NameCensus.

UK surname

Blakeman

An English occupational surname referring to a person with dark hair, complexion, or clothing.

In the 1881 census there were 880 people recorded with the Blakeman surname, ranking it #4,309 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,242, ranked #4,801, down from #4,309 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Stone, Stafford St Mary and St Chad, Tillington and Chipping Campden. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Stafford, Croydon and Staffordshire Moorlands.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Blakeman is 1,340 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 41.1%.

1881 census count

880

Ranked #4,309

Modern count

1,242

2016, ranked #4,801

Peak year

1999

1,340 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Blakeman had 880 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,309 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,242 in 2016, ranked #4,801.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,214 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Blakeman surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Blakeman surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Blakeman 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 553 #4,580
1861 historical 603 #4,390
1881 historical 880 #4,309
1891 historical 909 #4,540
1901 historical 1,071 #4,509
1911 historical 1,214 #3,888
1997 modern 1,173 #4,809
1998 modern 1,322 #4,492
1999 modern 1,340 #4,470
2000 modern 1,325 #4,494
2001 modern 1,289 #4,515
2002 modern 1,301 #4,567
2003 modern 1,282 #4,534
2004 modern 1,276 #4,562
2005 modern 1,237 #4,636
2006 modern 1,226 #4,686
2007 modern 1,236 #4,705
2008 modern 1,231 #4,750
2009 modern 1,268 #4,723
2010 modern 1,295 #4,721
2011 modern 1,266 #4,767
2012 modern 1,212 #4,872
2013 modern 1,273 #4,743
2014 modern 1,277 #4,753
2015 modern 1,243 #4,828
2016 modern 1,242 #4,801

Geography

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Where Blakemans are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Stone, Stafford St Mary and St Chad, Tillington, Chipping Campden, Stoke-on-Trent, Bucknell-cum-Bagnall, Caverswall and London parishes. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Stafford, Croydon, Staffordshire Moorlands and North Warwickshire. 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 Stone Staffordshire
2 Stafford St Mary and St Chad, Tillington Staffordshire
3 Chipping Campden Warwickshire
4 Stoke-on-Trent, Bucknell-cum-Bagnall, Caverswall Staffordshire
5 London parishes London 2

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Stafford 003 Stafford
2 Croydon 034 Croydon
3 Staffordshire Moorlands 009 Staffordshire Moorlands
4 Staffordshire Moorlands 007 Staffordshire Moorlands
5 North Warwickshire 001 North Warwickshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Blakeman

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Blakeman

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Blakeman is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

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

Blakeman 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

Blakeman falls in decile 9 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.

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Blakeman

The surname Blakeman is of English origin, tracing its roots back to the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Old English words "blæc" meaning black and "mann" meaning man, suggesting it was initially a descriptive name applied to someone with dark features or complexion.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire from 1273, where it is listed as Blakeman. This indicates the surname was already well-established in parts of England by the 13th century.

The Blakeman surname is also found in various medieval records and manuscripts, such as the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1327, where it appears as Blakeman. This suggests the name was widespread across different regions of England during this period.

In the 14th century, the Blakeman surname is recorded in the Court Rolls of the Manor of Wakefield in Yorkshire, where it is spelled as Blakeman. This provides evidence of the name's presence in the northern parts of England.

One notable individual bearing the Blakeman surname was John Blakeman, a 15th-century English cleric and scholar who served as the Bishop of Norfolk from 1433 to 1454.

Another historical figure with this surname was Adam Blakeman, a 16th-century English merchant and explorer who embarked on voyages to the Americas and was among the first Englishmen to establish trade relations with the indigenous peoples of the Caribbean.

In the 17th century, the Blakeman surname is found in various parish records and tax rolls across England, indicating its continued presence and spread throughout the country.

One notable bearer of the name during this period was Robert Blakeman, a 17th-century English soldier and military officer who fought in the English Civil War and served under Oliver Cromwell.

In the 18th century, the Blakeman surname appears in various historical records and documents, such as the Hearth Tax Rolls of Shropshire from 1672, where it is listed as Blakeman.

William Blakeman, born in 1720, was a prominent English architect and builder who designed and constructed several notable buildings in London, including St. George's Church in Bloomsbury.

As the surname spread and evolved, various spellings emerged, such as Blackman, Blackeman, and Blakman, reflecting regional variations and dialectal influences. However, the core meaning and origin of the name remained consistent, tracing back to its Old English roots.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Blakeman families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Blakeman 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. Staffordshire leads with 259 Blakemans recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.94x.

County Total Index
Staffordshire 259 8.94x
Warwickshire 188 8.68x
Lancashire 77 0.76x
Worcestershire 55 4.91x
Gloucestershire 54 3.21x
Middlesex 42 0.49x
Cheshire 28 1.48x
Shropshire 28 3.78x
Yorkshire 26 0.31x
Northamptonshire 21 2.60x
Durham 18 0.70x
Hampshire 17 0.97x
Surrey 14 0.33x
Oxfordshire 13 2.45x
Berkshire 8 1.24x
Leicestershire 8 0.84x
Cambridgeshire 7 1.29x
Kent 5 0.17x
Somerset 5 0.36x
Derbyshire 2 0.15x
Devon 2 0.11x
Dorset 1 0.18x
Northumberland 1 0.08x
Nottinghamshire 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. Birmingham in Warwickshire leads with 49 Blakemans recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.79x.

Place Total Index
Birmingham 49 6.79x
Stone 46 124.12x
Chipping Campden 38 693.43x
Aston 36 6.04x
Oldham 34 10.34x
Stoke Upon Trent 27 8.79x
Warwick St Mary 22 117.08x
Stafford St Mary 20 48.76x
Cheddleton 17 280.53x
Swynnerton 17 745.61x
Kings Norton 14 13.93x
Blakesley 12 975.61x
Caverswall 12 79.68x
Coventry Holy Trinity 12 18.56x
Burslem 11 13.25x
Everton 11 3.39x
Ilmington 11 472.10x
Portsea 11 3.19x
Eccleshall 10 90.99x
Lichfield St Michael 10 110.01x
Westoe 10 6.91x
Castle Church 9 51.66x
Coventry St Michael 9 12.94x
Newington 9 2.84x
Normanby In 9 39.58x
Warwick St Nicholas 9 56.68x
Willenhall 9 16.58x
Minsterley 8 291.97x
Newcastle Under Lyme 8 15.60x
Rushall 8 46.92x
St Anne Soho London 8 16.32x
St Pancras London 8 1.16x
Wotton Ville 8 500.00x
Audlem 7 156.60x
Church Coppenhall 7 82.64x
Dudley 7 5.14x
Ely Holy Trinity St Mary 7 29.52x
Neithrop 7 39.28x
Ranton 7 853.66x
Sunderland 7 15.52x
Barford 6 283.02x
Drayton In Hales 6 39.24x
Nantwich 6 27.25x
Wardleworth 6 10.31x
Wednesfield 6 14.07x
Wilton In Guisbrough 6 157.48x
Bedminster 5 3.85x
Hinstock 5 196.85x
Lichfield St Mary 5 59.81x
Newington 5 21.35x
North Middle 5 617.28x
Oxhill 5 625.00x
Pebworth 5 246.31x
Salford 5 1.67x
Seighford 5 216.45x
St George Bloomsbury 5 10.15x
Stockport 5 5.13x
Tredington 5 163.40x
Trentham 5 20.29x
Upton 5 409.84x
West Wickham 5 176.68x
Westminster St James 5 5.67x
Yardley 5 17.43x
Ashton Under Lyne 4 1.80x
Bilston 4 7.12x
Claines 4 13.00x
Denton 4 17.72x
Evesham All Sts 4 76.63x
Exhall 4 121.95x
Floore 4 132.01x
Leamington Priors 4 7.51x
Linthorpe 4 7.88x
Loughborough 4 9.26x
Ratcliffe London 4 8.44x
Tettenhall 4 22.57x
Cannock 3 5.93x
Cheswardine 3 94.94x
Stratford On Avon 3 24.98x
Studley 3 32.40x
Wrockwardine 3 18.39x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 64
John 52
Thomas 45
George 38
Charles 31
Henry 20
Alfred 13
Joseph 13
Arthur 12
James 12
Edward 9
Frederick 9
Richard 8
Albert 7
Fred 5
Harry 5
Samuel 5
Edwin 4
Frank 4
Mark 4
Thos. 4
Walter 4
Ernest 3
Hugh 3
Robert 3
Stephen 3
Wm. 3
Benjamin 2
Daniel 2
Francis 2
Herbert 2
Jeremiah 2
Job 2
Percy 2
Ben 1
David 1
Edd. 1
Edgar 1
Fred. 1
G.E. 1
Geo.H. 1
Geo.W. 1
Gerard 1
Jas. 1
Leonard 1
Louis 1
M.Hallwood 1
Matthew 1
Morton 1
Oliver 1

FAQ

Blakeman surname: questions and answers

How common was the Blakeman surname in 1881?

In 1881, 880 people were recorded with the Blakeman surname. That placed it at #4,309 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Blakeman surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,242 in 2016. That gives Blakeman a modern rank of #4,801.

What does the Blakeman surname mean?

An English occupational surname referring to a person with dark hair, complexion, or clothing.

What does the Blakeman map show?

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