NameCensus.

UK surname

Blenman

A surname possibly derived from the Old English word "blenc" meaning a white or gray horse.

In the 1881 census there were 14 people recorded with the Blenman surname, ranking it #31,604 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 105, ranked #30,114, up from #31,604 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cardiff, Kelty East and Waltham Forest.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Blenman is 118 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 650.0%.

1881 census count

14

Ranked #31,604

Modern count

105

2016, ranked #30,114

Peak year

2010

118 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Blenman had 14 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #31,604 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 105 in 2016, ranked #30,114.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 51 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Blenman surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Blenman surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Blenman 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 9 #31,675
1861 historical 12 #32,329
1881 historical 14 #31,604
1891 historical 51 #30,158
1901 historical 30 #30,724
1911 historical 26 #30,547
1997 modern 110 #25,529
1998 modern 106 #26,689
1999 modern 110 #26,315
2000 modern 105 #27,001
2001 modern 103 #26,927
2002 modern 103 #27,443
2003 modern 103 #27,234
2004 modern 109 #26,607
2005 modern 113 #25,974
2006 modern 104 #27,646
2007 modern 113 #26,641
2008 modern 114 #26,796
2009 modern 115 #27,207
2010 modern 118 #27,404
2011 modern 111 #28,294
2012 modern 110 #28,514
2013 modern 106 #29,740
2014 modern 107 #29,827
2015 modern 109 #29,327
2016 modern 105 #30,114

Geography

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Where Blenmans are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cardiff, Kelty East, Waltham Forest and Bromley. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cardiff 049 Cardiff
2 Kelty East Fife
3 Waltham Forest 020 Waltham Forest
4 Bromley 009 Bromley
5 Waltham Forest 026 Waltham Forest

Forenames

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First names often paired with Blenman

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

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Blenman

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

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations

Nationally, the Blenman surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Blenman 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 is often found in less central parts of London and other major towns and cities. Adults are more likely than the Supergroup average to have never been married and are typically aged less than 45 years. Many have young dependent children and individuals may have been born in Africa. There are many members identifying with a Black ethnic group, with the other ethnic groups (as listed in the glossary) also represented, though Chinese less so. Accommodation in flats, frequently socially rented, is common in these neighbourhoods. Part time employment is also common, and work is often in elementary occupations, while unemployment is also the highest within this Supergroup.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Blenman is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Blenman is most concentrated in decile 10 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Blenman falls in decile 2 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.

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Blenman is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Blenman

The surname Blenman is of English origin, originating in the county of Hertfordshire during the late medieval period, around the 13th or 14th century. It is derived from the Old English words "blæc" meaning "black" and "mann" meaning "man", suggesting that the name was initially a descriptive nickname given to someone with a dark complexion or hair color.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Hertfordshire County Records from 1327, which mention a John Blenman residing in the village of Ashwell. The Blenman family is also thought to have owned land in the nearby village of Blenheim, although the connection between the place name and the surname is unclear.

In the 16th century, the name appears in various spellings, such as Blenman, Bleneman, and Blenhamn, reflecting the lack of standardized spelling during that era. One notable individual from this period was William Blenman, a merchant and landowner from Hertfordshire, who lived from approximately 1525 to 1598.

As the Blenman family spread across England, they established roots in other counties, including Essex and Oxfordshire. In the 17th century, a branch of the family settled in the village of Blenheim, near Oxford, and it is believed that they may have had some influence on the naming of the nearby Blenheim Palace, the famous residence of the Dukes of Marlborough.

During the 18th century, several Blenmans achieved notable positions, including John Blenman (1703-1787), a renowned architect who designed several churches in London, and Samuel Blenman (1725-1799), a successful merchant and philanthropist who established a charitable foundation in his hometown of Bristol.

In the 19th century, the Blenman name continued to be present in various parts of England, with individuals such as Joseph Blenman (1812-1892), a respected lawyer and judge in London, and Emily Blenman (1838-1918), a pioneering educator and advocate for women's rights.

Throughout its history, the Blenman surname has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including farmers, tradesmen, professionals, and nobility. While the name may have originated as a descriptive nickname, it has evolved to become a distinctive and respected surname in its own right.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Blenman families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Blenman 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. Middlesex leads with 7 Blenmans recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.13x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 7 5.13x
Gloucestershire 3 11.21x
Surrey 3 4.51x
Sussex 1 4.35x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Hammersmith London in Middlesex leads with 6 Blenmans recorded in 1881 and an index of 178.57x.

Place Total Index
Hammersmith London 6 178.57x
Bristol St James In 3 769.23x
Lambeth 3 25.21x
Brighton 1 21.55x
St George In East London 1 78.13x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Louisa 2
Ann 1
Atholin 1
Emily 1
Fanny 1
Kate 1
Maria 1
Viola 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Charles 2
William 2
Saml. 1

Top occupations

Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Blenman households.

FAQ

Blenman surname: questions and answers

How common was the Blenman surname in 1881?

In 1881, 14 people were recorded with the Blenman surname. That placed it at #31,604 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Blenman surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 105 in 2016. That gives Blenman a modern rank of #30,114.

What does the Blenman surname mean?

A surname possibly derived from the Old English word "blenc" meaning a white or gray horse.

What does the Blenman map show?

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