NameCensus.

UK surname

Blatch

An English topographic surname derived from a word meaning "bare or bleak".

In the 1881 census there were 302 people recorded with the Blatch surname, ranking it #9,673 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 278, ranked #15,579, down from #9,673 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Colchester St Botolph, St Mary at the Walls, St Giles, St Mary Magdalen, Holy Trinity, St Runwald, a and Lambeth. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Tandridge, Portsmouth and Cornwall.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Blatch is 397 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 7.9%.

1881 census count

302

Ranked #9,673

Modern count

278

2016, ranked #15,579

Peak year

1901

397 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Blatch had 302 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #9,673 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 278 in 2016, ranked #15,579.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 397 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Blatch surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Blatch surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Blatch 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 192 #10,756
1861 historical 219 #11,124
1881 historical 302 #9,673
1891 historical 367 #9,486
1901 historical 397 #9,521
1911 historical 380 #9,655
1997 modern 324 #12,859
1998 modern 333 #12,964
1999 modern 331 #13,106
2000 modern 314 #13,516
2001 modern 302 #13,668
2002 modern 323 #13,325
2003 modern 306 #13,641
2004 modern 298 #13,937
2005 modern 281 #14,411
2006 modern 280 #14,535
2007 modern 277 #14,818
2008 modern 288 #14,537
2009 modern 285 #14,944
2010 modern 295 #14,911
2011 modern 290 #14,933
2012 modern 277 #15,375
2013 modern 284 #15,358
2014 modern 285 #15,416
2015 modern 281 #15,457
2016 modern 278 #15,579

Geography

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Where Blatchs are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Colchester St Botolph, St Mary at the Walls, St Giles, St Mary Magdalen, Holy Trinity, St Runwald, a, Lambeth and Hatfield Broad Oak. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Tandridge, Portsmouth, Cornwall, South Derbyshire and West Dorset. 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 Colchester St Botolph, St Mary at the Walls, St Giles, St Mary Magdalen, Holy Trinity, St Runwald, a Essex
4 Lambeth London (South Districts)
5 Hatfield Broad Oak Essex

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Tandridge 005 Tandridge
2 Portsmouth 014 Portsmouth
3 Cornwall 033 Cornwall
4 South Derbyshire 006 South Derbyshire
5 West Dorset 002 West Dorset

Forenames

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First names often paired with Blatch

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Blatch

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

Professional Periphery

Within London, Blatch is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, 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

These neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

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

Blatch 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

Blatch falls in decile 8 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.

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Blatch

The surname BLATCH has its origins in England, dating back to the medieval period. It is believed to be derived from the Old English word "blæc," which means "pale" or "white," and was likely used as a nickname or descriptive term for someone with a pale complexion.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name BLATCH can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of landholdings in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. The name appears as "Blacche" in this historical document, indicating its presence in England during the 11th century.

In the 13th century, the surname was commonly spelled as "Blachche" or "Blacche," as seen in various historical records and manuscripts from that era. During the 14th and 15th centuries, the spelling evolved to "Blatch," which became the more standardized form of the surname.

Notable individuals with the surname BLATCH include William Blatch, a merchant and landowner who lived in Somerset, England, in the late 15th century. Another early example is John Blatch, a clergyman and academic who served as the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Oxford in the 16th century (born around 1520, died in 1592).

In the 17th century, Thomas Blatch (1618-1680) was a prominent English lawyer and Member of Parliament, while Samuel Blatch (1630-1696) was a successful merchant and landowner in Gloucestershire.

Moving into the 18th century, Reverend John Blatch (1733-1812) was a Church of England clergyman and author from Somerset, who published several theological works during his lifetime.

The 19th century saw the rise of William Blatch (1805-1880), a British naval officer and explorer who is noted for his expeditions to the Arctic regions and his contributions to the field of hydrography.

These are just a few examples of individuals with the surname BLATCH who have left their mark on history through their various accomplishments and contributions across different fields and time periods.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Blatch families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Blatch 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 131 Blatchs recorded in 1881 and an index of 22.60x.

County Total Index
Essex 131 22.60x
Middlesex 69 2.35x
Surrey 27 1.89x
Hampshire 22 3.66x
Berkshire 12 5.45x
Warwickshire 10 1.35x
Kent 8 0.80x
Cambridgeshire 4 2.15x
Glamorgan 4 0.78x
Huntingdonshire 4 6.86x
Devon 2 0.33x
Staffordshire 2 0.20x
Cheshire 1 0.15x
Monmouthshire 1 0.47x
Oxfordshire 1 0.55x
Royal Navy 1 2.86x
Somerset 1 0.21x
Yorkshire 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. Colchester St Peter in Essex leads with 12 Blatchs recorded in 1881 and an index of 517.24x.

Place Total Index
Colchester St Peter 12 517.24x
Harlow 12 480.00x
Colchester St Giles 11 191.97x
Hatfield Broad Oak 11 561.22x
Aston 10 4.90x
Colchester St Leonard 10 534.76x
Lambeth 10 3.91x
Chelsea London 9 10.17x
Fyfield 9 1914.89x
Roxwell 9 1097.56x
St Anne Soho London 9 53.67x
Colchester St Botolph 7 141.99x
North Weald Bassett 7 693.07x
South Stoneham 7 53.64x
Tilehurst 7 157.30x
Basingstoke 6 86.71x
Lexden 6 257.51x
Netteswell 6 1818.18x
Westminster St John 6 16.78x
Erith 5 50.66x
Ingrave 5 943.40x
Poplar London 5 9.02x
Southampton St Mary 5 13.21x
St Marylebone London 5 3.19x
Tottenham 5 10.69x
Whitechapel London 5 17.28x
Bermondsey 4 4.58x
Croydon 4 5.04x
Hackney London 4 2.43x
Maldon All Sts 4 347.83x
Margaret Roothing 4 1739.13x
Newbury 4 56.66x
St Andrewthe Less 4 18.82x
St Pancras London 4 1.69x
Swansea Town 4 9.54x
Wickham Bishops 4 740.74x
Woodford 4 60.98x
Fletton 3 161.29x
Leatherhead 3 83.80x
Rotherhithe 3 8.27x
Bromley London 2 3.10x
Exeter St Leonard 2 119.76x
Finchley 2 17.76x
Islington London 2 0.70x
Kensington London 2 1.23x
Southampton All Sts 2 19.36x
Trentham 2 23.72x
Wivenhoe 2 86.96x
Alsager 1 62.11x
Andover 1 17.57x
Buckland Dinham 1 217.39x
Camberwell 1 0.53x
Caversham 1 27.55x
Chelmsford 1 10.06x
Clapham 1 2.72x
Clerkenwell London 1 1.44x
Colchester St James 1 42.55x
Colchester St Runwald 1 322.58x
Deptford St Paul 1 1.29x
Enfield 1 5.19x
Epping 1 42.55x
Good Easter 1 192.31x
Greenwich 1 2.14x
Guildford St Nicholas 1 39.53x
Hammersmith London 1 1.38x
Hornsey 1 2.69x
Middlesbrough 1 2.64x
Millbrook 1 6.60x
Newport 1 9.87x
Northfleet 1 11.34x
Orsett 1 66.23x
Paddington London 1 0.93x
Reading St Mary 1 5.67x
Saffron Hill London 1 158.73x
St George Hanover Square 1 1.93x
St George In East London 1 3.62x
Theydon Garnon 1 75.76x
Ulting 1 625.00x
Westminster St Margaret 1 7.06x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 16
Mary 16
Sarah 13
Eliza 9
Jane 8
Emily 7
Emma 7
Ellen 6
Alice 5
Catherine 4
Agnes 3
Ann 3
Edith 3
Florence 3
Harriet 3
Isabella 3
Kate 3
Ada 2
Annie 2
Caroline 2
Fanny 2
Grace 2
Henrietta 2
Louisa 2
Lucy 2
Maria 2
Mount 2
Rose 2
Angelina 1
Diana 1
Eleanor 1
Eliz.Ann 1
Ethel 1
Gagen 1
Harrie 1
Harriett 1
Harry 1
Isabelle 1
June 1
Laura 1
Lidia 1
Lilian 1
Lizzie 1
Lois 1
Lydia 1
M. 1
Margaretta 1
Mariann 1
Martha 1
Susanna 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 22
James 15
Henry 10
John 9
Charles 8
George 7
Thomas 7
Frederick 6
Samuel 6
Arthur 4
Edward 4
Herbert 4
Joseph 4
Alfred 3
Francis 3
Frank 2
Thos. 2
Walter 2
Albert 1
Andrew 1
Arhur 1
Benjamin 1
Henery 1
Josiah 1
Percy 1
Richard 1
Robert 1
Stephen 1
W. 1
W.E. 1
Willie 1

FAQ

Blatch surname: questions and answers

How common was the Blatch surname in 1881?

In 1881, 302 people were recorded with the Blatch surname. That placed it at #9,673 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Blatch surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 278 in 2016. That gives Blatch a modern rank of #15,579.

What does the Blatch surname mean?

An English topographic surname derived from a word meaning "bare or bleak".

What does the Blatch map show?

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