NameCensus.

UK surname

Blayney

One meaning attributed to the surname Blayney is "one from the town of Blayney" (a place in County Monaghan, Ireland).

In the 1881 census there were 260 people recorded with the Blayney surname, ranking it #10,781 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 492, ranked #10,096, up from #10,781 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), London parishes and Llanwnog. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Rhondda Cynon Taf, Powys and Epping Forest.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Blayney is 529 in 2000. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 89.2%.

1881 census count

260

Ranked #10,781

Modern count

492

2016, ranked #10,096

Peak year

2000

529 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Blayney had 260 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #10,781 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 492 in 2016, ranked #10,096.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 413 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Blayney surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Blayney surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Blayney 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 190 #10,852
1861 historical 158 #14,644
1881 historical 260 #10,781
1891 historical 341 #10,041
1901 historical 315 #11,263
1911 historical 413 #9,082
1997 modern 517 #9,079
1998 modern 525 #9,254
1999 modern 520 #9,379
2000 modern 529 #9,233
2001 modern 508 #9,344
2002 modern 527 #9,285
2003 modern 488 #9,657
2004 modern 495 #9,573
2005 modern 513 #9,276
2006 modern 506 #9,399
2007 modern 498 #9,592
2008 modern 496 #9,694
2009 modern 507 #9,743
2010 modern 505 #9,985
2011 modern 503 #9,908
2012 modern 496 #9,921
2013 modern 508 #9,902
2014 modern 512 #9,911
2015 modern 499 #10,021
2016 modern 492 #10,096

Geography

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Where Blayneys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), London parishes, Llanwnog, St John Hackney and Bedwelty. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Rhondda Cynon Taf, Powys, Epping Forest and Tonbridge and Malling. 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 Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos) Glamorganshire
2 London parishes London 3
3 Llanwnog Montgomeryshire
4 St John Hackney London (North Districts)
5 Bedwelty Monmouthshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Rhondda Cynon Taf 001 Rhondda Cynon Taf
2 Powys 008 Powys
3 Epping Forest 001 Epping Forest
4 Powys 009 Powys
5 Tonbridge and Malling 005 Tonbridge and Malling

Forenames

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First names often paired with Blayney

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Blayney

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Blayney 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

Blayney 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

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

Meaning and origin of Blayney

The surname Blayney originates from Ireland and can be traced back to the 12th century. It is believed to have derived from the old Gaelic word "bláthach," meaning "buttermilk" or "flourishing." This suggests that the name may have been initially given to someone who lived near a dairy farm or a fertile region.

The earliest recorded instance of the name Blayney can be found in the Annals of the Four Masters, a chronicle of medieval Irish history. In 1170, it mentions a nobleman named Tadhg Ua Bláthnaidh, who was a member of the Uí Blathnaidh clan from County Monaghan.

During the 13th century, the name appeared in various forms, such as "Blatheney," "Blathney," and "Blauney," in various land records and legal documents. One notable individual from this period was John Blayney, who held lands in County Monaghan in the late 1200s.

In the 16th century, the Blayney family gained prominence in County Monaghan. Sir Edward Blayney, born in 1535, was appointed as the Lord Marshal of Ireland and served as a member of the Privy Council of Ireland under Queen Elizabeth I.

Another notable figure was Sir Henry Blayney, who lived from 1604 to 1672. He was a prominent military commander during the Irish Confederate Wars and later served as the Governor of Carrickfergus Castle.

In the 18th century, the Blayney family continued to play a significant role in Irish history. Lord William Blayney, born in 1712, was a member of the Irish House of Lords and served as the Governor of County Monaghan.

Other notable individuals with the surname Blayney include Andrew Blayney, a 19th-century Irish politician and landowner, and Reginald Blayney, a British Army officer who served in the Crimean War and the Indian Rebellion of 1857.

While the name Blayney has its roots in Ireland, it has since spread to other parts of the world, particularly through emigration to countries like the United States, Canada, and Australia.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Blayney families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Blayney 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. Montgomeryshire leads with 66 Blayneys recorded in 1881 and an index of 113.13x.

County Total Index
Montgomeryshire 66 113.13x
Middlesex 47 1.85x
Kent 24 2.76x
Lancashire 18 0.60x
Surrey 15 1.21x
Staffordshire 9 1.05x
Yorkshire 9 0.36x
Hampshire 7 1.34x
Gloucestershire 6 1.20x
Leicestershire 6 2.13x
Shropshire 6 2.73x
Essex 5 0.99x
Glamorgan 5 1.13x
Northumberland 5 1.32x
Nottinghamshire 5 1.46x
Radnorshire 5 24.34x
Flintshire 4 5.84x
Monmouthshire 4 2.17x
Cumberland 3 1.37x
Brecknockshire 2 3.93x
Cheshire 2 0.36x
Herefordshire 2 1.92x
Hertfordshire 2 1.14x
Warwickshire 2 0.31x
Royal Navy 1 3.30x
Suffolk 1 0.32x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Hackney London in Middlesex leads with 27 Blayneys recorded in 1881 and an index of 18.92x.

Place Total Index
Hackney London 27 18.92x
Guilsfield 10 471.70x
Llanmerewig 10 3571.43x
Minster In Sheppey 10 69.49x
Chertsey 9 112.22x
Kerry 9 514.29x
Newtown 9 241.29x
Woolwich 9 28.05x
Cannock 8 53.33x
Llansaintffraid 8 1142.86x
St Marylebone London 8 5.89x
Llanwnog 7 573.77x
Portsea 7 6.84x
Gembling 6 6000.00x
Haslingden 6 47.96x
Huntley 6 1621.62x
Leicester St Margaret 6 8.72x
Llanfyllin 6 389.61x
Boughrood 5 2173.91x
Nottingham St Mary 5 5.63x
Salford 5 5.63x
Bedwellty 4 12.31x
Jesmond 4 75.05x
Plumstead 4 13.81x
Bethnal Green London 3 2.71x
Cleator 3 32.89x
Hawarden Saltney 3 312.50x
Islington London 3 1.22x
Keyingham 3 545.45x
Kinnerley 3 285.71x
Llanerfyl 3 434.78x
Moss Side 3 18.87x
Wandsworth 3 12.24x
Wapping London 3 154.64x
Ystradyfodwg 3 7.71x
Brompton Rhiston 2 1428.57x
Cheshunt 2 32.63x
Chester Holy Trinity 2 76.05x
Hampstead London 2 5.04x
Hay 2 105.82x
Lambeth 2 0.90x
Leyton 2 23.09x
Toxteth Park 2 1.96x
Woodford 2 35.15x
Atcham 1 277.78x
Barrow In Furness 1 2.43x
Birmingham 1 0.47x
Burrington 1 555.56x
Burton Upon Trent 1 4.97x
Charlton Next Woolwich 1 11.04x
Edgbaston 1 5.02x
Edmonton 1 4.88x
Forden 1 125.00x
Gorleston 1 12.69x
Great Warley 1 87.72x
Kington 1 38.76x
Liverpool 1 0.55x
Llandyssil 1 158.73x
Llanllwchaiarn 1 39.53x
Llanwnog Surnant 1 333.33x
Llanwonno 1 6.28x
Newington 1 1.06x
Rhuddlan 1 16.61x
Royal Navy 1 3.86x
Swansea Town 1 2.75x
Whitchester 1 3333.33x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 24
Elizabeth 13
Jane 10
Emma 7
Ann 6
Alice 5
Annie 5
Eliza 4
Sarah 4
Agnes 3
Catherine 3
Hannah 3
Margaret 3
Caroline 2
Charlotte 2
Edith 2
Elizebth 2
Emily 2
Fanny 2
Jessie 2
Louisa 2
Rebecca 2
Rose 2
Anne 1
Clara 1
E. 1
Eleanor 1
Elenor 1
Elizb. 1
Elizebth. 1
Elizth. 1
Ellen 1
Esther 1
Ethel 1
Gertrude 1
Harriet 1
Helen 1
Isabella 1
J.W. 1
Jenett 1
Kate 1
Lucy 1
Lydia 1
M.E. 1
Mabel 1
Martha 1
Matilda 1
Maud 1
Polly 1
Virginia 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 17
William 13
Thomas 11
Arthur 10
George 4
Joseph 4
Robert 4
David 3
Edward 3
Frederick 3
Herbert 3
Richard 3
Samuel 3
Albert 2
Benjiman 2
Charles 2
Edwin 2
Ernest 2
Walter 2
Wm. 2
Alfred 1
Ashfield 1
Augusta 1
Aurthur 1
Cecil 1
Edwd. 1
Evan 1
Harold 1
Henry 1
I.C.H. 1
I.G.S. 1
J. 1
James 1
Jno. 1
Job 1
Jordan 1
Lloyd 1
Nicholas 1
Orcher 1
Owen 1
Peter 1
Samul 1
Tom 1
W.R.N. 1

FAQ

Blayney surname: questions and answers

How common was the Blayney surname in 1881?

In 1881, 260 people were recorded with the Blayney surname. That placed it at #10,781 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Blayney surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 492 in 2016. That gives Blayney a modern rank of #10,096.

What does the Blayney surname mean?

One meaning attributed to the surname Blayney is "one from the town of Blayney" (a place in County Monaghan, Ireland).

What does the Blayney map show?

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