NameCensus.

UK surname

Blanks

A surname referring to a person with very fair hair or complexion, or a bleacher of fabrics.

In the 1881 census there were 374 people recorded with the Blanks surname, ranking it #8,364 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 609, ranked #8,609, down from #8,364 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Balsham, St Leonard Shoreditch and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Hounslow, Portsmouth and Chichester.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Blanks is 690 in 2000. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 62.8%.

1881 census count

374

Ranked #8,364

Modern count

609

2016, ranked #8,609

Peak year

2000

690 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Blanks had 374 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #8,364 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 609 in 2016, ranked #8,609.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 617 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Blanks surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Blanks surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Blanks 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 262 #8,456
1861 historical 275 #9,082
1881 historical 374 #8,364
1891 historical 490 #7,550
1901 historical 562 #7,419
1911 historical 617 #6,692
1997 modern 663 #7,554
1998 modern 688 #7,582
1999 modern 683 #7,659
2000 modern 690 #7,573
2001 modern 660 #7,704
2002 modern 678 #7,702
2003 modern 664 #7,707
2004 modern 685 #7,526
2005 modern 686 #7,472
2006 modern 649 #7,807
2007 modern 653 #7,834
2008 modern 666 #7,769
2009 modern 675 #7,861
2010 modern 670 #8,061
2011 modern 645 #8,202
2012 modern 606 #8,541
2013 modern 619 #8,526
2014 modern 625 #8,533
2015 modern 621 #8,492
2016 modern 609 #8,609

Geography

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Where Blanks' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Balsham, St Leonard Shoreditch, London parishes, St John Hackney and Chelmsford, Broomfield, Writtle, Widford, Chignal St James, Chignal Smealy. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Hounslow, Portsmouth, Chichester, Newport and Chelmsford. 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 Balsham Cambridgeshire
2 St Leonard Shoreditch London (East Districts)
3 London parishes London 3
4 St John Hackney London (North Districts)
5 Chelmsford, Broomfield, Writtle, Widford, Chignal St James, Chignal Smealy Essex

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Hounslow 014 Hounslow
2 Portsmouth 024 Portsmouth
3 Chichester 013 Chichester
4 Newport 015 Newport
5 Chelmsford 003 Chelmsford

Forenames

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First names often paired with Blanks

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Blanks

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Blanks is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Blanks is most concentrated in decile 4 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Blanks

The surname BLANKS is believed to have originated in England, dating back to the 11th century. It is thought to be derived from the Old English word "blanc," which means "white" or "pale." This word may have been used to describe someone with pale or fair skin, or it could have referred to a person's occupation, such as a bleacher or whitener of cloth.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the BLANKS surname can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of landowners and their holdings commissioned by William the Conqueror. This suggests that the name was already well-established in England by the late 11th century.

In the 13th century, the BLANKS surname appeared in several historical records, including the Hundred Rolls of 1273, which listed various landowners and their properties. During this time, the name was also spelled in various ways, such as Blanke, Blaunke, and Blawnke.

The BLANKS surname has been associated with several notable individuals throughout history. One of the earliest was Sir John Blanks (c. 1350-1418), who served as a member of the English Parliament and held various military and diplomatic positions during the reigns of Richard II and Henry IV.

Another prominent figure with the BLANKS surname was William Blanks (1571-1638), an English philosopher and theologian who was a fellow of Pembroke College, Oxford, and wrote several works on metaphysics and logic.

In the 18th century, John Blanks (1718-1788) was a successful merchant and landowner in Virginia, USA. He owned several plantations and was involved in the tobacco trade, contributing to the economic development of the American colonies.

During the 19th century, Charlotte Blanks (1822-1908) was a British author and educator who published several books on literature and history. She was also a pioneering advocate for women's education and co-founded a school for girls in London.

More recently, Sir James Blanks (1907-1992) was a British chemist and academic who made significant contributions to the field of organic chemistry. He served as the President of the Royal Society of Chemistry and was knighted for his achievements in scientific research.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Blanks families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Blanks 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. Essex leads with 128 Blanks' recorded in 1881 and an index of 17.77x.

County Total Index
Essex 128 17.77x
Middlesex 91 2.49x
Surrey 63 3.54x
Kent 33 2.65x
Cambridgeshire 27 11.68x
Sussex 14 2.28x
Suffolk 4 0.90x
Hertfordshire 3 1.19x
Northumberland 3 0.55x
Hampshire 2 0.27x
Monmouthshire 2 0.76x
Warwickshire 2 0.22x
Derbyshire 1 0.18x
Somerset 1 0.17x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Writtle in Essex leads with 23 Blanks' recorded in 1881 and an index of 782.31x.

Place Total Index
Writtle 23 782.31x
Bethnal Green London 22 13.88x
Newington 17 12.61x
Southwark St George Martyr 17 23.16x
Shoreditch London 15 9.48x
Bromley 14 73.80x
Bradwell 12 975.61x
Hackney London 12 5.87x
Chelmsford 11 89.00x
Barking 9 42.71x
Northfleet 9 82.04x
Wandsworth 9 25.63x
Balsham 8 634.92x
Mile End Old Town London 8 10.30x
Steeple 8 1212.12x
Beddington 7 101.89x
Spitalfields London 7 25.51x
West Ham 7 4.40x
Carshalton 6 88.24x
East Hanningfield 6 1200.00x
Leyton 6 48.39x
Shalford 6 659.34x
Woodford St Mary 6 740.74x
All Hallows Barking 5 549.45x
Brighton 5 4.03x
Eastbourne 5 17.67x
Ely Holy Trinity St Mary 5 49.60x
West Wratting 5 675.68x
Bocking 4 92.38x
St Andrewthe Less 4 15.15x
Subdeanery 4 85.65x
Deptford St Paul 3 3.12x
Fulbourn 3 135.75x
Great Baddow 3 117.19x
Hammersmith London 3 3.34x
Maldon St Marys 3 173.41x
Newcastle On Tyne St John 3 42.02x
Paddington London 3 2.24x
Risby 3 545.45x
St Marylebone London 3 1.54x
Walthamstow 3 11.57x
Aston 2 0.79x
Battersea 2 1.49x
Chignall St James 2 769.23x
Dartford 2 15.71x
Foots Cray 2 84.03x
Grays Thurrock 2 29.90x
Lambeth 2 0.63x
Limehouse London 2 4.99x
Maldon St Peter 2 54.50x
Old Artillery Ground 2 63.69x
Orsett 2 106.38x
St Albans St Peter 2 23.58x
St Woollos 2 6.80x
West Thurrock 2 83.68x
Acton 1 4.68x
Bathwick 1 15.38x
Beeley 1 222.22x
Chelsea London 1 0.91x
Clerkenwell London 1 1.16x
Eastwood 1 158.73x
Epsom 1 11.55x
Faversham 1 8.42x
Hanwell 1 15.46x
Harwick St Nicholas 1 87.72x
Lewisham 1 1.51x
Loughton 1 28.09x
Meon Stoke 1 169.49x
North Ockendon 1 238.10x
Purleigh 1 92.59x
Roxwell 1 98.04x
Sandridge 1 94.34x
Sparsholt 1 185.19x
St Andrew Holborn London 1 6.33x
St Pancras London 1 0.34x
Sudbury St Peter 1 40.98x
Swaffham Bulbeck 1 107.53x
Westminster St Margaret 1 5.68x
Whitechapel London 1 2.78x
Witham 1 26.95x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 23
Elizabeth 10
Ann 9
Eliza 9
Clara 8
Sarah 8
Ada 7
Emma 7
Susan 7
Charlotte 6
Jane 6
Annie 5
Emily 5
Alice 4
Hannah 4
Kate 4
Amelia 3
Jessie 3
Julia 3
Laura 3
Lucy 3
Martha 3
Sophia 3
Elizth. 2
Ellen 2
Harriett 2
Louisa 2
Margaret 2
Maria 2
Minnie 2
Rose 2
Rosetta 2
Rosina 2
Violet 2
Agnes 1
Amey 1
Amy 1
Anne 1
Augusta 1
Baby 1
Beatrice 1
Caroline 1
Elisa 1
Eliz. 1
Ella 1
Falconar 1
Fanny 1
Lavinia 1
Mabel 1
Marion 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 19
Charles 18
William 14
Thomas 12
Walter 11
Henry 10
George 9
Joseph 9
Alfred 7
Edward 6
James 5
Richard 5
Arthur 4
Frederick 4
Albert 3
Chas. 3
Harry 3
Robert 3
Daniel 2
Lazarus 2
Samuel 2
Abednego 1
Adolphus 1
Alfd. 1
Bertie 1
David 1
Dick 1
Edwin 1
Elijah 1
Ernest 1
Francis 1
Frank 1
Fred 1
Fredk. 1
G. 1
Herbert 1
Michael 1
Peter 1
Philip 1
Rbt. 1
Richd.C. 1
Sidney 1
Stacey 1
Stanley 1
Thos. 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Blanks surname: questions and answers

How common was the Blanks surname in 1881?

In 1881, 374 people were recorded with the Blanks surname. That placed it at #8,364 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Blanks surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 609 in 2016. That gives Blanks a modern rank of #8,609.

What does the Blanks surname mean?

A surname referring to a person with very fair hair or complexion, or a bleacher of fabrics.

What does the Blanks map show?

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