NameCensus.

UK surname

Blank

A descriptive surname referring to a person without a family name or who left their name blank.

In the 1881 census there were 279 people recorded with the Blank surname, ranking it #10,230 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 427, ranked #11,260, down from #10,230 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Dartmorth St Petrox, Dartmouth St Saviour, Townstall, Ashprington, Halwell, Blackawton, Stoke Flemin, Tormoham with Torquay and Chivelstone. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Camden, South Hams and Bridgend.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Blank is 478 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 53.0%.

1881 census count

279

Ranked #10,230

Modern count

427

2016, ranked #11,260

Peak year

1998

478 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Blank had 279 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #10,230 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 427 in 2016, ranked #11,260.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 477 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Blank surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Blank surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Blank 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 234 #9,241
1861 historical 359 #7,113
1881 historical 279 #10,230
1891 historical 417 #8,579
1901 historical 431 #8,982
1911 historical 477 #8,114
1997 modern 425 #10,510
1998 modern 478 #9,940
1999 modern 475 #10,042
2000 modern 477 #9,989
2001 modern 477 #9,798
2002 modern 465 #10,163
2003 modern 462 #10,045
2004 modern 462 #10,092
2005 modern 452 #10,173
2006 modern 462 #10,037
2007 modern 462 #10,143
2008 modern 452 #10,369
2009 modern 456 #10,558
2010 modern 467 #10,570
2011 modern 464 #10,524
2012 modern 442 #10,812
2013 modern 451 #10,814
2014 modern 453 #10,830
2015 modern 435 #11,120
2016 modern 427 #11,260

Geography

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Where Blanks are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Dartmorth St Petrox, Dartmouth St Saviour, Townstall, Ashprington, Halwell, Blackawton, Stoke Flemin, Tormoham with Torquay, Chivelstone, Huish, South and Chesterfield. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Camden, South Hams, Bridgend and Rotherham. 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 Dartmorth St Petrox, Dartmouth St Saviour, Townstall, Ashprington, Halwell, Blackawton, Stoke Flemin Devon
2 Tormoham with Torquay Devon
3 Chivelstone Devon
4 Huish, South Devon
5 Chesterfield Derbyshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Camden 018 Camden
2 South Hams 011 South Hams
3 Bridgend 009 Bridgend
4 Rotherham 009 Rotherham
5 Bridgend 011 Bridgend

Forenames

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First names often paired with Blank

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Blank

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

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Diverse Educated Urban Singles

Nationally, the Blank surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Blank 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 includes many never-married individuals not living with dependent children. Many were born in EU countries and are now aged between 25-44. This Group is characterised by its ethnic group diversity, although those identifying as Asian are not well represented. Affiliation with the Christian religion amongst residents is low. Reported disability rates are low. Neighbourhoods include some central locations in London and other major cities. Private renting is the norm, and there is some overcrowding. Many individuals are educated to degree level, and full-time employment is common, particularly in managerial and professional occupations.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles

Group

European Enclaves

Within London, Blank is most associated with areas classed as European Enclaves, part of Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles. 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

Many residents of these accessible neighbourhoods have wide-ranging non-UK European origins. Typically residing in privately rented flats, many residents live alone and are beyond normal retirement age. There are more students than elsewhere in the Supergroup, some of which live in communal establishments. Household residents are often drawn from different ethnic groups.

Wider London pattern

These neighbourhoods house people of all ages, predominantly of White British or European extraction. Resident turnover is low. Religious affiliation is less common than average and tends to be Christian if expressed. Homeownership, typically of terraced houses, is common but use of the social rented sector is not. Employment is typically in professional, managerial and associate professional or technical occupations. There are few full-time students. Level 4 qualifications are common. More households lack dependent children than have them which, considered alongside low levels of crowding and over-all age structure, indicates that many households may be post child-rearing and in late middle age. Incidence of disability is low, as is residence in communal establishments.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Blank 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

Blank falls in decile 9 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.

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Blank

The surname BLANK is of English origin, deriving from the Old English word "blanc," meaning "white" or "pale." It is believed to have first emerged in the 12th century as a descriptive nickname for someone with a pale complexion or fair hair.

The earliest recorded instances of the BLANK surname can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Lincolnshire from 1195, where a Robert le Blank and a William le Blank are mentioned. In the 13th century, the name appeared in the Hundredorum Rolls of Oxfordshire as Blaunke.

One of the earliest known bearers of the BLANK surname was Richard le Blank, a landowner in Oxfordshire who was mentioned in the Feet of Fines for the county in 1268. Another early record is that of John le Blank, a merchant from Bristol, whose name appears in the city's Guild Rolls in 1312.

The BLANK surname has been associated with several notable individuals throughout history. Sir Thomas Blank (c. 1450-1518) was a prominent English soldier and courtier who served under King Henry VII and Henry VIII. He fought in the Battle of Bosworth Field in 1485 and was later appointed as Captain of the Yeomen of the Guard.

In the literary world, the English poet and playwright Matthias Blank (1605-1681) was a renowned figure of the 17th century. He is best known for his satirical works, including the famous poem "The Sourdoughs of London."

During the American Revolutionary War, Colonel James Blank (1738-1816) was a distinguished officer in the Continental Army. He fought in several major battles, including the Battle of Trenton and the Battle of Princeton, and was later awarded land grants for his service.

In the field of science, the British botanist and explorer Robert Blank (1773-1858) made significant contributions to the study of flora and fauna in Australia and New Zealand. He was one of the first European naturalists to document the unique plant life of these regions.

The BLANK surname has also been associated with places such as Blankville, a small village in Gloucestershire, which may have derived its name from an early settler with the surname.

Overall, the BLANK surname has a rich history dating back to medieval England and has been borne by individuals from various walks of life, including soldiers, writers, scientists, and explorers.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Blank families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Blank 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. Devon leads with 116 Blanks recorded in 1881 and an index of 20.40x.

County Total Index
Devon 116 20.40x
Middlesex 51 1.87x
Derbyshire 18 4.21x
Lancashire 14 0.43x
Cornwall 11 3.56x
Surrey 10 0.75x
Yorkshire 10 0.37x
Northamptonshire 8 3.11x
Cheshire 6 1.00x
Glamorgan 6 1.26x
Caithness 5 13.37x
Hampshire 5 0.89x
Essex 3 0.56x
Midlothian 3 0.82x
Nottinghamshire 3 0.81x
Lanarkshire 2 0.23x
Royal Navy 2 6.14x
Berkshire 1 0.49x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.58x
Durham 1 0.12x
Lincolnshire 1 0.23x
Northumberland 1 0.25x
Orkney 1 3.33x
Stirlingshire 1 0.99x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Chivelstone in Devon leads with 15 Blanks recorded in 1881 and an index of 3750.00x.

Place Total Index
Chivelstone 15 3750.00x
St Pancras London 13 5.91x
Tormoham 13 54.05x
Newbold Dunston 11 270.94x
Whitechapel London 11 40.86x
Slapton 10 1724.14x
East Stonehouse 8 71.43x
Northampton St Sepulchre 8 61.21x
St Mary 8 441.99x
Stokenham 8 500.00x
Brixham 7 106.22x
Chorlton On Medlock 7 13.60x
Dartmouth Townstall 7 301.72x
Charleton 6 1176.47x
East Allington 6 1224.49x
Llantrisant 6 50.04x
Poplar London 5 9.70x
South Huish 5 1785.71x
Spotland 5 13.88x
St Mellion 5 1724.14x
Thornton Hough 5 1162.79x
West Alvington 5 625.00x
Belper 4 48.25x
Kingsbridge 4 279.72x
Malborough 4 176.99x
Portsea 4 3.65x
Washfield 4 1081.08x
Wick 4 33.11x
Bethnal Green London 3 2.53x
Blackawton 3 303.03x
Croydon 3 4.06x
Shadwell London 3 39.27x
Stoke Gabriel 3 500.00x
Chellaston 2 425.53x
Chelsea London 2 2.43x
Ealing 2 8.19x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 2 1.36x
Exminster 2 98.04x
Falmouth 2 18.28x
Gamston 2 833.33x
Govan 2 0.92x
Lambeth 2 0.84x
Liverpool 2 1.02x
Newington 2 1.98x
Royal Navy 2 7.19x
St Marylebone London 2 1.37x
Streatham 2 9.87x
Wimbish 2 250.00x
Alnwick 1 14.31x
Altarnun 1 92.59x
Bradford 1 1.53x
Camberwell 1 0.57x
Carlton In Lindrick 1 102.04x
Chesterfield 1 6.24x
Collierley 1 27.62x
East Portlemouth 1 344.83x
Edinburgh Buccleuch 1 11.55x
Grays Thurrock 1 19.96x
Great Grimsby 1 3.61x
Hackney London 1 0.65x
Hampstead London 1 2.35x
Holdenhurst 1 6.81x
Islington London 1 0.38x
Kingstonupon Hull 1 46.08x
Lanteglos 1 69.93x
Plymouth St Andrew 1 2.28x
Reay 1 48.78x
Runcorn 1 7.19x
Sherford 1 263.16x
St Anne Soho London 1 6.41x
St Botolph Aldgate London 1 17.79x
St Clether 1 500.00x
St George Hanover Square 1 2.08x
St George In East London 1 3.89x
St Luke London 1 2.28x
Stoke Newington London 1 4.70x
Stokefleming 1 138.89x
Totnes 1 30.03x
Waltham St Lawrence 1 125.00x
Whittlesey St Mary St 1 16.56x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 25
Elizabeth 18
Sarah 11
Annie 5
Ann 4
Ellen 4
Emma 4
Florence 4
Maria 4
Emily 3
Frances 3
Hannah 3
Alice 2
Caroline 2
Clara 2
Kate 2
Lydia 2
Margaret 2
Sophie 2
Susan 2
Athina 1
Barbra 1
Bertha 1
C. 1
Edith 1
Eliza 1
Emmily 1
Esther 1
Francis 1
Gertrude 1
Hanah 1
Hanna 1
Harriet 1
Isabella 1
Janie 1
Kezia 1
Leah 1
Lena 1
Lilie 1
Livina 1
Louisa 1
Mabel 1
Margarett 1
Marria 1
Martha 1
Philis 1
Rachel 1
Rebecca 1
Rhoda 1
Rose 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 23
John 12
George 10
Robert 7
Henry 6
Richard 6
Thomas 6
James 5
Joseph 4
Albert 3
Arthur 3
Charles 3
Walter 3
Alfred 2
August 2
Carl 2
Peter 2
Simon 2
Abraham 1
Bertie 1
Emanuel 1
Ernest 1
Ferdinand 1
Frank 1
Frederick 1
Fredk.Chadder 1
Fredrick 1
H. 1
Heinrich 1
Henery 1
Herman 1
Herny 1
Hyman 1
Jabez 1
Julius 1
Nicholas 1
Ralph 1
Richd.Matt 1
Rudolph 1
Samuel 1
Thos. 1
Willam 1
Wm. 1
Wm.Jno. 1

FAQ

Blank surname: questions and answers

How common was the Blank surname in 1881?

In 1881, 279 people were recorded with the Blank surname. That placed it at #10,230 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Blank surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 427 in 2016. That gives Blank a modern rank of #11,260.

What does the Blank surname mean?

A descriptive surname referring to a person without a family name or who left their name blank.

What does the Blank map show?

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