NameCensus.

UK surname

Blissett

A locational name derived from a place named Blissett or Blisset, likely in England.

In the 1881 census there were 435 people recorded with the Blissett surname, ranking it #7,500 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 834, ranked #6,681, up from #7,500 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Wilbarston, Worcester St John Bedwardine, Kenswick and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Kettering, Gateshead and Arun.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Blissett is 881 in 2002. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 91.7%.

1881 census count

435

Ranked #7,500

Modern count

834

2016, ranked #6,681

Peak year

2002

881 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Blissett had 435 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #7,500 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 834 in 2016, ranked #6,681.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 609 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Blissett surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Blissett surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Blissett 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 295 #7,737
1861 historical 224 #10,882
1881 historical 435 #7,500
1891 historical 438 #8,234
1901 historical 570 #7,353
1911 historical 609 #6,765
1997 modern 821 #6,405
1998 modern 849 #6,443
1999 modern 878 #6,325
2000 modern 851 #6,446
2001 modern 849 #6,343
2002 modern 881 #6,280
2003 modern 836 #6,422
2004 modern 834 #6,438
2005 modern 817 #6,503
2006 modern 809 #6,570
2007 modern 820 #6,558
2008 modern 833 #6,533
2009 modern 863 #6,494
2010 modern 875 #6,543
2011 modern 859 #6,563
2012 modern 824 #6,687
2013 modern 844 #6,674
2014 modern 859 #6,613
2015 modern 851 #6,596
2016 modern 834 #6,681

Geography

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Where Blissetts are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Wilbarston, Worcester St John Bedwardine, Kenswick, London parishes and Harwell. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Kettering, Gateshead, Arun and Wellingborough. 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 Wilbarston Leicestershire
2 Worcester St John Bedwardine, Kenswick Worcestershire
3 London parishes London 1
4 London parishes London 3
5 Harwell Berkshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Kettering 002 Kettering
2 Gateshead 004 Gateshead
3 Arun 016 Arun
4 Kettering 008 Kettering
5 Wellingborough 001 Wellingborough

Forenames

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First names often paired with Blissett

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Blissett

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Blissett, 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 Blissett surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Blissett 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

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Blissett is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Blissett 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

Blissett falls in decile 3 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.

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Blissett is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

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

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Blissett

The surname Blissett is of English origin and can be traced back to the late medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "blis" meaning "bliss" or "happiness" and "sett" meaning "dweller." Thus, the name Blissett likely referred to someone who lived in a place associated with joy or contentment.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Blissett can be found in the Lay Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1327, where a William Blissett is mentioned. The surname also appears in various 14th and 15th-century records from counties such as Gloucestershire and Warwickshire, indicating its prevalence in the West Midlands region of England.

In the 16th century, the name Blissett was occasionally written as "Blysset" or "Blissitt," reflecting the variations in spelling that were common during that time. The Blissett family is believed to have originated from the village of Blissett, which is now part of the parish of Alcester in Warwickshire.

One notable figure with the surname Blissett was Sir Edward Blissett (1597-1654), an English landowner and Member of Parliament for Warwickshire during the reign of King Charles I. Another prominent individual was Robert Blissett (1767-1823), a British army officer who served in the Napoleonic Wars.

In the 19th century, the Blissett name gained further recognition through the works of William Blissett (1814-1887), a renowned English landscape painter known for his depictions of rural scenes. Additionally, George Blissett (1857-1934) was a distinguished English cricketer who played for Gloucestershire County Cricket Club in the late 19th century.

One of the most celebrated figures with the surname Blissett in recent history was Luther Blissett (born 1958), a former professional footballer who played as a striker for several English clubs, including Watford and A.C. Milan, during the 1970s and 1980s.

Overall, the surname Blissett has its roots in the West Midlands region of England, where it likely originated as a descriptive name for someone living in a place associated with happiness or joy. Despite its relatively modest origins, the name has been borne by notable individuals throughout history, spanning various fields such as politics, art, sports, and military service.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Blissett families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Blissett 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 97 Blissetts recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.26x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 97 2.26x
Berkshire 72 22.35x
Northamptonshire 47 11.64x
Worcestershire 27 4.82x
Lincolnshire 22 3.21x
Surrey 22 1.05x
Wiltshire 20 5.27x
Gloucestershire 17 2.02x
Lancashire 17 0.33x
Oxfordshire 16 6.04x
Hampshire 11 1.25x
Yorkshire 10 0.24x
Herefordshire 9 5.11x
Leicestershire 9 1.89x
Channel Islands 7 5.50x
Essex 6 0.71x
Sussex 6 0.83x
Derbyshire 5 0.74x
Staffordshire 5 0.35x
Kent 4 0.27x
Cheshire 3 0.32x
Brecknockshire 2 2.33x
Warwickshire 2 0.18x
Devon 1 0.11x
Lanarkshire 1 0.07x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.17x
Somerset 1 0.14x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Islington London in Middlesex leads with 37 Blissetts recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.89x.

Place Total Index
Islington London 37 8.89x
Wilbarston In Market 27 3600.00x
Chilton 11 2682.93x
Harwell 11 924.37x
Desborough 10 330.03x
Edington 10 729.93x
Bensington 9 532.54x
Hackney London 9 3.74x
Hampstead Norris 9 445.54x
Kettering 9 55.11x
Wallingford St Leonard 9 600.00x
Wallingford St Mary Le 9 494.51x
Dudley 8 11.74x
Hallow 8 291.97x
Lambeth 8 2.14x
St Clement Danes London 8 90.09x
West Ashton 8 1777.78x
Atherton 7 37.76x
St Marylebone London 7 3.05x
St Saviour 7 99.57x
Binfield 6 242.92x
Bristol St Augustine 6 44.18x
Clerkenwell London 6 5.92x
Great Crosby 6 43.20x
Oxford St Ebbe 6 76.92x
Reading St Mary 6 23.25x
Shoreditch London 6 3.22x
St Martin Lincoln 6 94.19x
Dunston 5 434.78x
Grayingham 5 2000.00x
Leckhampton 5 96.34x
Leicester All Sts 5 53.48x
Sandiacre 5 208.33x
St George Hanover Square 5 6.61x
Cheltenham 4 6.16x
Chiswick 4 17.06x
Greenwich 4 5.85x
Hinderwell 4 110.19x
Loughton 4 95.47x
Romsey Infra 4 134.23x
Wandsworth 4 9.68x
Cliddesden 3 612.24x
Headingley Cum Burley 3 10.96x
Kempsey 3 140.85x
Kingswinford 3 5.70x
Oxton 3 55.97x
Sandhurst 3 48.08x
St Pancras London 3 0.87x
Stretton Grandison 3 1764.71x
Sutton 3 19.83x
Westbourne 3 83.33x
Whitchurch 3 107.53x
Acton 2 7.95x
Birmingham 2 0.55x
Boston 2 9.61x
Brecknock St John 2 27.62x
Chelsea London 2 1.55x
Everton 2 1.23x
Feltham 2 46.62x
Glenfield 2 217.39x
Leigh 2 29.41x
Letton 2 769.23x
Poulshot 2 400.00x
Rotherhithe 2 3.77x
Thatcham 2 40.32x
Wantage 2 38.91x
Wilsford 2 198.02x
Wokingham 2 27.21x
Yarkhill 2 307.69x
Barony 1 0.28x
Brighton 1 0.68x
Easton 1 68.49x
Great Bowden 1 23.09x
Hanwell 1 13.14x
Horfield 1 11.81x
Market Harborough 1 46.51x
Munsley 1 400.00x
Rotherham 1 4.17x
Tormoham 1 2.65x
Walcot 1 2.72x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 23
Thomas 16
James 15
John 15
Charles 14
George 12
Henry 12
Edward 6
Joseph 6
Richard 6
Frank 5
Alfred 4
Arthur 4
Chas. 4
Thos. 4
Walter 4
Frederick 3
Samuel 3
Wm. 3
Christopher 2
David 2
Francis 2
Fred 2
Harry 2
Albert 1
Alford 1
Amos 1
Atherton 1
Benjamin 1
Edwin 1
Elijah 1
Fredrick 1
Geo. 1
Gerard 1
Herbert 1
Hubbert 1
Hugh 1
Jessie 1
Percival 1
Philip 1
S. 1
Shadrack 1
Stanley 1
Thos.Hy. 1
Wm.H. 1

FAQ

Blissett surname: questions and answers

How common was the Blissett surname in 1881?

In 1881, 435 people were recorded with the Blissett surname. That placed it at #7,500 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Blissett surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 834 in 2016. That gives Blissett a modern rank of #6,681.

What does the Blissett surname mean?

A locational name derived from a place named Blissett or Blisset, likely in England.

What does the Blissett map show?

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