NameCensus.

UK surname

Blakey

An English occupational surname referring to a pale-skinned or fair-haired person, or someone who bleaches yarn.

In the 1881 census there were 2,410 people recorded with the Blakey surname, ranking it #1,847 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,899, ranked #2,323, down from #1,847 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Halifax, Gateshead and Bradford. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Northumberland, North Lincolnshire and East Lindsey.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Blakey is 3,108 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 20.3%.

1881 census count

2,410

Ranked #1,847

Modern count

2,899

2016, ranked #2,323

Peak year

1911

3,108 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Blakey had 2,410 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,847 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,899 in 2016, ranked #2,323.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 3,108 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Young Families in Industrial Towns.

Blakey surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Blakey surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Blakey 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 1,512 #1,893
1861 historical 1,566 #1,819
1881 historical 2,410 #1,847
1891 historical 2,477 #1,913
1901 historical 2,978 #1,880
1911 historical 3,108 #1,676
1997 modern 2,889 #2,237
1998 modern 2,991 #2,249
1999 modern 2,985 #2,275
2000 modern 2,948 #2,289
2001 modern 2,936 #2,244
2002 modern 3,014 #2,234
2003 modern 2,913 #2,253
2004 modern 2,905 #2,264
2005 modern 2,878 #2,251
2006 modern 2,882 #2,250
2007 modern 2,910 #2,247
2008 modern 2,904 #2,272
2009 modern 2,957 #2,294
2010 modern 3,086 #2,233
2011 modern 3,017 #2,263
2012 modern 2,906 #2,305
2013 modern 2,963 #2,302
2014 modern 2,946 #2,320
2015 modern 2,894 #2,331
2016 modern 2,899 #2,323

Geography

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Where Blakeys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Halifax, Gateshead, Bradford, Bishop Wearmouth and Jarrow. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Northumberland, North Lincolnshire, East Lindsey, North East Lincolnshire and County Durham. 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 Halifax Yorkshire, West Riding
2 Gateshead Durham
3 Bradford Yorkshire, West Riding
4 Bishop Wearmouth Durham
5 Jarrow Durham

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Northumberland 007 Northumberland
2 North Lincolnshire 002 North Lincolnshire
3 East Lindsey 008 East Lindsey
4 North East Lincolnshire 022 North East Lincolnshire
5 County Durham 026 County Durham

Forenames

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First names often paired with Blakey

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Blakey

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Blakey, 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 Blakey surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Young Families in Industrial Towns, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Blakey 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, Blakey 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

Blakey 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

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

Meaning and origin of Blakey

The surname Blakey originated in England during the medieval period, specifically in the northern counties of Yorkshire and Lancashire. It is derived from the Old English words "blæc" meaning "black" and "leah" meaning "meadow" or "clearing." This suggests that the name likely referred to a person who lived near or worked on a dark or blackened meadow.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Blachelie." This document, commissioned by William the Conqueror, was a comprehensive survey of landholdings and population in England at the time.

In the 13th century, the name appeared in various forms, such as "Blakeley," "Blakely," and "Blakelay," reflecting the regional variations in spelling and pronunciation. During this period, the name was also associated with several place names, including Blackley in Manchester and Blackley in Worcestershire.

Among the notable individuals bearing the surname Blakey throughout history are:

1. William Blakey (1619-1675), an English Puritan minister and author who served as the rector of Little Woodbury, Wiltshire.

2. Robert Blakey (1795-1878), a British landscape painter known for his depictions of rural scenes in Yorkshire.

3. Anne Blakey (1810-1890), an English philanthropist and social reformer who worked tirelessly to improve the living conditions of the poor in Manchester.

4. John Blakey (1854-1932), an English cricketer who played for Yorkshire County Cricket Club and represented England in two Test matches.

5. Thomas Blakey (1882-1961), a British trade unionist and politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Sedgefield from 1935 to 1945.

The surname Blakey has a rich history rooted in the northern regions of England, with its origins dating back to the medieval period and evolving over time through various spellings and associations with specific locations.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Blakey families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Blakey 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 1,008 Blakeys recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.34x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 1,008 4.34x
Durham 427 6.13x
Lancashire 306 1.10x
Northumberland 241 6.91x
Lincolnshire 218 5.82x
Middlesex 52 0.22x
Surrey 24 0.21x
Derbyshire 21 0.57x
Warwickshire 14 0.24x
Hertfordshire 13 0.80x
Kent 13 0.16x
Hampshire 10 0.21x
Nottinghamshire 10 0.32x
Cumberland 8 0.40x
Devon 8 0.16x
Isle of Man 5 1.15x
Stirlingshire 5 0.58x
Shropshire 4 0.20x
Gloucestershire 3 0.07x
Glamorgan 2 0.05x
Herefordshire 2 0.21x
Staffordshire 2 0.03x
Kirkcudbrightshire 1 0.29x
Lanarkshire 1 0.01x
Monmouthshire 1 0.06x
Somerset 1 0.03x
Suffolk 1 0.04x
Sussex 1 0.03x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Westoe in Durham leads with 66 Blakeys recorded in 1881 and an index of 16.70x.

Place Total Index
Westoe 66 16.70x
Leeds 63 4.81x
Burnley 58 24.77x
Horton In Bradford 46 12.69x
Bishopwearmouth 45 7.52x
Bradford 39 6.94x
Gateshead 39 7.47x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 39 12.92x
Hunslet 36 9.94x
Wakefield 33 18.51x
Holy Trinity 32 5.73x
Keighley 31 12.53x
Wortley In Bramley 30 16.31x
Huddersfield 27 7.98x
Tynemouth 27 14.46x
West Ardsley 26 93.06x
Rothwell 25 53.30x
Elswick 24 8.63x
Monkwearmouth 24 35.97x
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 24 11.53x
Westgate 24 11.12x
Halifax 23 6.75x
Great Little Marsden 22 17.27x
Manningham 21 7.34x
Alford 20 86.13x
Barrowford Booth 20 65.00x
Alverthorpe Cum Thornes 19 22.53x
Habergham Eaves 19 7.48x
Preston 19 2.55x
Monkwearmouth Shore 18 13.23x
Batley 17 7.70x
Colne 17 20.52x
Barnsley 16 6.68x
Blackburn 16 2.16x
Newcastle On Tyne St 16 8.85x
Stockton On Tees 16 4.76x
Middlesbrough 15 4.96x
Armley 14 13.67x
Bowling 14 6.09x
Castleton 14 5.04x
Cowpen 14 17.44x
Northowram 14 8.60x
St Giles 14 32.18x
York St Mary 14 14.56x
Clee With Weelsby 13 15.85x
Headingley Cum Burley 13 8.70x
Horsley 13 58.90x
Langton By Spilsby 13 738.64x
Lindley Cum Quarmby 13 22.20x
Bethnal Green London 12 1.18x
Boston 12 10.56x
Brandon Byshottles 12 13.74x
Scarborough 12 5.69x
Chirton 11 13.94x
Great Driffield 11 23.09x
Salford 11 1.35x
Byker 10 5.80x
Camberwell 10 0.67x
Elland Cum Greetland 10 9.56x
Potter Newton 10 24.41x
South Blyth Newsham 10 145.99x
Tanfield 10 12.06x
Thruscross 10 395.26x
West Derby 10 1.23x
Whitworth 10 19.59x
Wickenby 10 460.83x
Airmyn 9 225.56x
Berwick Upon Tweed 9 12.18x
Brightside Bierlow 9 1.98x
Chester Le Street 9 16.81x
Drighlington 9 26.61x
Framwellgate 9 21.79x
Hackney London 9 0.69x
Holbeck 9 5.85x
Holton Beckering 9 681.82x
Idle 9 8.36x
Preston In Tynemouth 9 65.65x
Ryhope 9 18.60x
Southowram 9 12.70x
Terrington With 9 199.56x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 201
Elizabeth 97
Sarah 96
Jane 69
Margaret 48
Ann 46
Annie 44
Alice 36
Hannah 33
Martha 27
Eliza 24
Ellen 23
Emma 22
Isabella 22
Clara 19
Ada 18
Louisa 18
Edith 14
Emily 12
Harriet 10
Lucy 10
Maria 10
Rebecca 10
Florence 9
Margt. 9
Agnes 8
Betsy 8
Catherine 8
Charlotte 8
Esther 8
Caroline 7
Dorothy 7
Frances 7
Eleanor 6
Susannah 6
Elizth. 5
Matilda 5
Rachel 5
Ruth 5
Susan 5
Anne 4
Fanny 4
Gertrude 4
Henrietta 4
Kate 4
Laura 4
Lydia 4
Amy 3
Maud 3
Minnie 3

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 168
William 136
Thomas 89
James 78
Robert 76
George 75
Joseph 43
Charles 37
Henry 29
Alfred 26
Walter 21
Arthur 19
Richard 19
Harry 18
Wm. 18
Samuel 16
Edward 15
Fred 11
David 10
Herbert 10
Frederick 9
Tom 9
Albert 8
Frank 7
Sam 7
Ernest 6
Benjamin 5
Joe 5
Stephen 5
Thos. 5
Willie 5
Andrew 4
Edgar 4
Francis 4
Isaac 4
Jno. 4
Percy 4
Sidney 4
Edwin 3
Harold 3
Jas. 3
Joshua 3
Peter 3
Squire 3
Daniel 2
Lambert 2
Lawerance 2
Michael 2
Seth 2
Spencer 2

FAQ

Blakey surname: questions and answers

How common was the Blakey surname in 1881?

In 1881, 2,410 people were recorded with the Blakey surname. That placed it at #1,847 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Blakey surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,899 in 2016. That gives Blakey a modern rank of #2,323.

What does the Blakey surname mean?

An English occupational surname referring to a pale-skinned or fair-haired person, or someone who bleaches yarn.

What does the Blakey map show?

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