UK surname
A surname derived from the Old French word "blandir," meaning "to flatter or caress."
In the 1881 census there were 130 people recorded with the Blandy surname, ranking it #16,911 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 92, ranked #32,035, down from #16,911 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Paddington and Reading St Giles, Shinfield (East and West Side, Hartley Dammer), Sonning (Early),. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Blandy is 174 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 29.2%.
1881 census count
130
Ranked #16,911
Modern count
92
2016, ranked #32,035
Peak year
1891
174 bearers
Map years
6
1851 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Blandy surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Blandy surname density by area, 1881 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 | 105 | #16,618 |
| 1861 | historical | 126 | #17,569 |
| 1881 | historical | 130 | #16,911 |
| 1891 | historical | 174 | #16,520 |
| 1901 | historical | 159 | #17,442 |
| 1911 | historical | 146 | #18,179 |
| 1997 | modern | 91 | #28,215 |
| 1998 | modern | 91 | #28,806 |
| 1999 | modern | 95 | #28,465 |
| 2000 | modern | 93 | #28,701 |
| 2001 | modern | 90 | #28,793 |
| 2002 | modern | 94 | #28,797 |
| 2003 | modern | 90 | #29,260 |
| 2004 | modern | 93 | #29,065 |
| 2005 | modern | 97 | #28,485 |
| 2006 | modern | 94 | #29,264 |
| 2007 | modern | 88 | #30,515 |
| 2008 | modern | 89 | #30,713 |
| 2009 | modern | 88 | #31,352 |
| 2010 | modern | 87 | #31,990 |
| 2011 | modern | 88 | #31,801 |
| 2012 | modern | 84 | #32,502 |
| 2013 | modern | 92 | #31,909 |
| 2014 | modern | 94 | #31,909 |
| 2015 | modern | 92 | #32,075 |
| 2016 | modern | 92 | #32,035 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Paddington, Reading St Giles, Shinfield (East and West Side, Hartley Dammer), Sonning (Early), and Kingston-on-Thames. 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 | London parishes | London 1 |
| 2 | Paddington | London (West Districts) |
| 3 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 4 | Reading St Giles, Shinfield (East and West Side, Hartley Dammer), Sonning (Early), | Berkshire |
| 5 | Kingston-on-Thames | Surrey |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Blandy 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 Blandy, 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 Blandy surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Blandy 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, Blandy 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 Blandy is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Blandy, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Blandy has its origins in France, specifically in the region of Normandy during the medieval period. It derives from the Old French word "blaund," meaning "fair-haired" or "blonde," which likely referred to the physical appearance of the earliest bearers of the name.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Blandy can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Blundus" or "Blundel." This suggests that the name had already been established in England by the time of the Norman Conquest in 1066.
The Blandy name has been associated with various locations throughout its history. For instance, the village of Blandy in Oxfordshire, England, is believed to have taken its name from a Norman landowner named Blandy who settled there after the Conquest.
Notable individuals bearing the Blandy surname include Sir Thomas Blandy (c. 1630-1692), an English colonial official who served as the Governor of Virginia from 1690 to 1692. Another notable figure was Richard Lacy Scott Blandy (1788-1857), a British colonial administrator and naturalist who served as the Governor of the Bahamas from 1831 to 1835.
In the literary world, Maria Blandy (1720-1752) gained notoriety for her involvement in the infamous "Blandy Poisoning Case," where she was convicted of murdering her father by administering poison to him. Her tragic story was the subject of numerous writings and plays in the 18th century.
Across the Atlantic, John Blandy (1726-1799) was a prominent figure in the early history of Bermuda, serving as the colony's Chief Justice and President of the Council. His son, Samuel Blandy (1762-1835), followed in his footsteps and became a respected lawyer and politician in Bermuda.
Throughout its history, the Blandy surname has been spelled in various ways, including Blaundy, Blondy, and Blondie, reflecting the regional variations and linguistic influences over time. However, the core meaning and origin of the name have remained tied to its Norman roots and the physical characteristic of fair or blonde hair.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Blandy 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. Middlesex leads with 49 Blandys recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.86x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Middlesex | 49 | 3.86x |
| Surrey | 21 | 3.40x |
| Berkshire | 16 | 16.81x |
| Lancashire | 7 | 0.47x |
| Glamorgan | 6 | 2.72x |
| Kent | 6 | 1.39x |
| Gloucestershire | 5 | 2.01x |
| Warwickshire | 4 | 1.25x |
| Devon | 3 | 1.14x |
| Hampshire | 3 | 1.15x |
| Durham | 2 | 0.53x |
| Monmouthshire | 2 | 2.18x |
| Oxfordshire | 2 | 2.55x |
| Sussex | 2 | 0.94x |
| Staffordshire | 1 | 0.23x |
| Worcestershire | 1 | 0.60x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Paddington London in Middlesex leads with 15 Blandys recorded in 1881 and an index of 32.18x.
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Blandy surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
| Name | Count |
|---|---|
| Elizabeth | 8 |
| Mary | 8 |
| Eliza | 3 |
| Agnes | 2 |
| Anne | 2 |
| Azellah | 2 |
| Beatrice | 2 |
| Edith | 2 |
| Ellen | 2 |
| Esther | 2 |
| Grace | 2 |
| Mabel | 2 |
| Maria | 2 |
| Ada | 1 |
| Alice | 1 |
| Amelia | 1 |
| Annie | 1 |
| Blanche | 1 |
| C.A.E. | 1 |
| Caroline | 1 |
| Charlotte | 1 |
| Constance | 1 |
| Eleanor | 1 |
| Ethel | 1 |
| Florence | 1 |
| Frances | 1 |
| Hannah | 1 |
| Harriet | 1 |
| Hester | 1 |
| Isabella | 1 |
| Jane | 1 |
| Jessie | 1 |
| Julia | 1 |
| Kate | 1 |
| Louisa | 1 |
| Louise | 1 |
| Martha | 1 |
| Maude | 1 |
| Nina | 1 |
| Rachel | 1 |
| Sarah | 1 |
| Sophia | 1 |
| Susannah | 1 |
| Theresa | 1 |
| W.V.S.D. | 1 |
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Blandy 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 Blandy households.
FAQ
In 1881, 130 people were recorded with the Blandy surname. That placed it at #16,911 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 92 in 2016. That gives Blandy a modern rank of #32,035.
A surname derived from the Old French word "blandir," meaning "to flatter or caress."
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Blandy 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.