UK surname
A surname derived from an Old English word meaning to blow or blossom.
In the 1881 census there were 123 people recorded with the Blew surname, ranking it #17,506 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 45, ranked #35,162, down from #17,506 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Shanklin and Newchurch. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Blew is 151 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 63.4%.
1881 census count
123
Ranked #17,506
Modern count
45
2016, ranked #35,162
Peak year
1891
151 bearers
Map years
6
1851 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Blew surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Blew surname density by area, 1881 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 118 | #15,362 |
| 1861 | historical | 104 | #20,477 |
| 1881 | historical | 123 | #17,506 |
| 1891 | historical | 151 | #18,242 |
| 1901 | historical | 148 | #18,212 |
| 1911 | historical | 131 | #19,404 |
| 1997 | modern | 45 | #33,168 |
| 1998 | modern | 46 | #33,286 |
| 1999 | modern | 47 | #33,320 |
| 2000 | modern | 46 | #33,458 |
| 2001 | modern | 46 | #33,311 |
| 2002 | modern | 47 | #33,548 |
| 2003 | modern | 43 | #33,951 |
| 2004 | modern | 43 | #34,149 |
| 2005 | modern | 41 | #34,478 |
| 2006 | modern | 44 | #34,568 |
| 2007 | modern | 46 | #34,634 |
| 2008 | modern | 45 | #34,818 |
| 2009 | modern | 44 | #35,028 |
| 2010 | modern | 46 | #35,062 |
| 2011 | modern | 49 | #34,868 |
| 2012 | modern | 44 | #35,164 |
| 2013 | modern | 48 | #35,012 |
| 2014 | modern | 48 | #35,041 |
| 2015 | modern | 46 | #35,109 |
| 2016 | modern | 45 | #35,162 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Shanklin, Newchurch, Clayhanger and Shapwick (pt), Huntspill. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff | Gloucestershire |
| 2 | Shanklin | Hampshire |
| 3 | Newchurch | Hampshire |
| 4 | Clayhanger | Devon |
| 5 | Shapwick (pt), Huntspill | Somerset |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Blew surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Blew, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Blew surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Blew household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Blew is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Blew is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Blew, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Blew has its origins in England, where it first appeared in the 11th century. It is derived from the Old English word "blaew," meaning "blue" or "blue-colored." This name is believed to have been given to someone with blue eyes or with a pale complexion.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Blew can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive record of landowners and properties in England compiled in 1086 by order of William the Conqueror. The name appears as "Bleu" in this historical document.
During the Middle Ages, the name Blew was predominantly concentrated in the counties of Oxfordshire and Gloucestershire, where it likely originated from various place names containing the word "blue," such as Blewbury in Oxfordshire or Blakeney in Gloucestershire.
In the 14th century, a notable figure named John Blew (c. 1320-1390) was recorded as a landowner in the village of Blewbury, Oxfordshire. This village's name is believed to have derived from the Old English words "blæw" and "bury," meaning "blue hill or fort."
Another early example of the name Blew can be found in the records of Oxford University, where a student named Thomas Blew (c. 1450-1520) was enrolled in the late 15th century. He later became a prominent scholar and served as the Rector of Lincoln College.
During the 16th century, the name Blew appeared in various historical records, including the parish registers of several English counties. One notable individual from this period was William Blew (c. 1550-1610), a merchant and alderman in the city of Bristol.
In the 17th century, the Blew family gained prominence in the county of Somerset, where several members held influential positions in local governance and trade. One such individual was Sir John Blew (1622-1698), a wealthy merchant and Member of Parliament who served as the Mayor of Bristol in 1670.
The 18th century saw the emergence of another notable figure named Blew, Rev. William John Blew (1770-1843), who was a prominent Anglican clergyman and author from Gloucestershire. He published several works on theology and religious education during his lifetime.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Blew surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Hertfordshire leads with 12 Blews recorded in 1881 and an index of 15.12x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Hertfordshire | 12 | 15.12x |
| Hampshire | 11 | 4.66x |
| Denbighshire | 10 | 23.00x |
| Devon | 10 | 4.17x |
| Gloucestershire | 9 | 3.99x |
| Worcestershire | 9 | 5.99x |
| Somerset | 8 | 4.32x |
| Middlesex | 7 | 0.61x |
| Northamptonshire | 6 | 5.54x |
| Staffordshire | 6 | 1.54x |
| Lincolnshire | 5 | 2.72x |
| Surrey | 5 | 0.89x |
| Wiltshire | 5 | 4.91x |
| Caernarfonshire | 2 | 4.30x |
| Cheshire | 2 | 0.79x |
| Durham | 2 | 0.58x |
| Northumberland | 2 | 1.17x |
| Warwickshire | 2 | 0.69x |
| Yorkshire | 2 | 0.18x |
| Berkshire | 1 | 1.16x |
| Cornwall | 1 | 0.77x |
| Glamorgan | 1 | 0.50x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Aspenden in Hertfordshire leads with 12 Blews recorded in 1881 and an index of 4800.00x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Aspenden | 12 | 4800.00x |
| Shanklin | 11 | 1571.43x |
| Esclusham Below | 10 | 2500.00x |
| Dallington | 6 | 937.50x |
| Clifton | 5 | 43.82x |
| Fugglestone St Peter | 5 | 1250.00x |
| Gainsborough | 5 | 115.21x |
| Clayhanger | 4 | 4444.44x |
| Great Little Hampton | 4 | 1600.00x |
| Amblecote | 3 | 270.27x |
| Bristol St Philip Jacob | 3 | 14.12x |
| Hockworthy | 3 | 2500.00x |
| Kittisford | 3 | 7500.00x |
| Penge | 3 | 40.82x |
| Sedgley | 3 | 20.79x |
| St Martin In Fields | 3 | 43.54x |
| Stourbridge | 3 | 77.52x |
| Birmingham | 2 | 2.07x |
| Burnham | 2 | 141.84x |
| Chester Le Street | 2 | 76.05x |
| Eglwys Rhos | 2 | 344.83x |
| Lambeth | 2 | 1.99x |
| Stonehouse East | 2 | 163.93x |
| Tynemouth | 2 | 21.81x |
| Upton | 2 | 1818.18x |
| Wakefield | 2 | 22.83x |
| Badsey | 1 | 434.78x |
| Birkenhead | 1 | 4.94x |
| Chelsea London | 1 | 2.88x |
| Chipstable | 1 | 769.23x |
| Exminster | 1 | 116.28x |
| Falmouth | 1 | 21.69x |
| Hammersmith London | 1 | 3.53x |
| Hartlebury | 1 | 112.36x |
| New Windsor | 1 | 34.48x |
| Norwood | 1 | 38.02x |
| Roath | 1 | 10.99x |
| St Marylebone London | 1 | 1.63x |
| Wallasey | 1 | 116.28x |
| Westbury On Trym | 1 | 13.07x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Blew surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
| Name | Count |
|---|---|
| Mary | 6 |
| Elizabeth | 5 |
| Ann | 4 |
| Harriet | 3 |
| Sarah | 3 |
| Annie | 2 |
| Caroline | 2 |
| Edith | 2 |
| Hannah | 2 |
| Jane | 2 |
| Susannah | 2 |
| Ada | 1 |
| Amy | 1 |
| Carrie | 1 |
| Cecila | 1 |
| Clara | 1 |
| Eliza | 1 |
| Ellen | 1 |
| Emma | 1 |
| Fanny | 1 |
| Frances | 1 |
| Harriett | 1 |
| Jessie | 1 |
| Kate | 1 |
| Laurinda | 1 |
| Lille | 1 |
| Lily | 1 |
| Lucy | 1 |
| Margaret | 1 |
| Margret | 1 |
| Maria | 1 |
| Naomi | 1 |
| Nellie | 1 |
| Octaird | 1 |
| Priscilla | 1 |
| Sophia | 1 |
| Theresa | 1 |
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Blew surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
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 Blew households.
FAQ
In 1881, 123 people were recorded with the Blew surname. That placed it at #17,506 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 45 in 2016. That gives Blew a modern rank of #35,162.
A surname derived from an Old English word meaning to blow or blossom.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Blew bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.