NameCensus.

UK surname

Blinkhorn

An English surname derived from a house or village name meaning "dwelling near a hill or ridge."

In the 1881 census there were 398 people recorded with the Blinkhorn surname, ranking it #7,996 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 418, ranked #11,472, down from #7,996 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Wigan, Manchester and Eccles. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Doncaster, Warrington and Cheshire West and Chester.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Blinkhorn is 603 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 5.0%.

1881 census count

398

Ranked #7,996

Modern count

418

2016, ranked #11,472

Peak year

1911

603 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Blinkhorn had 398 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #7,996 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 418 in 2016, ranked #11,472.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 603 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Blinkhorn surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Blinkhorn surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Blinkhorn 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 313 #7,385
1861 historical 257 #9,629
1881 historical 398 #7,996
1891 historical 390 #9,058
1901 historical 564 #7,397
1911 historical 603 #6,813
1997 modern 494 #9,384
1998 modern 494 #9,693
1999 modern 507 #9,555
2000 modern 502 #9,605
2001 modern 493 #9,574
2002 modern 500 #9,625
2003 modern 481 #9,770
2004 modern 477 #9,833
2005 modern 467 #9,925
2006 modern 454 #10,180
2007 modern 448 #10,365
2008 modern 452 #10,369
2009 modern 447 #10,742
2010 modern 457 #10,770
2011 modern 431 #11,155
2012 modern 440 #10,849
2013 modern 441 #11,016
2014 modern 440 #11,107
2015 modern 427 #11,292
2016 modern 418 #11,472

Geography

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Where Blinkhorns are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Wigan, Manchester, Eccles, Dean and Liverpool. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Doncaster, Warrington and Cheshire West and Chester. 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 Wigan Lancashire
2 Manchester Lancashire
3 Eccles Lancashire
4 Dean Lancashire
5 Liverpool Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Doncaster 003 Doncaster
2 Doncaster 004 Doncaster
3 Doncaster 006 Doncaster
4 Warrington 002 Warrington
5 Cheshire West and Chester 046 Cheshire West and Chester

Forenames

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First names often paired with Blinkhorn

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Blinkhorn

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

Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Families with resident dependent children (but not students) are common. Established family groups and White ethnicity predominate, as do individuals born in the UK. They are more likely than the Supergroup average to have been resident in their terraced, semi-detached, or detached houses for more than one year. Levels of multiple car ownership are high. Properties are owned and typically have surplus living space. Associate professionals and administrative occupations are prevalent, and parents are likely to be in middle age or approaching retirement. Educational attainment is above the Supergroup average. Scattered developments and concentrations are found in many small towns.

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

Central Connected Professionals and Managers

Group

City Support Workers

Within London, Blinkhorn is most associated with areas classed as City Support Workers, part of Central Connected Professionals and Managers. 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 throughout Inner London, these areas house relatively few workers in the most senior roles within organisations, and greater prevalence of administrative roles relative to the Supergroup mean. Residents are less likely to be of Chinese ethnicity and are more likely to have been born in Africa. Relative to the Supergroup average, residents are also more likely to live in social housing and live in overcrowded conditions.

Wider London pattern

Adult residents of these neighbourhoods are typically aged 25 to 44, working full-time in professional, managerial or associate professional occupations. There are few families with dependent children. The predominantly Inner London neighbourhoods have an international character, including many residents born elsewhere in Europe alongside high numbers of individuals identifying as of Chinese ethnicity. Many individuals are never married, childless and/or living alone. Above average numbers of individuals, likely to be full-time students, live in communal establishments. Elsewhere, privately rented flats are the dominant housing type. Residents of these areas are well-qualified, with a significant number holding Level 4 or above qualifications. There is a correspondingly high level of individuals employed full-time in professional, managerial and associated professional or technical occupations. Employing industries are financial, real estate, professional, administration, and, to a lesser degree, transport and communications. Unemployment is uncommon.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Blinkhorn is most concentrated in decile 7 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.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Blinkhorn 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 Blinkhorn 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 Blinkhorn, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Blinkhorn

The surname Blinkhorn has its origins in the northern English counties of Yorkshire and Lancashire, where it first emerged in the late 13th or early 14th century. It is believed to be a locational name, derived from a place name that no longer exists or has changed significantly over time. One theory suggests it may have originated from a now-lost hamlet or farmstead whose name incorporated the Old English words "blinc" (meaning "bright" or "shining") and "horn" (a spur or projecting piece of land).

Another possibility is that the name Blinkhorn is a corruption or variant spelling of the Old English personal name "Blæchorn," which was composed of the elements "blæc" (meaning "pale" or "white") and "horn" (perhaps referring to someone with pale or light-colored hair). This name is recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 as "Blacheorne" and "Blachorne."

The earliest known record of the Blinkhorn surname dates back to 1379, when a Richard Blynkhorn is mentioned in the Yorkshire Poll Tax Returns. In 1524, a Thomas Blynkehorne is listed in the Subsidy Rolls of Lancashire. Variant spellings found in historical documents include Blinkhorn, Blynkhorn, Blinkorne, Blynkhorne, and Blynkehorne.

Notable individuals with the Blinkhorn surname include:

1. John Blinkhorn (c. 1558-1626), an English clergyman and author who served as the Rector of Wighill in Yorkshire.

2. William Blinkhorn (1792-1870), a British politician and Member of Parliament for Stafford from 1841 to 1847.

3. Mary Blinkhorn (1832-1904), a British author and educator who published several books on teaching methods and child development.

4. Thomas Blinkhorn (1856-1929), a successful industrialist and entrepreneur from Lancashire who founded the Blinkhorn Engineering Company.

5. George Blinkhorn (1910-1987), a British author and journalist who wrote extensively on political and economic issues, particularly related to the labour movement.

While the surname Blinkhorn is not among the most common in England, it has a rich historical legacy and can be traced back to the medieval period in the northern counties where it originated.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Blinkhorn families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Blinkhorn 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. Lancashire leads with 242 Blinkhorns recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.25x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 242 5.25x
Yorkshire 26 0.68x
Cambridgeshire 22 8.95x
Kent 18 1.36x
Lincolnshire 11 1.77x
Middlesex 11 0.28x
Nottinghamshire 11 2.10x
Gloucestershire 10 1.31x
Worcestershire 8 1.58x
Cheshire 6 0.70x
Hampshire 6 0.75x
Surrey 6 0.32x
Huntingdonshire 4 5.19x
Staffordshire 4 0.31x
Cumberland 3 0.90x
Herefordshire 3 1.88x
Sussex 3 0.46x
Warwickshire 2 0.20x
Denbighshire 1 0.68x
Norfolk 1 0.17x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Halliwell in Lancashire leads with 17 Blinkhorns recorded in 1881 and an index of 101.37x.

Place Total Index
Halliwell 17 101.37x
Everton 16 10.90x
Manchester 15 7.24x
Westhoughton 15 122.05x
Pendleton In Salford 14 25.51x
Great Bolton 11 18.03x
Sutton In Ashfield 11 96.83x
Barton Upon Irwell 10 28.84x
Ince In Makerfield 10 46.64x
Newchurch 10 26.53x
Preston 10 8.11x
Liverpool 9 3.22x
Heaton 8 412.37x
Little Bolton 8 13.51x
Little Hulton 8 104.85x
Bowling 7 18.37x
Dudley 7 11.36x
Great Shelford 7 542.64x
Thornham 7 813.95x
Wigan 7 10.87x
Worsley 7 24.65x
Heeley 6 51.33x
Hindley 6 30.55x
Islington London 6 1.59x
Leeds 6 2.76x
Salford 6 4.43x
St Peterat Arches 6 845.07x
Croydon 5 4.76x
Holy Trinity 5 5.40x
Leeds 5 515.46x
Toxteth Park 5 3.21x
Upholland 5 84.75x
Basingstoke 4 43.72x
Chesterton 4 52.77x
Gloucester Kingsholm St 4 140.85x
Little Lever 4 67.91x
Ramsey 4 64.83x
Spalding 4 32.47x
Tyldesley Cum Shakerley 4 30.17x
Walsall Borough 4 39.33x
West Derby 4 2.97x
Widnes 4 12.04x
Gloucester St Michael 3 172.41x
Hereford St Peter 3 70.59x
Higher Booths 3 36.14x
Horwich 3 59.76x
Hougham 3 38.07x
Monks Coppenhall 3 9.28x
Newton 3 8.45x
North Meols 3 6.65x
Pilkington 3 17.14x
St Andrewthe Less 3 10.68x
Whitehaven 3 16.84x
Wrightington 3 149.25x
Bassingbourn 2 55.40x
Birmingham 2 0.61x
Chadderton 2 8.88x
Gloucester Barton St Mary 2 14.36x
Hackney London 2 0.92x
Pendlebury 2 20.56x
Preston 2 17.50x
Southampton St Mary 2 4.00x
Wardleworth 2 7.60x
Wisbech St Peter 2 16.22x
Altrincham 1 6.68x
Chatteris 1 15.95x
Fulwood 1 20.08x
Hanwell 1 14.53x
Hastings St Mary 1 6.14x
Hollingbourn 1 65.36x
Lathom 1 17.99x
Louth 1 7.03x
Maidstone 1 2.53x
Poulton Cum Seacombe 1 10.14x
Scarisbrick 1 18.69x
Seasalter 1 59.88x
Sutton On Derwent 1 222.22x
Tonge With Haulgh 1 11.15x
Tydd St Giles 1 85.47x
Whalley 1 14.90x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 24
Jane 17
Sarah 17
Elizabeth 15
Ellen 11
Alice 7
Ann 7
Annie 5
Eliza 5
Margaret 5
Martha 5
Emma 4
Hannah 4
Maria 4
Agnes 3
Esther 3
Louisa 3
Margret 3
Amelia 2
Anne 2
Betsy 2
Edith 2
Fanny 2
Kate 2
Sophia 2
Elisabeth 1
Eliz.E. 1
Emily 1
Gertrude 1
Grace 1
Harriet 1
Hester 1
Isabella 1
J. 1
Jessie 1
Lavina 1
Lilly 1
Lily 1
Livina 1
Mabel 1
Margt. 1
Marion 1
Matilda 1
Melia 1
Millicent 1
Minnie 1
Naomi 1
Phebee 1
Rachel 1
Zetty 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 34
John 31
Thomas 21
George 12
Robert 11
James 8
Charles 7
Henry 7
Richard 6
Arthur 5
Samuel 5
Albert 4
Joseph 4
Alfred 3
Bartholomew 3
Edward 3
Alexander 2
Daniel 2
Frederick 2
Harold 2
Jas. 2
Thos. 2
Walter 2
Wm. 2
Bachelor 1
Benjamin 1
Bertham 1
David 1
E. 1
Earnest 1
Edwd. 1
Ellis 1
Francis 1
Frank 1
Herbert 1
Humphrey 1
Jno. 1
Josiah 1
Miles 1
Noah 1
Octavius 1
Oswald 1
Philip 1
Raynor 1
Sidney 1
Sydney 1
Timothy 1
Tom 1
W. 1
Willie 1

FAQ

Blinkhorn surname: questions and answers

How common was the Blinkhorn surname in 1881?

In 1881, 398 people were recorded with the Blinkhorn surname. That placed it at #7,996 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Blinkhorn surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 418 in 2016. That gives Blinkhorn a modern rank of #11,472.

What does the Blinkhorn surname mean?

An English surname derived from a house or village name meaning "dwelling near a hill or ridge."

What does the Blinkhorn map show?

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