NameCensus.

UK surname

Blaker

An occupational surname referring to a bleacher or textile worker.

In the 1881 census there were 522 people recorded with the Blaker surname, ranking it #6,545 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 343, ranked #13,368, down from #6,545 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Broadwater (incl. Worthing), Nuthurst, London parishes and Southampton St Mary. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Taunton Deane, Mid Sussex and Rotherham.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Blaker is 634 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 34.3%.

1881 census count

522

Ranked #6,545

Modern count

343

2016, ranked #13,368

Peak year

1891

634 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Blaker had 522 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,545 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 343 in 2016, ranked #13,368.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 634 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Blaker surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Blaker surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Blaker 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 363 #6,525
1861 historical 527 #4,979
1881 historical 522 #6,545
1891 historical 634 #6,101
1901 historical 600 #7,077
1911 historical 604 #6,806
1997 modern 396 #11,086
1998 modern 395 #11,452
1999 modern 405 #11,344
2000 modern 401 #11,382
2001 modern 373 #11,830
2002 modern 371 #12,096
2003 modern 344 #12,577
2004 modern 360 #12,205
2005 modern 350 #12,359
2006 modern 336 #12,842
2007 modern 343 #12,773
2008 modern 329 #13,286
2009 modern 335 #13,381
2010 modern 347 #13,325
2011 modern 349 #13,108
2012 modern 338 #13,304
2013 modern 338 #13,508
2014 modern 340 #13,554
2015 modern 343 #13,365
2016 modern 343 #13,368

Geography

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Where Blakers are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Broadwater (incl. Worthing), Nuthurst, London parishes, Southampton St Mary, All Saints Poplar and Brighton. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Taunton Deane, Mid Sussex, Rotherham, Leeds and North Somerset. 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 Broadwater (incl. Worthing), Nuthurst Sussex
2 London parishes London 3
3 Southampton St Mary Hampshire
4 All Saints Poplar London (East Districts)
5 Brighton Sussex

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Taunton Deane 003 Taunton Deane
2 Mid Sussex 006 Mid Sussex
3 Rotherham 010 Rotherham
4 Leeds 021 Leeds
5 North Somerset 001 North Somerset

Forenames

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First names often paired with Blaker

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Blaker

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

Ageing Communities

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Blaker is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Blaker is most concentrated in decile 6 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.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Blaker falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Blaker

The surname BLAKER is of English origin, with its earliest recorded use dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old English word "blæc," meaning "black," or the Middle English word "blake," meaning "pale" or "wan." This suggests that the name may have been initially used as a descriptive nickname for someone with dark complexion or pale features.

The name is first recorded in the Hundred Rolls of Bedfordshire in 1273, where it appears as "Blakere." This early spelling variation highlights the evolution of the name over time. Other early records include the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex in 1296, which mention a "William le Blakere," and the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire in 1327, listing a "Thomas le Blakere."

One of the earliest known bearers of the BLAKER surname was John Blaker, born around 1330 in Kent, England. He was a prominent landowner and held the position of Sheriff of Kent in 1368. Another notable figure was Sir Thomas Blaker, born in 1420 in Sussex, who served as a member of Parliament for Lewes in 1472.

In the 16th century, the surname appears in various historical records, including the Lay Subsidy Rolls of Wiltshire in 1523, which mention a "John Blaker." Around the same period, a notable individual named William Blaker (c. 1510-1590) was a renowned clockmaker and watchmaker in London.

During the 17th century, the BLAKER surname gained further prominence. One notable figure was Sir Edward Blaker (1623-1689), a wealthy merchant and landowner who served as Lord Mayor of London in 1670. Another prominent individual was Thomas Blaker (1640-1710), a renowned architect who designed several notable buildings in London, including the Church of St. Mary-le-Bow.

The BLAKER surname has also been associated with various place names, such as Blaker's Green in Hertfordshire and Blaker's Farm in Sussex. These place names may have originated from families bearing the BLAKER surname who once resided or held land in those areas.

Throughout history, the BLAKER surname has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including landowners, merchants, artisans, and professionals. While the name's origins can be traced back to the Middle Ages, its bearers have contributed to the cultural, economic, and social fabric of England over the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Blaker families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Blaker 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. Sussex leads with 235 Blakers recorded in 1881 and an index of 27.37x.

County Total Index
Sussex 235 27.37x
Middlesex 102 2.00x
Surrey 52 2.10x
Hampshire 46 4.41x
Kent 34 1.96x
Yorkshire 29 0.57x
Lanarkshire 4 0.24x
Warwickshire 3 0.23x
Essex 2 0.20x
Gloucestershire 2 0.20x
Hertfordshire 2 0.57x
Lincolnshire 2 0.25x
Cheshire 1 0.09x
Cornwall 1 0.17x
Devon 1 0.09x
Dorset 1 0.30x
Durham 1 0.07x
Midlothian 1 0.15x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.15x
Somerset 1 0.12x
Staffordshire 1 0.06x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Brighton in Sussex leads with 50 Blakers recorded in 1881 and an index of 28.87x.

Place Total Index
Brighton 50 28.87x
Broadwater 46 233.62x
Portslade 39 742.86x
Southampton St Mary 32 48.76x
Poplar London 17 17.69x
Limehouse London 13 23.26x
Shoreditch London 12 5.44x
Bromley London 11 9.82x
Erith 10 58.41x
Islington London 10 2.03x
Lindfield 10 275.48x
Sompting 9 756.30x
Bolney 7 503.60x
Camberwell 7 2.15x
Keymer 7 115.51x
Portsea 7 3.42x
Richmond 7 20.13x
St George Bloomsbury 7 23.96x
St Pancras London 7 1.71x
Balcombe 6 392.16x
Battersea 6 3.20x
Crayford 6 79.05x
Gravesend 6 40.79x
Leeds 6 2.11x
New Shoreham 6 116.50x
Oxted 6 200.67x
Southwick 6 132.16x
Chaldon 5 1562.50x
Hastings St Mary In The 5 27.29x
Hove 5 13.27x
Lewes All Sts 5 146.20x
St Andrew Holborn London 5 22.68x
Uckfield 5 133.69x
West Wickham 5 297.62x
Chertsey 4 24.95x
Cuckfield 4 46.14x
Glasgow 4 1.37x
Hackney London 4 1.40x
Hampstead London 4 5.04x
Hunslet 4 5.08x
Lodsworth 4 336.13x
Merstham 4 254.78x
Rastrick 4 28.53x
Chiswick 3 10.78x
Edburton 3 508.47x
Goole 3 35.46x
Leatherhead 3 48.31x
Mile End Old Town London 3 2.77x
Milverton 3 79.79x
Nether Hallam 3 4.39x
Southcoates 3 10.71x
Worth 3 48.15x
Alford 2 39.60x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 2 2.13x
Ecclesfield 2 5.41x
Folkestone 2 5.93x
Holdenhurst 2 7.30x
Holy Trinity 2 1.65x
Hurstpierpoint 2 41.84x
Lambeth 2 0.45x
Pyecombe 2 333.33x
Rochester St Nicholas 2 36.97x
St Mary Extra 2 23.81x
Standon 2 55.40x
Stoke 2 17.08x
Andover 1 10.14x
Barking 1 3.40x
Cheam 1 37.74x
Chelsea London 1 0.65x
Cowfold 1 54.95x
Fulham London 1 1.35x
Henfield 1 30.30x
Lancing 1 42.37x
Lichfield St Mary 1 20.16x
Preston 1 6.67x
South Leith 1 1.30x
Southampton St John 1 93.46x
St George Martyr London 1 9.70x
Stokenham 1 33.44x
Streatham 1 2.65x

Top female names

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

Name Count
John 25
William 25
James 19
George 18
Thomas 11
Walter 11
Charles 10
Henry 10
Arthur 9
Alfred 8
Edward 8
Ernest 7
Harry 7
Frederick 6
Albert 5
Robert 4
Benjamin 3
Samuel 3
Stephen 3
Baruch 2
Cecil 2
Edgar 2
Edmond 2
Edwin 2
Francis 2
Geo. 2
Nathaniel 2
Peter 2
Phillip 2
Richard 2
W. 2
Alice 1
Bernard 1
Chas. 1
Clifton 1
Cornelius 1
Edwd. 1
Frank 1
Fred 1
Fredk. 1
G. 1
Jim 1
Joseph 1
Matthew 1
Montague 1
Nathan 1
Nathanl 1
Percy 1
Philip 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Blaker surname: questions and answers

How common was the Blaker surname in 1881?

In 1881, 522 people were recorded with the Blaker surname. That placed it at #6,545 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Blaker surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 343 in 2016. That gives Blaker a modern rank of #13,368.

What does the Blaker surname mean?

An occupational surname referring to a bleacher or textile worker.

What does the Blaker map show?

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