NameCensus.

UK surname

Blease

A surname possibly derived from a place name or an old nickname.

In the 1881 census there were 604 people recorded with the Blease surname, ranking it #5,801 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 684, ranked #7,836, down from #5,801 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Stockport, Toxteth Park and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Mearns South and Benholm, Tewkesbury and Braintree.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Blease is 876 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 13.2%.

1881 census count

604

Ranked #5,801

Modern count

684

2016, ranked #7,836

Peak year

1911

876 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Blease had 604 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,801 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 684 in 2016, ranked #7,836.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 876 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Blease surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Blease surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Blease 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 363 #6,525
1861 historical 285 #8,826
1881 historical 604 #5,801
1891 historical 696 #5,634
1901 historical 815 #5,539
1911 historical 876 #5,078
1997 modern 766 #6,768
1998 modern 779 #6,905
1999 modern 767 #7,011
2000 modern 759 #7,038
2001 modern 743 #7,032
2002 modern 757 #7,062
2003 modern 725 #7,183
2004 modern 718 #7,237
2005 modern 713 #7,218
2006 modern 715 #7,236
2007 modern 709 #7,349
2008 modern 707 #7,426
2009 modern 722 #7,451
2010 modern 719 #7,619
2011 modern 711 #7,606
2012 modern 691 #7,676
2013 modern 697 #7,752
2014 modern 679 #7,969
2015 modern 696 #7,745
2016 modern 684 #7,836

Geography

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Where Bleases are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Stockport, Toxteth Park, Manchester, Liverpool and Warrington. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Mearns South and Benholm, Tewkesbury, Braintree, Monmouthshire and Halton. 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 Stockport Cheshire
2 Toxteth Park Lancashire
3 Manchester Lancashire
4 Liverpool Lancashire
5 Warrington Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Mearns South and Benholm Aberdeenshire
2 Tewkesbury 006 Tewkesbury
3 Braintree 017 Braintree
4 Monmouthshire 004 Monmouthshire
5 Halton 011 Halton

Forenames

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First names often paired with Blease

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Blease

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

Ageing Communities

Nationally, the Blease surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Blease household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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, Blease 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

Blease is most concentrated in decile 6 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.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Blease falls in decile 7 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.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Blease is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Blease, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Blease

The surname Blease originates from England and dates back to the medieval period, around the 13th or 14th century. It is thought to have derived from the Old English word "blæse," meaning a blaze or flame, possibly referring to someone with a ruddy complexion or fiery red hair.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Suffolk from the year 1327, where a Thomas Blese is mentioned. This suggests that the name was already established in the region by the early 14th century.

In the 16th century, the Blease family held lands in Lancashire, particularly around the area of Eccleston, near Chorley. Records from this time indicate variations in the spelling, such as Bleas, Bleaze, and Blease.

A notable figure with this surname was William Blease, a prominent merchant and alderman in the city of Norwich during the late 16th century. He served as the city's mayor in 1589 and was involved in various civic affairs.

Another historical reference to the name can be found in the parish records of Eccleston, Lancashire, where a John Blease was recorded as a churchwarden in the year 1647.

In the 18th century, a family bearing the Blease surname resided in the village of Caton, near Lancaster. One member, Thomas Blease (1703-1786), was a respected landowner and local magistrate.

Moving into the 19th century, a notable individual was Charles Blease (1811-1878), an English architect who designed several churches and public buildings in the Midlands region.

During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the Blease name also appeared in Scotland, particularly in the region of Dumfriesshire. One individual of note was James Blease (1854-1927), a Scottish author and poet who wrote extensively about rural life in the Scottish Borders.

While the surname Blease is not among the most common in the English-speaking world, it has persisted throughout history and can be traced back to its medieval English roots, with various spellings and regional variations emerging over time.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Blease families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Blease 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. Cheshire leads with 306 Bleases recorded in 1881 and an index of 23.57x.

County Total Index
Cheshire 306 23.57x
Lancashire 228 3.27x
Staffordshire 14 0.71x
Middlesex 13 0.22x
Gloucestershire 5 0.43x
Kincardineshire 5 6.98x
Surrey 5 0.17x
Yorkshire 5 0.09x
Westmorland 4 3.09x
Flintshire 3 1.90x
Merionethshire 3 2.79x
Dorset 2 0.52x
Kent 2 0.10x
Midlothian 2 0.25x
Worcestershire 2 0.26x
Essex 1 0.09x
Hampshire 1 0.08x
Royal Navy 1 1.43x
Shropshire 1 0.20x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Altrincham in Cheshire leads with 40 Bleases recorded in 1881 and an index of 176.29x.

Place Total Index
Altrincham 40 176.29x
Lymm 37 391.95x
Warrington 24 29.01x
Toxteth Park 22 9.31x
Liverpool 21 4.95x
Bradford 14 42.85x
Cheadle 14 56.45x
Everton 14 6.29x
Newton In Ashton Under 14 109.29x
Mere 12 1165.05x
Bollington In 11 95.16x
Hale 11 245.54x
Knutsford Nether 10 127.39x
Salford 10 4.87x
Stayley 10 67.39x
Wolstanton 10 16.58x
Ashton Under Lyne 9 5.90x
West Derby 9 4.41x
Appleton 8 272.11x
Congleton 8 35.67x
Leftwich 8 138.65x
Pendleton In Salford 8 9.62x
Rainow 8 308.88x
Stretford 8 20.83x
Wardleworth 8 20.06x
Garston 7 33.98x
Grappenhall 7 440.25x
Manchester 7 2.23x
Rostherne 7 909.09x
Barrow In Furness 6 6.32x
Eaton In Macclesfield 6 740.74x
Islington London 6 1.05x
Kingsley 6 247.93x
Leese 6 2727.27x
Runcorn 6 20.04x
Walton On Hill 6 15.87x
Wharton 6 84.87x
Cheltenham 5 5.62x
Macclesfield 5 8.66x
Monks Coppenhall 5 10.20x
Nether Alderley 5 434.78x
Oldham 5 2.22x
Widnes 5 9.93x
Wigan 5 5.13x
Witton Cum Twambrooks 5 43.25x
Worsley 5 11.62x
Ardwick 4 6.35x
Benholm 4 129.87x
Bethnal Green London 4 1.57x
Bramhall 4 74.35x
Chadderton 4 11.72x
Dunham Massey 4 100.50x
Great Budworth 4 173.91x
Lambeth 4 0.78x
Liscard 4 17.10x
Sedgwick 4 800.00x
Stoke Upon Trent 4 1.90x
Tintwistle 4 57.64x
Barton Upon Irwell 3 5.71x
Church Hulme 3 225.56x
Cranage 3 337.08x
Gorton 3 4.57x
Latchford 3 34.76x
Leeds 3 0.91x
Llansaintffraid 3 857.14x
Northop 3 53.57x
Prescot 3 23.77x
Thelwall 3 300.00x
Thornton In Fylde 3 19.65x
Ashley 2 256.41x
Birkenhead 2 1.93x
Chester St John Baptist 2 8.57x
Crowton 2 215.05x
East Lulworth 2 273.97x
Halesowen 2 29.67x
Parr 2 8.01x
Royton 2 9.37x
Southcoates 2 6.18x
Stockport 2 2.99x
Tonbridge 2 2.76x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 47
Sarah 37
Elizabeth 28
Jane 20
Alice 12
Ann 12
Hannah 12
Martha 11
Annie 10
Margaret 9
Ellen 8
Ada 5
Eliza 5
Edith 4
Emily 4
Emma 4
Esther 4
Fanny 4
Harriet 4
Maria 4
Jessie 3
Lucy 3
Rachel 3
Agnes 2
Amelia 2
Anne 2
Bertha 2
Catherine 2
Elisabeth 2
Frances 2
Harriett 2
Lizzie 2
Louisa 2
Charlotte 1
Christiana 1
Christina 1
Clara 1
Elizth. 1
Elvira 1
Ester 1
Eva 1
Gertrude 1
Helen 1
Henrietta 1
Julia 1
Lydia 1
Margt. 1
May 1
Nancy 1
Undecided 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 53
William 43
Thomas 29
James 26
Joseph 22
Charles 14
George 13
Henry 9
Frank 7
Frederick 6
Robert 6
Samuel 6
Peter 5
Arthur 4
Edwin 4
Richard 4
Edward 3
Harry 3
Isaac 3
Walter 3
Albert 2
Fredrick 2
Job 2
Ralph 2
Thos. 2
Wm. 2
Alfred 1
Archabald 1
Charley 1
Chas. 1
Clive 1
Cornelius 1
Ellwood 1
Emmanuel 1
Frances 1
Francis 1
Frederic 1
Geo. 1
Hedley 1
Herbert 1
Horace 1
Infant 1
Jacob 1
Joshua 1
Samual 1
Squire 1
Stanley 1
Willie 1

FAQ

Blease surname: questions and answers

How common was the Blease surname in 1881?

In 1881, 604 people were recorded with the Blease surname. That placed it at #5,801 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Blease surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 684 in 2016. That gives Blease a modern rank of #7,836.

What does the Blease surname mean?

A surname possibly derived from a place name or an old nickname.

What does the Blease map show?

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