname "The Hero of the Wasp".

Another individual of note was William Blakeley (1830-1898), an Australian politician and businessman who served as the Premier of South Australia from 1892 to 1898. He was instrumental in promoting economic development and infrastructure projects in the state.

The surname Blakeley has also been associated with various place names in England, such as Blakeley Mere in Staffordshire and Blakeley Nook in Lancashire. These locations likely took their names from early settlers with the Blakeley surname.

While the name Blakeley has undergone various spelling variations over the centuries, it remains a notable surname with a rich history rooted in the English countryside and the individuals who bore it throughout the ages.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Blakeley families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Blakeley 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 601 Blakeleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.01x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 601 5.01x
Lancashire 344 2.39x
Middlesex 40 0.33x
Cheshire 38 1.42x
Essex 38 1.59x
Lanarkshire 38 0.97x
Surrey 35 0.59x
Staffordshire 21 0.51x
Kent 14 0.34x
Nottinghamshire 11 0.67x
Ayrshire 7 0.77x
Norfolk 7 0.38x
Worcestershire 7 0.44x
Midlothian 6 0.37x
Leicestershire 5 0.37x
Northamptonshire 5 0.44x
Northumberland 5 0.28x
Derbyshire 3 0.16x
Herefordshire 3 0.60x
Warwickshire 3 0.10x
Durham 2 0.06x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.14x
Channel Islands 1 0.28x
Cumberland 1 0.10x
Devon 1 0.04x
Hampshire 1 0.04x
Royal Navy 1 0.69x
Sussex 1 0.05x
Wiltshire 1 0.09x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Batley in Yorkshire leads with 158 Blakeleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 138.60x.

Place Total Index
Batley 158 138.60x
Soothill 49 113.09x
Pendleton In Salford 43 25.13x
Dewsbury 33 26.82x
Thornhill 32 91.43x
Leeds 28 4.13x
Manchester 26 4.02x
Horbury 23 109.63x
Ardwick 20 15.44x
Morley 20 32.07x
Salford 19 4.50x
Ashton Under Lyne 18 5.73x
Camberwell 18 2.33x
Chorlton On Medlock 18 7.89x
Barnsley 16 12.93x
Alverthorpe Cum Thornes 15 34.44x
Gorton 14 10.37x
Moss Side 14 18.52x
South Crosland 14 110.85x
Bramley In Bramley 13 28.31x
Stayley 13 42.57x
Wakefield 13 14.12x
Barton Upon Irwell 12 11.10x
Gomersal 12 21.43x
Mirfield 12 18.22x
Atherton 11 21.04x
Govan 11 1.14x
New Monkland 11 9.50x
Prittlewell 11 33.21x
St Pancras London 11 1.13x
Walsall Foreign 11 5.21x
Carnwath 10 41.31x
Farnworth 10 11.62x
Heap 10 13.13x
Heckmondwike 10 25.92x
Prestwich 10 27.90x
Rothwell 10 41.27x
Holy Trinity 9 3.12x
Hulme 9 3.00x
Bradford 8 2.75x
Keighley 8 6.26x
Pudsey 8 12.48x
Rochford 8 115.11x
Southcoates 8 12.01x
St Luke London 8 4.12x
Basford 7 9.31x
Chorley 7 8.68x
Heigham 7 7.01x
Hunslet 7 3.74x
Ince In Makerfield 7 10.47x
Newton 7 6.32x
St Botolph Aldgate London 7 28.08x
Chatham 6 5.28x
Conisbrough 6 53.33x
Elton 6 12.09x
Harpurhey 6 30.09x
Liversedge 6 11.24x
Newington 6 1.34x
Normanton 6 16.64x
Shitlington 6 48.35x
Toxteth Park 6 1.23x
Arthington 5 268.82x
East Ardsley 5 48.12x
Evesham All Sts 5 67.84x
Glasgow 5 0.72x
Huddersfield 5 2.86x
Kirkheaton 5 25.69x
North Meols 5 3.56x
Oundle 5 39.28x
Skircoat 5 10.57x
West Horsley 5 201.61x
Wolverhampton 5 1.59x
Wortley In Bramley 5 5.26x
Almondbury 4 6.90x
Kilmarnock 4 3.71x
Leicester St Margaret 4 1.22x
Macclesfield 4 3.37x
Monks Coppenhall 4 3.97x
Sutton In Macclesfield 4 14.42x
Withington 4 8.64x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 80
Sarah 64
Elizabeth 32
Ann 29
Emma 27
Martha 27
Hannah 25
Jane 25
Annie 24
Alice 20
Emily 16
Eliza 13
Harriet 13
Margaret 13
Ada 11
Edith 9
Ellen 9
Maria 9
Frances 7
Florence 6
Amelia 5
Catherine 5
Charlotte 5
Clara 5
Amy 4
Anne 4
Betsy 4
Gertrude 4
Rebecca 4
Rachel 3
Ruth 3
Anice 2
Anna 2
Beatrice 2
Caroline 2
Eleanor 2
Elizth. 2
Helen 2
Hephzibah 2
Kate 2
Lilian 2
Lilley 2
Louisa 2
Lydia 2
Maggie 2
Matilda 2
Nancy 2
Nellie 2
Nelly 2
Rose 2

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 71
William 59
James 39
Thomas 35
George 33
Joseph 33
Samuel 22
Henry 20
Charles 13
Edward 13
Alfred 11
Fred 11
Harry 10
Robert 10
Arthur 9
David 9
Richard 9
Walter 9
Albert 8
Benjamin 7
Tom 6
Ernest 5
Frank 5
Herbert 5
Thos. 5
Frederick 4
Geo. 4
Isaac 4
Ben 3
Jas. 3
Joe 3
Mark 3
Willie 3
Wm. 3
Edwin 2
Ellis 2
Fredrick 2
Hugh 2
Jno. 2
Joshua 2
Luke 2
Percy 2
Seth 2
Wright 2
Benjman 1
Bernard 1
C.H.T. 1
Edwd. 1
Egerton 1
Elijah 1

FAQ

Blakeley surname: questions and answers

How common was the Blakeley surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,241 people were recorded with the Blakeley surname. That placed it at #3,271 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Blakeley surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,783 in 2016. That gives Blakeley a modern rank of #3,532.

What does the Blakeley surname mean?

From the Old English words "blæc" and "lēah," referring to a person who lived by a dark wood or clearing.

What does the Blakeley map show?

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