UK surname
A surname of German origin referring to something quick, sudden, or lightning-like.
In the 1881 census there were 38 people recorded with the Blitz surname, ranking it #28,285 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 71, ranked #33,633, down from #28,285 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Bedminster, Christ Church Spitalfields and St Mary Whitechapel. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Blitz is 117 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 86.8%.
1881 census count
38
Ranked #28,285
Modern count
71
2016, ranked #33,633
Peak year
1911
117 bearers
Map years
2
1901 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Blitz surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Blitz surname density by area, 1911 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 | 6 | #32,278 |
| 1861 | historical | 6 | #33,230 |
| 1881 | historical | 38 | #28,285 |
| 1891 | historical | 69 | #28,188 |
| 1901 | historical | 111 | #21,492 |
| 1911 | historical | 117 | #20,757 |
| 1997 | modern | 85 | #28,988 |
| 1998 | modern | 85 | #29,439 |
| 1999 | modern | 76 | #30,546 |
| 2000 | modern | 69 | #31,273 |
| 2001 | modern | 63 | #31,693 |
| 2002 | modern | 64 | #32,007 |
| 2003 | modern | 66 | #31,879 |
| 2004 | modern | 68 | #31,880 |
| 2005 | modern | 67 | #32,196 |
| 2006 | modern | 65 | #32,743 |
| 2007 | modern | 63 | #33,243 |
| 2008 | modern | 67 | #33,135 |
| 2009 | modern | 69 | #33,257 |
| 2010 | modern | 75 | #33,081 |
| 2011 | modern | 76 | #32,989 |
| 2012 | modern | 78 | #33,044 |
| 2013 | modern | 78 | #33,215 |
| 2014 | modern | 71 | #33,717 |
| 2015 | modern | 72 | #33,595 |
| 2016 | modern | 71 | #33,633 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Bedminster, Christ Church Spitalfields, St Mary Whitechapel, Portsmouth, Portsea and Edgbaston. 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 | Bedminster | Somerset |
| 2 | Christ Church Spitalfields | London (East Districts) |
| 3 | St Mary Whitechapel | London (East Districts) |
| 4 | Portsmouth, Portsea | Hampshire |
| 5 | Edgbaston | Worcestershire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Blitz 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 Blitz, 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 Blitz surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Blitz 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, Blitz 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 Blitz is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Blitz, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname BLITZ is of German origin, derived from the German word "blitz," meaning "lightning" or "flash." The name likely originated in the medieval period, possibly as a nickname or descriptive moniker for someone with a quick temper or swift movements.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name BLITZ can be found in the Codex Diplomaticus Saxoniae Regiae, a collection of medieval documents from Saxony, dating back to the 13th century. In this record, a certain "Johannes Blitz" is mentioned as a witness to a legal transaction.
During the 15th century, the name BLITZ appears in various German municipal records, such as tax rolls and guild registers. For example, a "Hans Blitz" is listed as a member of the Bakers' Guild in Nuremberg in 1487.
The BLITZ surname is also associated with several notable figures throughout history. Johann Blitz (1540-1612) was a German theologian and author who wrote extensively on religious topics during the Protestant Reformation.
In the 18th century, Johann Georg Blitz (1701-1774) was a respected German architect known for his work on churches and public buildings in Dresden and Leipzig.
Another notable bearer of the BLITZ name was Carl Blitz (1834-1915), a German-American engineer and inventor who patented several innovations in the field of electrical engineering, including improvements to telegraph systems.
The BLITZ surname has also been linked to several place names in Germany, such as Blitzingen, a village in the state of Baden-Württemberg, and Blitzheim, a town in North Rhine-Westphalia. These place names may have contributed to the development and spread of the surname in their respective regions.
While the BLITZ surname is relatively uncommon outside of German-speaking regions, it has been carried by individuals of notable achievement throughout history, particularly in fields related to engineering, architecture, and theology.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Blitz 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. Middlesex leads with 27 Blitz' recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.29x.
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Spitalfields London in Middlesex leads with 17 Blitz' recorded in 1881 and an index of 609.32x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Spitalfields London | 17 | 609.32x |
| Camberwell | 5 | 21.13x |
| Old Artillery Ground | 5 | 1562.50x |
| Portishead | 5 | 1136.36x |
| Whitechapel London | 3 | 82.19x |
| Mile End Old Town London | 2 | 25.38x |
| Plymouth St Andrew | 1 | 16.84x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Blitz surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Blitz 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 Blitz households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Cigar Maker | 13 |
| Scholar | 6 |
| Professor Of Legerdemain (Performer) | 3 |
| Dias | 1 |
| Housekeeper | 1 |
| Labourer | 1 |
| No Occupation | 1 |
| Nurse | 1 |
| Railway Clerk | 1 |
| Traveller | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 38 people were recorded with the Blitz surname. That placed it at #28,285 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 71 in 2016. That gives Blitz a modern rank of #33,633.
A surname of German origin referring to something quick, sudden, or lightning-like.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Blitz 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.