UK surname
An English locational surname derived from place names meaning "bleak" or "dark" place.
In the 1881 census there were 81 people recorded with the Blakes surname, ranking it #22,082 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 50, ranked #34,889, down from #22,082 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Nailsea, Merthyr Dovan, Highlight and Walton-in-Gordano. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Blakes is 169 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 38.3%.
1881 census count
81
Ranked #22,082
Modern count
50
2016, ranked #34,889
Peak year
1861
169 bearers
Map years
3
1851 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Blakes surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Blakes surname density by area, 1911 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 139 | #13,659 |
| 1861 | historical | 169 | #13,823 |
| 1881 | historical | 81 | #22,082 |
| 1891 | historical | 99 | #24,200 |
| 1901 | historical | 66 | #26,794 |
| 1911 | historical | 114 | #21,064 |
| 1997 | modern | 57 | #31,917 |
| 1998 | modern | 59 | #32,027 |
| 1999 | modern | 65 | #31,605 |
| 2000 | modern | 60 | #32,124 |
| 2001 | modern | 54 | #32,583 |
| 2002 | modern | 55 | #32,831 |
| 2003 | modern | 47 | #33,619 |
| 2004 | modern | 42 | #34,222 |
| 2005 | modern | 41 | #34,478 |
| 2006 | modern | 41 | #34,788 |
| 2007 | modern | 39 | #35,097 |
| 2008 | modern | 40 | #35,137 |
| 2009 | modern | 44 | #35,028 |
| 2010 | modern | 45 | #35,130 |
| 2011 | modern | 43 | #35,228 |
| 2012 | modern | 45 | #35,105 |
| 2013 | modern | 49 | #34,952 |
| 2014 | modern | 47 | #35,097 |
| 2015 | modern | 50 | #34,886 |
| 2016 | modern | 50 | #34,889 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Nailsea, Merthyr Dovan, Highlight, Walton-in-Gordano, Ware (Ware). Hertford St John, Hertford All Saints and Hallingbury, Great. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nailsea | Somerset |
| 2 | Merthyr Dovan, Highlight | Glamorganshire |
| 3 | Walton-in-Gordano | Somerset |
| 4 | Ware (Ware). Hertford St John, Hertford All Saints | Hertfordshire |
| 5 | Hallingbury, Great | Hertfordshire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Blakes surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Blakes, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Blakes surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Blakes household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Blakes is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Blakes is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Blakes, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Blakes has its origins in England and dates back to the Middle Ages. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "blaec," which means "pale" or "white." This suggests that the name may have been originally given as a nickname to someone with a pale or fair complexion.
The surname first appeared in historical records in the late 11th century, shortly after the Norman Conquest of England in 1066. One of the earliest recorded instances is in the Domesday Book of 1086, which mentions a landowner named Robertus Blac in Derbyshire.
As the name spread across different regions of England, various spellings emerged, such as Blake, Blak, and Blakeman. These variations likely arose due to variations in local dialects and the lack of standardized spelling conventions at the time.
During the 13th and 14th centuries, the surname Blakes began to be associated with specific locations, leading to the formation of locational surnames like Blakeney and Blackmanstone. These place names often incorporated the word "black," which was a variant of the original "blaec."
One of the earliest recorded Blakes of historical significance was John Blake, a wealthy merchant and alderman of London, who lived in the late 14th century. Another notable figure was Robert Blake, a celebrated English admiral who played a crucial role in the Anglo-Dutch Wars during the 17th century (1598-1657).
In the literary world, William Blake, the renowned English poet, painter, and printmaker, is perhaps the most famous bearer of the surname. He lived from 1757 to 1827 and is best known for his works like "Songs of Innocence and Experience" and "The Marriage of Heaven and Hell."
Other notable Blakes throughout history include Joaquin Blake, a Spanish military leader and politician during the Peninsular War (1759-1827), and Thomas Blake Glover, a Scottish merchant and entrepreneur who played a significant role in the industrialization of Japan (1838-1911).
The surname Blakes has also been carried by several artists, such as the American painter Peter Blakes (1920-2001) and the English sculptor Peter Blake (born 1932), known for his contribution to the Pop Art movement.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Blakes surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Hertfordshire leads with 24 Blakes' recorded in 1881 and an index of 44.08x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Hertfordshire | 24 | 44.08x |
| Yorkshire | 14 | 1.79x |
| Middlesex | 11 | 1.39x |
| Somerset | 9 | 7.08x |
| Northamptonshire | 8 | 10.77x |
| Essex | 7 | 4.49x |
| Lanarkshire | 3 | 1.17x |
| Lincolnshire | 2 | 1.58x |
| Surrey | 2 | 0.52x |
| Sussex | 1 | 0.75x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Ware in Hertfordshire leads with 22 Blakes' recorded in 1881 and an index of 1410.26x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Ware | 22 | 1410.26x |
| Leeds | 11 | 24.89x |
| Nailsea | 9 | 1800.00x |
| Kings Cliffe | 8 | 2285.71x |
| Islington London | 7 | 9.14x |
| Great Hallingbury | 5 | 2941.18x |
| Govan | 3 | 4.75x |
| St George Hanover Square | 3 | 21.55x |
| Bishop Stortford | 2 | 109.89x |
| Bowling | 2 | 25.81x |
| Great Grimsby | 2 | 24.94x |
| Barking | 1 | 21.93x |
| Boreham | 1 | 370.37x |
| Lambeth | 1 | 1.45x |
| Penge | 1 | 19.80x |
| St Pancras London | 1 | 1.57x |
| Stanley Cum Wrenthorpe | 1 | 27.47x |
| Worth | 1 | 103.09x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Blakes surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Blakes surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
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 Blakes households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 20 |
| Lab | 4 |
| Lodging House Keeper | 2 |
| A Ls Daur | 1 |
| A Ls Wife | 1 |
| Ag Lab | 1 |
| Ag Labs Son | 1 |
| Beer House Keeper | 1 |
| Blacksmith | 1 |
| Book Folder (Binder) | 1 |
| Boot Machinist | 1 |
| Brickfield Lab | 1 |
| Butler | 1 |
| Cab Driver | 1 |
| Coppersmiths Labourer | 1 |
| Domestic Servant | 1 |
| Farm Boy | 1 |
| Farm Laborer | 1 |
| Farm Labourer | 1 |
| Fishermans Wife | 1 |
| Hawker (Small Ware) | 1 |
| Housemaid Domestic Servant | 1 |
| Iron Planer | 1 |
| Laborer (General) | 1 |
| Labourer In Felt Mill | 1 |
| Laundress | 1 |
| Machinist Sewing | 1 |
| Maltmakers Boy (Malster) | 1 |
| Ostler | 1 |
| Oxcurator | 1 |
| Servt | 1 |
| Stone Mason | 1 |
| Stone Masons Apprentice | 1 |
| Stone Masons Wife | 1 |
| Wife | 1 |
| nute Worker | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 81 people were recorded with the Blakes surname. That placed it at #22,082 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 50 in 2016. That gives Blakes a modern rank of #34,889.
An English locational surname derived from place names meaning "bleak" or "dark" place.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Blakes bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.