NameCensus.

UK surname

Blakelock

A topographic surname derived from a residence near a dark or black loch (lake).

In the 1881 census there were 140 people recorded with the Blakelock surname, ranking it #16,151 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 283, ranked #15,359, up from #16,151 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Pickering, London parishes and Monkwearmouth. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include County Durham, Stockton-on-Tees and Sunderland.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Blakelock is 291 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 102.1%.

1881 census count

140

Ranked #16,151

Modern count

283

2016, ranked #15,359

Peak year

1999

291 bearers

Map years

8

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Blakelock had 140 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #16,151 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 283 in 2016, ranked #15,359.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 288 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Young Families in Industrial Towns.

Blakelock surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Blakelock surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Blakelock 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 122 #14,966
1861 historical 74 #24,370
1881 historical 140 #16,151
1891 historical 184 #15,869
1901 historical 250 #13,136
1911 historical 288 #11,757
1997 modern 268 #14,585
1998 modern 285 #14,351
1999 modern 291 #14,234
2000 modern 282 #14,532
2001 modern 279 #14,408
2002 modern 289 #14,341
2003 modern 278 #14,540
2004 modern 263 #15,189
2005 modern 254 #15,480
2006 modern 260 #15,329
2007 modern 258 #15,554
2008 modern 267 #15,349
2009 modern 272 #15,475
2010 modern 277 #15,595
2011 modern 274 #15,571
2012 modern 264 #15,904
2013 modern 265 #16,138
2014 modern 272 #15,949
2015 modern 273 #15,789
2016 modern 283 #15,359

Geography

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Where Blakelocks are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Pickering, London parishes, Monkwearmouth, Birstall and Bishop Wearmouth. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to County Durham, Stockton-on-Tees and Sunderland. 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 Pickering Yorkshire, North Riding
2 London parishes London 3
3 Monkwearmouth Durham
4 Birstall Yorkshire, West Riding
5 Bishop Wearmouth Durham

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 County Durham 018 County Durham
2 Stockton-on-Tees 003 Stockton-on-Tees
3 County Durham 028 County Durham
4 County Durham 038 County Durham
5 Sunderland 012 Sunderland

Forenames

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First names often paired with Blakelock

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Blakelock

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

Young Families in Industrial Towns

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods house predominantly young, UK-born individuals identifying with a White ethnic group with dependent children. Long-term disability and unpaid care are prevalent, and religious affiliations are uncommon. Housing is terraced or semi-detached and social rented sector housing is the norm. Unemployment is above the Supergroup average, and employment is principally in elementary occupations, as process plant and machine operatives, or in caring and leisure services. Educational attainment is low. The group is scattered throughout former industrial towns in the Midlands and the South Wales Valleys.

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Blakelock 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

Blakelock is most concentrated in decile 8 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Blakelock 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 Blakelock is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 25-30 mbit/s.

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

5
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Blakelock

The surname Blakelock is of English origin, with its roots traced back to the medieval period. It is believed to have emerged as a locational name, derived from a place called Blacklock or Blakelock, likely referring to a dark or gloomy enclosed area.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Staffordshire from 1195, where it appears as "Blakelok." This ancient spelling suggests that the name may have initially been descriptive, referring to someone who lived near or was associated with a dark or obscured enclosure.

During the 13th century, the surname Blakelock began to spread across various regions of England, particularly in counties such as Staffordshire, Derbyshire, and Cheshire. The variations in spelling, including Blakelocke, Blacklock, and Blakeloke, were common during this period, reflecting the inconsistencies in record-keeping and regional dialects.

Notably, the name Blakelock appeared in the renowned Domesday Book, a comprehensive record of landholdings and property rights in England compiled in 1086 by order of William the Conqueror. This early mention suggests that the name was well-established by the late 11th century.

Throughout history, several individuals bearing the surname Blakelock have left their mark. One notable figure was Sir John Blakelock (c. 1520-1589), a prominent English politician and member of Parliament during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. Another was Richard Blakelock (1650-1719), a respected English theologian and author who served as the Archdeacon of Buckingham.

In the literary realm, the name Blakelock is associated with the English poet and writer, Thomas Blakelock (1786-1863), whose works explored themes of nature and the rural countryside. Additionally, the renowned American landscape painter, Ralph Albert Blakelock (1847-1919), is celebrated for his atmospheric and mystical depictions of the natural world.

The surname Blakelock has also been carried by notable individuals in more recent times, such as the British artist and illustrator, Denys Blakelock (1914-1987), known for his contributions to children's literature, and the American actor and filmmaker, Ralph Blakelock (1902-1968), who appeared in several Hollywood productions during the golden age of cinema.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Blakelock families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Blakelock 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 48 Blakelocks recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.91x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 48 3.91x
Durham 32 8.68x
Lincolnshire 17 8.58x
Middlesex 8 0.65x
Midlothian 8 4.82x
Bedfordshire 5 7.80x
Surrey 4 0.66x
Norfolk 2 1.05x
Northumberland 2 1.09x
Lancashire 1 0.07x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Pickering in Yorkshire leads with 20 Blakelocks recorded in 1881 and an index of 1290.32x.

Place Total Index
Pickering 20 1290.32x
Harome 11 5789.47x
Monkwearmouth Shore 9 125.17x
Edinburgh St Stephens 8 244.65x
Hutton Henry 8 1025.64x
Cleckheaton 7 154.87x
Great Grimsby 6 47.73x
Kensington London 6 8.71x
Bedford St Peter 5 299.40x
Hylton 5 769.23x
Middlesbrough 5 31.29x
Battersea 4 8.78x
Bishopwearmouth 4 12.65x
Louth 4 88.11x
Binbrooke 3 612.24x
Covenham St Bartholomew 2 2000.00x
Gimingham 2 1666.67x
Longbenton 2 25.61x
Stockton On Tees 2 11.26x
Sunderland 2 30.72x
East Broughton 1 238.10x
Elwick 1 1000.00x
Hemlington 1 2500.00x
Horbury 1 46.51x
Leeds 1 1.44x
Little Grimsby 1 5000.00x
Pudsey 1 15.24x
St Pancras London 1 1.00x
Thirsk 1 70.42x
Utterby 1 833.33x
Westoe 1 4.79x
Whitechapel London 1 8.19x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Sarah 6
Elizabeth 4
Mary 4
Jane 3
Alice 2
Annie 2
Elizebth. 2
Ellen 2
Emma 2
Esther 2
Harriet 2
Margaret 2
Adelaide 1
Ann 1
Barbara 1
Beatrice 1
Catherine 1
Elanor 1
Elizath. 1
Evangeline 1
Evengerline 1
Fanny 1
Frances 1
Henrietta 1
Isabella 1
Lettia 1
Lilly 1
Louisa 1
Lucy 1
Martha 1
Rena 1
Susannah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
George 13
John 8
Charles 4
Joseph 4
Ralph 4
Robert 4
William 4
Frederick 3
Thomas 3
Clive 2
Herbert 2
Arthur 1
Christopher 1
Edward 1
Francis 1
Fredk. 1
Gerald 1
Harry 1
Henry 1
James 1
Luke 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Blakelock surname: questions and answers

How common was the Blakelock surname in 1881?

In 1881, 140 people were recorded with the Blakelock surname. That placed it at #16,151 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Blakelock surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 283 in 2016. That gives Blakelock a modern rank of #15,359.

What does the Blakelock surname mean?

A topographic surname derived from a residence near a dark or black loch (lake).

What does the Blakelock map show?

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