NameCensus.

UK surname

Blewitt

A variant of the Norman-French surname "Bluet", referring to someone with bright blue or gray eyes.

In the 1881 census there were 674 people recorded with the Blewitt surname, ranking it #5,347 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,233, ranked #4,837, up from #5,347 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Sedgley, Rowley Regis and Darlington. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Darlington and Sandwell.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Blewitt is 1,367 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 82.9%.

1881 census count

674

Ranked #5,347

Modern count

1,233

2016, ranked #4,837

Peak year

1999

1,367 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Blewitt had 674 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,347 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,233 in 2016, ranked #4,837.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,086 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Blewitt surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Blewitt surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Blewitt 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 343 #6,861
1861 historical 323 #7,888
1881 historical 674 #5,347
1891 historical 779 #5,153
1901 historical 1,082 #4,467
1911 historical 1,086 #4,271
1997 modern 1,335 #4,306
1998 modern 1,363 #4,370
1999 modern 1,367 #4,400
2000 modern 1,340 #4,452
2001 modern 1,309 #4,457
2002 modern 1,321 #4,507
2003 modern 1,284 #4,526
2004 modern 1,301 #4,479
2005 modern 1,314 #4,401
2006 modern 1,313 #4,410
2007 modern 1,309 #4,456
2008 modern 1,301 #4,507
2009 modern 1,330 #4,517
2010 modern 1,340 #4,572
2011 modern 1,311 #4,607
2012 modern 1,278 #4,646
2013 modern 1,276 #4,732
2014 modern 1,271 #4,781
2015 modern 1,251 #4,801
2016 modern 1,233 #4,837

Geography

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Where Blewitts are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Sedgley, Rowley Regis, Darlington, London parishes and Bedwelty. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Darlington and Sandwell. 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 Rowley Regis Staffordshire
3 Darlington Durham
4 London parishes London 3
5 Bedwelty Monmouthshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Darlington 007 Darlington
2 Darlington 006 Darlington
3 Darlington 011 Darlington
4 Sandwell 014 Sandwell
5 Darlington 008 Darlington

Forenames

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First names often paired with Blewitt

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Blewitt

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

Baseline UK

Group

Challenged Communities

Nationally, the Blewitt surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Blewitt household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Residents of these neighbourhoods typically live in households with dependent children, and there are fewer-than-average residents of normal retirement age or over. Identification with ethnic minorities, particularly Black, or Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is common. The rate of Christian religious affiliation is low. Housing predominantly consists of semi-detached houses, along with a significant number of terraced properties and flats. Overcrowded social housing is common, and private renting occurs at average UK levels. Those in employment work mainly in caring leisure and other services; process, plant and machine operation; or elementary occupations. Unemployment is high, and few individuals have degree level qualifications. Many of these neighbourhoods occur in commuter towns or less accessible areas of larger towns and cities.

Wider pattern

This Supergroup exemplifies the broad base to the UK’s social structure, encompassing as it does the average or modal levels of many neighbourhood characteristics, including all housing tenures, a range of levels of educational attainment and religious affiliations, and a variety of pre-retirement age structures. Yet, in combination, these mixes are each distinctive of the parts of the UK. Overall, terraced houses and flats are the most prevalent, as is employment in intermediate or low-skilled occupations. However, this Supergroup is also characterised by above average levels of unemployment and lower levels of use of English as the main language. Many neighbourhoods occur in south London and the UK’s other major urban centres.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Blewitt is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Blewitt 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

Blewitt falls in decile 1 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.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Blewitt

The surname Blewitt is of English origin, deriving from the ancient Anglo-Saxon topographic name 'Blouit', which refers to a dweller at the 'blue wood' or 'blue meadow'. It is believed to have originated in the 12th century in the county of Staffordshire, England.

The earliest recorded instance of the surname Blewitt can be traced back to the Pipe Rolls of Staffordshire in 1195, where a William Blouit is mentioned. This spelling variation highlights the gradual evolution of the name over time.

In the 13th century, the name appeared in various places, such as the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273, which lists a Paulinus Blouit residing in Oxfordshire. The Placita de Quo Warranto of 1292 mentions a Radulphus Blouit in Lincolnshire.

By the 14th century, the name had spread to other regions of England, including Yorkshire, where a William Blewitt was recorded in the Yorkshire Poll Tax of 1379. This document also lists a John Blewyt in the same county.

Notable individuals bearing the Blewitt surname include Sir John Blewitt (1563-1627), an English politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Staffordshire. Another prominent figure was Robert Blewitt (1782-1854), an English engraver and artist known for his landscapes and architectural illustrations.

In the 18th century, the name is associated with John Blewitt (1712-1788), an English clergyman and poet who published several works, including "Poems on Various Subjects" in 1763. His son, George Blewitt (1752-1832), was a renowned English architect and surveyor who designed numerous buildings in London.

During the 19th century, a notable figure was Charles Blewitt (1830-1900), a British civil engineer and surveyor who worked on various railway projects in India and served as the Director-General of the Indian Railways.

These are just a few examples of individuals who have carried the Blewitt surname throughout history, demonstrating its longevity and presence across various fields and regions.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Blewitt families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Blewitt 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 129 Blewitts recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.83x.

County Total Index
Staffordshire 129 5.83x
Middlesex 83 1.27x
Gloucestershire 68 5.29x
Yorkshire 56 0.86x
Essex 53 4.10x
Worcestershire 51 5.96x
Cornwall 36 4.85x
Warwickshire 27 1.63x
Durham 25 1.28x
Northumberland 22 2.26x
Glamorgan 21 1.84x
Surrey 18 0.56x
Kent 13 0.58x
Lancashire 12 0.15x
Herefordshire 9 3.35x
Leicestershire 9 1.24x
Monmouthshire 7 1.48x
Lincolnshire 6 0.57x
Nottinghamshire 6 0.68x
Northamptonshire 5 0.81x
Bedfordshire 4 1.18x
Derbyshire 3 0.29x
Devon 2 0.15x
Stirlingshire 2 0.83x
Channel Islands 1 0.51x
Cumberland 1 0.18x
Shropshire 1 0.18x
Somerset 1 0.09x
Suffolk 1 0.13x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Oldbury in Worcestershire leads with 37 Blewitts recorded in 1881 and an index of 87.84x.

Place Total Index
Oldbury 37 87.84x
Dagenham 31 402.60x
Newent 31 474.73x
Tipton 18 26.56x
Earsdon 15 189.16x
Westbury On Severn East 15 51.60x
Sedgley 14 17.03x
St Marylebone London 14 4.00x
Kingswinford 13 16.18x
Rowley Regis 13 21.08x
Birmingham 12 2.18x
Lichfield St Chad 11 220.88x
Eythorne 9 857.14x
Gwinear 9 255.68x
Hammersmith London 9 5.57x
Harborne 9 12.69x
Hetton Le Hole 9 36.42x
Islington London 9 1.42x
Lichfield St Michael 9 129.68x
Ormesby 9 51.55x
Coleshill 8 150.94x
Darlington 8 10.62x
Dudley 8 7.69x
Hanwell 8 68.85x
Pinner 8 139.37x
Sheffield 8 3.87x
Taynton 8 620.16x
York St George 8 156.25x
Barking 7 18.49x
Clase 7 16.49x
Mortlake 7 49.16x
Preston In Tynemouth 7 182.77x
Sowerby In Halifax 7 32.96x
Walsall Foreign 7 6.12x
Barrow In Furness 6 5.67x
Brewood 6 94.04x
Brotton 6 70.75x
Camborne 6 19.62x
Snenton 6 17.28x
St Bride London 6 157.48x
St George Hanover Square 6 5.19x
Wanstead 6 26.48x
Callington 5 115.74x
Hugglescote 5 46.77x
Morley 5 14.81x
Peterborough 5 11.20x
Redruth 5 23.82x
Romford 5 24.44x
Shoreditch London 5 1.76x
St John Near Swansea 5 35.44x
Swansea Town 5 5.34x
Trevethin 5 11.17x
Aston 4 0.88x
Cannock 4 10.36x
Gateshead 4 2.74x
Hammerwich 4 127.39x
Kensington London 4 1.10x
Lassington 4 444.44x
Leicester St Margaret 4 2.26x
Phillack 4 41.75x
Shareshill Hilton 4 454.55x
Stamford St George 4 84.93x
Whistones 4 64.52x
Whitworth 4 28.01x
Ballingham 3 315.79x
Bethnal Green London 3 1.05x
Ealing 3 5.12x
Essington 3 102.74x
Preston 3 491.80x
Rotherhithe 3 3.70x
Sandy 3 50.17x
Shirland 3 39.06x
Southwark St Saviour 3 8.90x
St Mabyn 3 263.16x
Stafford St Mary 3 9.58x
Stoneleigh 3 109.49x
Wednesbury 3 5.43x
Paddington London 2 0.83x
South Shoebury 2 38.46x
St Erth 2 44.44x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 41
Sarah 30
Elizabeth 24
Emma 16
Ann 13
Eliza 11
Jane 11
Alice 10
Hannah 10
Ellen 9
Harriett 8
Annie 7
Fanny 7
Emily 6
Maria 6
Amelia 5
Catherine 5
Charlotte 5
Margaret 5
Edith 4
Florence 4
Isabella 4
Lucy 4
Ada 3
Caroline 3
Frances 3
Martha 3
Minnie 3
Rose 3
Anne 2
Beatrice 2
Christiana 2
Clara 2
Comfort 2
Elinor 2
Elizth. 2
Grace 2
Harriet 2
Kate 2
Lilian 2
Louisa 2
Phoebe 2
Rebecca 2
Susan 2
Susanah 2
Susanna 2
Ambrozina 1
E.S. 1
Infant 1
Winifred 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 45
John 39
George 24
Thomas 21
Charles 19
Edward 18
Joseph 18
Henry 11
James 9
Francis 8
Alfred 5
Frederick 5
Arthur 4
Isaac 4
Richard 4
Albert 3
Benj. 3
Benjamin 3
Fred 3
Herbert 3
Michael 3
Robert 3
Samuel 3
Aaron 2
Andrew 2
David 2
Edwin 2
Matthew 2
Patrick 2
Philip 2
Simeon 2
Simon 2
Tom 2
Wm. 2
Allen 1
Benjn. 1
Bennet 1
Bruce 1
Byron 1
Elisha 1
Enoch 1
F.H. 1
Frank 1
Jas.Hy. 1
Jesse 1
Job 1
Jonas 1
Josh. 1
Martin 1
Wm.Jno. 1

FAQ

Blewitt surname: questions and answers

How common was the Blewitt surname in 1881?

In 1881, 674 people were recorded with the Blewitt surname. That placed it at #5,347 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Blewitt surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,233 in 2016. That gives Blewitt a modern rank of #4,837.

What does the Blewitt surname mean?

A variant of the Norman-French surname "Bluet", referring to someone with bright blue or gray eyes.

What does the Blewitt map show?

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