NameCensus.

UK surname

Blanchard

A French toponymic surname referring to someone living near a white or bleached piece of land.

In the 1881 census there were 2,450 people recorded with the Blanchard surname, ranking it #1,816 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 3,778, ranked #1,786, up from #1,816 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Portsmouth, Portsea and Lambeth. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include East Riding of Yorkshire, Blaenau Gwent and East Lindsey.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Blanchard is 3,889 in 2002. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 54.2%.

1881 census count

2,450

Ranked #1,816

Modern count

3,778

2016, ranked #1,786

Peak year

2002

3,889 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Blanchard had 2,450 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,816 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 3,778 in 2016, ranked #1,786.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 3,279 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Blanchard surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Blanchard surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Blanchard 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 1,607 #1,790
1861 historical 1,553 #1,831
1881 historical 2,450 #1,816
1891 historical 2,711 #1,748
1901 historical 3,003 #1,864
1911 historical 3,279 #1,593
1997 modern 3,763 #1,728
1998 modern 3,863 #1,746
1999 modern 3,872 #1,759
2000 modern 3,846 #1,755
2001 modern 3,789 #1,743
2002 modern 3,889 #1,743
2003 modern 3,711 #1,787
2004 modern 3,707 #1,783
2005 modern 3,641 #1,792
2006 modern 3,649 #1,790
2007 modern 3,677 #1,790
2008 modern 3,690 #1,797
2009 modern 3,816 #1,779
2010 modern 3,869 #1,796
2011 modern 3,803 #1,801
2012 modern 3,780 #1,781
2013 modern 3,790 #1,809
2014 modern 3,786 #1,823
2015 modern 3,767 #1,808
2016 modern 3,778 #1,786

Geography

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Where Blanchards are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Portsmouth, Portsea and Lambeth. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to East Riding of Yorkshire, Blaenau Gwent and East Lindsey. 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 London parishes London 1
2 London parishes London 3
3 Portsmouth, Portsea Hampshire
4 Lambeth London (South Districts)
5 London parishes London 2

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 East Riding of Yorkshire 041 East Riding of Yorkshire
2 Blaenau Gwent 004 Blaenau Gwent
3 Blaenau Gwent 007 Blaenau Gwent
4 Blaenau Gwent 008 Blaenau Gwent
5 East Lindsey 013 East Lindsey

Forenames

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First names often paired with Blanchard

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Blanchard

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Blanchard 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

Blanchard is most concentrated in decile 10 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Blanchard falls in decile 10 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.

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Blanchard

The surname Blanchard is of French origin, derived from the Old French word "blanchart," which means "white" or "fair-haired." This name likely originated as a descriptive nickname for someone with pale skin or light hair.

The earliest known record of the name Blanchard dates back to the 11th century in Normandy, France. It is believed that the name was first used by the Norman aristocracy, who often adopted descriptive surnames based on physical characteristics or location.

The name Blanchard is mentioned in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. This suggests that the Blanchards were among the Norman settlers who accompanied William to England during the Norman Conquest.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Blanchard can be found in the 12th century, when a knight named Guillaume Blanchard fought alongside Richard the Lionheart during the Third Crusade (1189-1192).

In the 13th century, a prominent French architect named Hugues Blanchard was responsible for the construction of several notable buildings, including the Château de Vincennes and parts of the Louvre in Paris.

During the 15th century, a French military commander named Jean Blanchard played a significant role in the Hundred Years' War between England and France. He was known for his bravery and tactical skills on the battlefield.

Another notable figure with the surname Blanchard was François Blanchard, a French Jesuit missionary who lived in the 17th century. He was sent to the New World and worked among the indigenous populations of Canada and the Great Lakes region.

In the 18th century, Jean-Pierre Blanchard became the first person to cross the English Channel by hot air balloon, accomplishing this feat in 1785 alongside American aviator John Jeffries.

Over the centuries, the name Blanchard has evolved and adopted various spellings, such as Blancherd, Blancharde, and Blaunchard, reflecting regional dialects and language changes. Additionally, the name has been associated with various place names, such as Blanchardville and Blanchard Springs, further contributing to its geographical spread and diversity.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Blanchard families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Blanchard 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. Lincolnshire leads with 413 Blanchards recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.79x.

County Total Index
Lincolnshire 413 10.79x
Yorkshire 404 1.70x
Middlesex 293 1.22x
Hampshire 275 5.60x
Lancashire 180 0.63x
Surrey 173 1.48x
Wiltshire 127 6.00x
Kent 62 0.76x
Durham 61 0.86x
Devon 58 1.16x
Dorset 53 3.37x
Sussex 31 0.77x
Gloucestershire 30 0.64x
Berkshire 25 1.39x
Monmouthshire 25 1.44x
Staffordshire 20 0.25x
Worcestershire 16 0.51x
Cheshire 14 0.26x
Cornwall 14 0.52x
Somerset 14 0.36x
Leicestershire 13 0.49x
Northamptonshire 13 0.58x
Nottinghamshire 12 0.37x
Shropshire 12 0.58x
Cambridgeshire 11 0.73x
Channel Islands 11 1.55x
Norfolk 11 0.30x
Warwickshire 11 0.18x
Glamorgan 10 0.24x
Midlothian 10 0.31x
Rutland 8 4.55x
Hertfordshire 7 0.42x
Lanarkshire 7 0.09x
Derbyshire 6 0.16x
Essex 5 0.11x
Huntingdonshire 5 1.05x
Buckinghamshire 3 0.21x
Northumberland 3 0.08x
Suffolk 3 0.10x
Royal Navy 2 0.70x
Banffshire 1 0.20x
Bedfordshire 1 0.08x
Cumberland 1 0.05x
Herefordshire 1 0.10x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Portsea in Hampshire leads with 77 Blanchards recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.00x.

Place Total Index
Portsea 77 8.00x
Great Grimsby 53 21.81x
Lambeth 51 2.44x
Camberwell 46 3.01x
Bromley London 39 7.40x
Holy Trinity 34 5.96x
Ince Blundell 30 691.24x
Market Rasen 28 130.84x
Leeds 24 1.79x
Kirkdale 23 4.81x
St Pancras London 23 1.19x
Southampton St Mary 22 7.13x
Deptford St Paul 21 3.33x
Aberystruth 20 13.11x
Ratcliffe London 20 15.12x
Sculcoates 20 5.32x
Bishopwearmouth 19 3.11x
Berwick St James 18 1161.29x
Middle Rasen 18 246.91x
Hunslet 17 4.59x
Paddington London 17 1.93x
Speen 17 57.80x
New Malton 16 56.40x
Southcoates 16 12.15x
Hammersmith London 15 2.54x
Ogbourne St Andrew 15 414.36x
Stafford St Mary 15 13.11x
Trowbridge 15 16.02x
Windle 15 9.38x
Battersea 14 1.59x
Langley Burrell 14 159.09x
Linwood 14 927.15x
Louth 14 15.95x
St George Hanover Square 14 3.32x
West Derby 14 1.68x
Binbrooke 13 136.27x
Blandford St Mary 13 436.24x
Chelsea London 13 1.80x
Everton 13 1.44x
Poplar London 13 2.88x
Fulletby 12 568.72x
Preshute 12 92.10x
Christchurch 11 10.33x
Ellel 11 75.03x
Kensington London 11 0.83x
Rainton Cum Newby 11 340.56x
St Helier 11 4.76x
St Marylebone London 11 0.86x
Wisbech St Peter 11 14.46x
Brightside Bierlow 10 2.15x
Brocklesby 10 465.12x
Clee With Weelsby 10 11.93x
Easton 10 555.56x
Gerrans 10 136.80x
Hampton London 10 25.41x
North Meols 10 3.59x
Petersfield 10 74.07x
Southampton All Sts 10 11.87x
Southwark St George Martyr 10 2.08x
Aby 9 311.42x
Barlings 9 234.38x
Barrow In Furness 9 2.33x
Batheaston 9 68.18x
Bishops Waltham 9 44.03x
Bradford On Avon 9 13.27x
Halifax 9 2.58x
Iron Acton 9 94.94x
Milton Abbott 9 124.83x
Neatham 9 1200.00x
Scarborough 9 4.17x
Swansea Town 9 2.63x
Tavistock 9 15.85x
Tottenham 9 2.36x
Bethnal Green London 8 0.77x
Burley 8 329.22x
Holdenhurst 8 6.21x
Kings Norton 8 2.85x
Newington 8 0.90x
Rawmarsh 8 9.54x
Romsey Infra 8 48.11x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 136
Elizabeth 95
Sarah 66
Jane 57
Eliza 50
Emma 48
Ann 44
Alice 36
Ellen 36
Annie 34
Emily 34
Hannah 26
Louisa 26
Charlotte 24
Edith 20
Margaret 19
Ada 18
Fanny 17
Martha 17
Kate 16
Maria 16
Florence 15
Frances 15
Anne 13
Caroline 13
Clara 13
Catherine 12
Harriet 12
Lucy 12
Harriett 10
Jessie 10
Betsy 9
Susan 9
Agnes 8
Rose 7
Beatrice 6
Bessie 6
Grace 6
Minnie 6
Rebecca 6
Sophia 6
Laura 5
Anna 4
Eleanor 4
Ethel 4
Gertrude 4
Henrietta 4
Matilda 4
Selina 4
Amy 3

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 161
John 142
George 117
Thomas 70
Henry 63
James 49
Joseph 48
Charles 47
Robert 45
Edward 31
Walter 27
Alfred 22
Arthur 20
Ernest 18
Frederick 17
Albert 15
Harry 15
Richard 14
Edwin 13
Frank 12
Wm. 11
Samuel 10
Tom 10
Francis 9
Fred 9
Stephen 8
Benjamin 7
Daniel 6
David 6
Herbert 6
Hori 6
Sidney 6
Christopher 5
Geo. 4
Hugh 4
Jonathan 4
Mark 4
Michael 4
Edmund 3
Isaac 3
Peter 3
Chas. 2
Ebenezer 2
Edgar 2
Infant 2
Martin 2
Oliver 2
Percy 2
Philip 2
Russell 2

FAQ

Blanchard surname: questions and answers

How common was the Blanchard surname in 1881?

In 1881, 2,450 people were recorded with the Blanchard surname. That placed it at #1,816 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Blanchard surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 3,778 in 2016. That gives Blanchard a modern rank of #1,786.

What does the Blanchard surname mean?

A French toponymic surname referring to someone living near a white or bleached piece of land.

What does the Blanchard map show?

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