NameCensus.

UK surname

Blaze

A surname referencing a person with fiery red hair or a striking personality.

In the 1881 census there were 133 people recorded with the Blaze surname, ranking it #16,676 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 206, ranked #19,183, down from #16,676 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Sedgley, Lincoln St Botolph and Burslem. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Newcastle-under-Lyme, Babergh and Wyre Forest.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Blaze is 206 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 54.9%.

1881 census count

133

Ranked #16,676

Modern count

206

2016, ranked #19,183

Peak year

2016

206 bearers

Map years

8

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Blaze had 133 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #16,676 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 206 in 2016, ranked #19,183.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 169 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Blaze surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Blaze surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Blaze 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 101 #17,036
1861 historical 97 #21,503
1881 historical 133 #16,676
1891 historical 114 #22,006
1901 historical 138 #18,955
1911 historical 169 #16,564
1997 modern 147 #21,393
1998 modern 180 #19,298
1999 modern 177 #19,670
2000 modern 177 #19,634
2001 modern 169 #19,912
2002 modern 170 #20,243
2003 modern 158 #20,952
2004 modern 160 #20,926
2005 modern 165 #20,468
2006 modern 166 #20,534
2007 modern 167 #20,719
2008 modern 162 #21,350
2009 modern 173 #20,869
2010 modern 177 #21,034
2011 modern 174 #21,096
2012 modern 182 #20,440
2013 modern 189 #20,273
2014 modern 196 #19,961
2015 modern 195 #19,909
2016 modern 206 #19,183

Geography

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Where Blazes are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Sedgley, Lincoln St Botolph, Burslem, Wednesbury and Sleaford, New. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Newcastle-under-Lyme, Babergh, Wyre Forest, Dartford and Wrexham. 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 Sedgley Staffordshire
2 Lincoln St Botolph Lincolnshire
3 Burslem Staffordshire
4 Wednesbury Staffordshire
5 Sleaford, New Lincolnshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Newcastle-under-Lyme 003 Newcastle-under-Lyme
2 Babergh 007 Babergh
3 Wyre Forest 013 Wyre Forest
4 Dartford 005 Dartford
5 Wrexham 017 Wrexham

Forenames

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First names often paired with Blaze

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Blaze

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Blaze is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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 scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Blaze is most concentrated in decile 5 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.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Blaze falls in decile 6 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Blaze

The surname Blaze is believed to have originated in England, deriving from the Old English word "blæse," meaning a blaze or flame. This name likely arose as a descriptive nickname for someone with a fiery red complexion or hair color, or perhaps referring to a fierce or passionate personality.

The earliest known record of the name dates back to the late 12th century, appearing in the Pipe Rolls of Lincolnshire in 1195, which mention a Thomas Blaze. During this time, descriptive surnames were becoming more common as a way to distinguish individuals within growing communities.

In the 13th century, the name appeared in various forms, such as Blaize, Blays, and Blaze, reflecting the evolving spelling and pronunciation. One notable mention is in the Assize Rolls of Staffordshire in 1279, which record a Richard Blaze.

The Hundred Rolls of 1273 mention a place called "Blaze Fen" in Cambridgeshire, suggesting a potential connection between the surname and a geographic location bearing a similar name.

Over the centuries, several notable individuals have borne the surname Blaze. William Blaze (1612-1675) was an English puritan minister who served as the vicar of Boxgrove in Sussex. John Blaze (1619-1675) was a renowned English physician and author of several medical treatises.

Thomas Blaze (1688-1761) was a prominent English architect known for his work on churches and country houses, including the design of Longford Hall in Shropshire.

In the 19th century, Francis Blaze (1809-1883) was a French journalist and author who wrote extensively on music and the arts, while William Blaze (1835-1915) was an English landscape painter celebrated for his depictions of rural scenes.

While these are just a few examples, the surname Blaze has been present throughout various periods of history, reflecting its origins as a descriptive nickname that later became an established family name.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Blaze families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Blaze 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. Staffordshire leads with 32 Blazes recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.31x.

County Total Index
Staffordshire 32 7.31x
Lincolnshire 25 12.05x
Shropshire 13 11.60x
Yorkshire 12 0.93x
Nottinghamshire 9 5.15x
Warwickshire 8 2.45x
Cheshire 6 2.10x
Denbighshire 6 12.24x
Kent 6 1.36x
Surrey 6 0.95x
Worcestershire 4 2.36x
Middlesex 2 0.15x
Monmouthshire 2 2.13x
Lancashire 1 0.07x
Leicestershire 1 0.70x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Burslem in Staffordshire leads with 13 Blazes recorded in 1881 and an index of 103.67x.

Place Total Index
Burslem 13 103.67x
New Sleaford 11 827.07x
Sheffield 10 24.43x
Lenton 9 218.45x
Sedgley 9 55.32x
Aston 8 8.88x
Drayton In Hales 8 346.32x
St Paul Lincoln 8 2222.22x
Louth 6 126.32x
Ruabon 6 89.02x
Woolwich 6 36.70x
Battersea 5 10.47x
Wolstanton 4 30.08x
Wolverley 4 268.46x
Oswestry Rural 3 174.42x
Walsall Foreign 3 13.26x
Bilston 2 23.56x
Cheadle 2 36.56x
Llanyblodwell 2 476.19x
Trevethin 2 22.57x
Witton Cum Twambrooks 2 78.43x
Barrow In Furness 1 4.78x
Chester St Mary On Hill 1 40.65x
Croydon 1 2.85x
Escrick 1 384.62x
Fleckney 1 294.12x
Hammersmith London 1 3.13x
Over 1 34.36x
St Marylebone London 1 1.44x
Wednesbury 1 9.14x
Wistow 1 294.12x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 8
Mary 8
Sarah 8
Eliza 5
Jane 4
Ann 3
Charlotte 3
Emily 3
Alice 2
Isabella 2
Kate 2
Louisa 2
Ada 1
Anna 1
Annie 1
Betsy 1
Carry 1
Clara 1
Elizh. 1
Ellen 1
Emma 1
Florence 1
Flory 1
Frances 1
Hannah 1
Jessie 1
Johanna 1
Julia 1
Keziah 1
Lucretia 1
Maria 1
Matilda 1
Nellie 1
Rachel 1
Rebecca 1
Ruth 1
Susan 1

Top male names

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

FAQ

Blaze surname: questions and answers

How common was the Blaze surname in 1881?

In 1881, 133 people were recorded with the Blaze surname. That placed it at #16,676 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Blaze surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 206 in 2016. That gives Blaze a modern rank of #19,183.

What does the Blaze surname mean?

A surname referencing a person with fiery red hair or a striking personality.

What does the Blaze map show?

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