NameCensus.

UK surname

Blaylock

An English occupational surname referring to a person who kept watch or guarded an area, derived from "blaye" and "lock."

In the 1881 census there were 522 people recorded with the Blaylock surname, ranking it #6,545 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 696, ranked #7,738, down from #6,545 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bebbington, Brampton (including Midgeholme) and Lanercost and Carlisle St Cuthbert. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Carlisle and Allerdale.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Blaylock is 699 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 33.3%.

1881 census count

522

Ranked #6,545

Modern count

696

2016, ranked #7,738

Peak year

1911

699 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Blaylock had 522 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,545 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 696 in 2016, ranked #7,738.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 699 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Blaylock surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Blaylock surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Blaylock 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 362 #6,537
1861 historical 336 #7,589
1881 historical 522 #6,545
1891 historical 573 #6,640
1901 historical 669 #6,507
1911 historical 699 #6,088
1997 modern 664 #7,545
1998 modern 671 #7,727
1999 modern 670 #7,761
2000 modern 661 #7,833
2001 modern 663 #7,677
2002 modern 691 #7,589
2003 modern 641 #7,902
2004 modern 646 #7,875
2005 modern 658 #7,701
2006 modern 676 #7,576
2007 modern 672 #7,680
2008 modern 664 #7,782
2009 modern 687 #7,750
2010 modern 691 #7,858
2011 modern 687 #7,803
2012 modern 669 #7,886
2013 modern 679 #7,929
2014 modern 686 #7,905
2015 modern 680 #7,893
2016 modern 696 #7,738

Geography

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Where Blaylocks are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bebbington, Brampton (including Midgeholme) and Lanercost, Carlisle St Cuthbert, Gateshead and Arthuret. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Carlisle and Allerdale. 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 Bebbington Cheshire
2 Brampton (including Midgeholme) and Lanercost Cumberland
3 Carlisle St Cuthbert Cumberland
4 Gateshead Durham
5 Arthuret Cumberland

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Carlisle 009 Carlisle
2 Carlisle 010 Carlisle
3 Carlisle 001 Carlisle
4 Carlisle 005 Carlisle
5 Allerdale 001 Allerdale

Forenames

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First names often paired with Blaylock

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Blaylock

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Blaylock surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Blaylock household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Blaylock is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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 concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Blaylock is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Blaylock falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Blaylock

The surname Blaylock originates from England and can be traced back to the 12th century. It is derived from the Old English words "blæc" meaning black, and "leac" meaning meadow or field, suggesting that the name may have originally referred to someone who lived near a dark or shaded meadow.

The name was first recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 as "Blacheslach," which was a place name in Derbyshire. This early spelling variation provides insight into the evolution of the surname over time.

One of the earliest documented individuals with the surname Blaylock was William Blaylock, who was mentioned in the Subsidy Rolls of Yorkshire in 1301. Another early record is of John Blaylok, who was listed in the Assize Rolls of Staffordshire in 1344.

In the 16th century, the surname appeared in various spellings such as Blaylock, Blaylok, and Blaylocke. A notable figure from this time was Sir Thomas Blaylock, a landowner and member of the gentry in Lancashire, who lived from 1520 to 1589.

During the 17th century, the surname continued to be found in various parts of England, with records showing individuals named Blaylock residing in counties like Yorkshire, Derbyshire, and Staffordshire.

One of the most famous individuals with the surname Blaylock was Sir John Blaylock, a prominent military leader who fought in the English Civil War. He was born in 1615 and served as a Colonel in the Royalist army under King Charles I.

Another notable figure was Robert Blaylock, a renowned architect and builder from Yorkshire, who lived from 1670 to 1738. He was responsible for designing and constructing several notable buildings in the region during the 18th century.

In the 19th century, the Blaylock surname remained prevalent in various parts of England, with individuals bearing this name found in records from counties like Lancashire, Yorkshire, and Derbyshire.

A prominent individual from this period was William Blaylock, a renowned philanthropist and industrialist from Lancashire, who lived from 1810 to 1892. He made significant contributions to the development of his local community and was widely respected for his charitable endeavors.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Blaylock families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Blaylock 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. Cumberland leads with 276 Blaylocks recorded in 1881 and an index of 62.96x.

County Total Index
Cumberland 276 62.96x
Lancashire 47 0.78x
Dumfriesshire 38 33.78x
Northumberland 34 4.49x
Durham 30 1.98x
Westmorland 26 23.23x
Yorkshire 21 0.42x
Cheshire 16 1.42x
Roxburghshire 8 8.67x
Midlothian 7 1.03x
Warwickshire 7 0.55x
Lanarkshire 5 0.30x
Middlesex 2 0.04x
Kent 1 0.06x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.15x
Selkirkshire 1 2.17x
Suffolk 1 0.16x
Wigtownshire 1 1.48x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Aspatria in Cumberland leads with 23 Blaylocks recorded in 1881 and an index of 546.32x.

Place Total Index
Aspatria 23 546.32x
Caldewgate 23 95.75x
Elswick 22 36.38x
Annan 18 186.34x
St Cuthbert W O 17 79.55x
Arthuret 16 350.11x
Brampton 16 266.22x
Rockcliff 14 1029.41x
Canonbie 13 271.97x
Tranmere 13 31.47x
Kirkandrews On Esk 11 738.26x
Heworth 10 33.50x
Nichol Forest 10 900.90x
St Mary Within 10 182.48x
Bishopwearmouth 9 6.92x
Skinningrove 9 290.32x
Burgh By Sands 8 563.38x
Hawick 8 38.76x
Kilton 8 1052.63x
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 8 17.68x
Aston 7 1.98x
Burtholme 7 1250.00x
Carlaverock 7 380.43x
Gilcrux 7 786.52x
Hayton 7 281.12x
Irthington Newtown 7 1555.56x
Kendal 7 34.16x
Millom 7 52.08x
Penrith 7 43.21x
Plumpton Wall 7 1166.67x
Undermilbeck 7 189.70x
Ambleside 6 172.91x
Blennerhasset Kirkland 6 705.88x
Blindcrake Isel Redmain 6 1052.63x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 6 2.19x
Over Darwen 6 12.43x
Torpenhow Whitrigg 6 1250.00x
Toxteth Park 6 2.93x
Wigan 6 7.11x
Windle 6 17.65x
Barrow In Furness 5 6.08x
Bridekirk 5 142.86x
Castle Carrock 5 961.54x
Colne 5 27.78x
Layton With Warbreck 5 22.55x
Sebergham 5 515.46x
Tanfield 5 27.76x
Bewcastle 4 258.06x
Boldon 4 74.07x
Hesket In Forest 4 116.96x
Hethersgill 4 388.35x
Old Monkland 4 6.12x
St Cuthbert Within 4 78.74x
Allhallows 3 232.56x
Birkenhead 3 3.35x
Dovenby 3 750.00x
Henshaw 3 344.83x
High Barton 3 461.54x
Kingwater 3 517.24x
Lathom 3 41.10x
Normanby In 3 22.24x
Wetheral 3 51.64x
Crosby On Eden 2 294.12x
Crosscanonby 2 13.79x
Dalston 2 59.00x
Kensington London 2 0.71x
Lancaster 2 5.56x
Patterdale 2 161.29x
Tudhoe 2 15.09x
Westward 2 109.29x
Aintree 1 208.33x
Chatham 1 2.09x
Inveresk 1 5.41x
Ipswich St Peter 1 11.98x
Irthington 1 96.15x
Nottingham St Mary 1 0.56x
Selkirk 1 7.70x
Stainton 1 68.03x
Thursby 1 107.53x
Whittingham 1 37.59x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 43
Jane 27
Elizabeth 24
Margaret 21
Sarah 14
Ann 12
Annie 6
Isabella 6
Martha 5
Agnes 4
Janet 4
Margt. 4
Catherine 3
Fanny 3
Hannah 3
Margret 3
Ruth 3
Alice 2
Betsy 2
Dinah 2
Eliz. 2
Frances 2
Nancy 2
Ada 1
Amelia 1
Anne 1
Cattren 1
Christiana 1
Deborah 1
Edith 1
Eleanor 1
Eliza 1
Elizh. 1
Ellena 1
Emily 1
Esther 1
Ethel 1
Flora 1
Gertrude 1
Hilda 1
John 1
Lilly 1
Lucy 1
M. 1
Maggie 1
May 1
Richd. 1
Susan 1
Sybella 1
Thomasina 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 50
William 44
Thomas 17
Robert 16
Joseph 13
George 12
James 12
Richard 8
Wm. 5
Alexander 4
David 4
Thos. 4
Edward 3
Frank 3
Henry 3
Matthew 3
Bryce 2
Daniel 2
Halliburton 2
Rob. 2
Tom 2
Willm. 2
Alex.W. 1
Alezander 1
Alfred 1
Archabild 1
Arthur 1
Christopher 1
Ernest 1
Geo. 1
Geo.Hy. 1
Geo.W. 1
Harold 1
Jim 1
Johnson 1
Josiah 1
Nathan 1
Pattinson 1
Peter 1
Richd 1
Richd. 1
Robt. 1
Samuel 1
Septimeus 1

FAQ

Blaylock surname: questions and answers

How common was the Blaylock surname in 1881?

In 1881, 522 people were recorded with the Blaylock surname. That placed it at #6,545 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Blaylock surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 696 in 2016. That gives Blaylock a modern rank of #7,738.

What does the Blaylock surname mean?

An English occupational surname referring to a person who kept watch or guarded an area, derived from "blaye" and "lock."

What does the Blaylock map show?

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