NameCensus.

UK surname

Blood

An English surname derived from a nickname referring to a person with a ruddy or sanguine complexion.

In the 1881 census there were 1,205 people recorded with the Blood surname, ranking it #3,350 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,448, ranked #4,240, down from #3,350 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Hartshorn, Wolstanton and St Werburgh. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include East Staffordshire, Coventry and Derbyshire Dales.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Blood is 1,658 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 20.2%.

1881 census count

1,205

Ranked #3,350

Modern count

1,448

2016, ranked #4,240

Peak year

1911

1,658 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Blood had 1,205 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,350 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,448 in 2016, ranked #4,240.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,658 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Blood surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Blood surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Blood 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 770 #3,474
1861 historical 843 #3,279
1881 historical 1,205 #3,350
1891 historical 1,356 #3,206
1901 historical 1,472 #3,471
1911 historical 1,658 #2,944
1997 modern 1,477 #3,964
1998 modern 1,605 #3,830
1999 modern 1,608 #3,852
2000 modern 1,602 #3,854
2001 modern 1,565 #3,860
2002 modern 1,599 #3,853
2003 modern 1,531 #3,928
2004 modern 1,514 #3,963
2005 modern 1,445 #4,080
2006 modern 1,438 #4,111
2007 modern 1,447 #4,120
2008 modern 1,460 #4,112
2009 modern 1,484 #4,152
2010 modern 1,502 #4,179
2011 modern 1,496 #4,165
2012 modern 1,449 #4,199
2013 modern 1,478 #4,200
2014 modern 1,488 #4,197
2015 modern 1,476 #4,195
2016 modern 1,448 #4,240

Geography

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Where Bloods are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Hartshorn, Wolstanton, St Werburgh, Crowland and Stoke-on-Trent, Bucknell-cum-Bagnall, Caverswall. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to East Staffordshire, Coventry, Derbyshire Dales and South Derbyshire. 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 Hartshorn Leicestershire
2 Wolstanton Staffordshire
3 St Werburgh Derbyshire
4 Crowland Northamptonshire
5 Stoke-on-Trent, Bucknell-cum-Bagnall, Caverswall Staffordshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 East Staffordshire 001 East Staffordshire
2 Coventry 007 Coventry
3 Derbyshire Dales 009 Derbyshire Dales
4 Derbyshire Dales 005 Derbyshire Dales
5 South Derbyshire 006 South Derbyshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Blood

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Blood

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

Rural Amenity

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Blood is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Blood is most concentrated in decile 8 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Blood falls in decile 7 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Blood

The surname Blood has its origins in England, dating back to the 12th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "blod," which means "blood." The name may have been given to individuals with a ruddy or reddish complexion or perhaps as a descriptive name for someone who had a bloody occupation, such as a butcher or a soldier.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Blood can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire in 1198, where a person named Richard Blod was listed. The name also appears in the Hundredorum Rolls of Oxfordshire in 1273, where a John le Blod is mentioned.

The Blood surname is also associated with various place names in England, such as Blood Hill in Somerset and Blood Alley in London. These place names may have influenced the adoption of the surname by individuals residing in those areas.

In the 14th century, a notable figure bearing the name Blood was Sir Thomas Blood (1618-1680), an Irish adventurer and conspirator who attempted to steal the Crown Jewels from the Tower of London in 1671. Despite his audacious plot, he was later pardoned by King Charles II.

Another prominent individual with the surname Blood was Bindon Blood (1842-1940), a British naval officer and author. He served in the Royal Navy and wrote several books on naval history and strategy.

The Blood surname also has connections to the United States, where it was brought by early English settlers. One notable American with this surname was Thomas Blood Jr. (1617-1689), a colonial governor of Virginia who played a significant role in the colony's development.

In the literary world, Cyril Blood (1886-1976) was a British writer and poet who published several collections of poetry and works of fiction during the early 20th century.

Another individual of note was William Bindon Blood (1849-1922), an English Anglican priest and historian who wrote extensively on the history of the Church of England and the Oxford Movement.

Throughout history, the Blood surname has been associated with various professions, from military personnel and clergymen to writers and scholars, reflecting the diverse backgrounds and contributions of those who have borne this name.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Blood families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Blood 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. Derbyshire leads with 295 Bloods recorded in 1881 and an index of 16.15x.

County Total Index
Derbyshire 295 16.15x
Staffordshire 241 6.12x
Leicestershire 107 8.27x
Nottinghamshire 95 6.04x
Lancashire 88 0.64x
Warwickshire 82 2.79x
Lincolnshire 72 3.86x
Yorkshire 53 0.46x
Middlesex 34 0.29x
Cheshire 27 1.05x
Northamptonshire 17 1.55x
Gloucestershire 12 0.52x
Kent 10 0.25x
Glamorgan 7 0.34x
Surrey 7 0.12x
Buckinghamshire 5 0.71x
Hampshire 5 0.21x
Cambridgeshire 4 0.54x
Durham 4 0.12x
Essex 4 0.17x
Renfrewshire 4 0.44x
Rutland 4 4.67x
Worcestershire 4 0.26x
Lanarkshire 3 0.08x
Oxfordshire 3 0.42x
Norfolk 2 0.11x
Pembrokeshire 2 0.54x
Royal Navy 2 1.44x
Berkshire 1 0.11x
Monmouthshire 1 0.12x
Shropshire 1 0.10x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Crowland in Lincolnshire leads with 36 Bloods recorded in 1881 and an index of 307.69x.

Place Total Index
Crowland 36 307.69x
Derby St Werburgh 35 33.18x
Sheepshed 35 197.41x
Hartshorn 33 478.26x
Wolstanton 33 27.59x
Marston Upon Dove 32 545.14x
Stoke Upon Trent 32 7.66x
Mickleover 31 549.65x
Ruddington 31 294.12x
Aston 29 3.58x
Birmingham 22 2.24x
Nottingham St Mary 18 4.43x
Ashborne 17 136.88x
Derby St Alkmund 17 31.06x
Uttoxeter 17 84.33x
Hartington Upper 13 149.25x
Ardwick 12 9.61x
Checkley 12 117.30x
Church Broughton 12 510.64x
Clifton Campville 12 388.35x
Lichfield St Michael 12 97.09x
Mablethorpe 12 468.75x
Salford 12 2.95x
Worksop 12 25.73x
Belgrave 11 37.68x
Newcastle Under Lyme 11 15.79x
Ashby De La Zouch 10 33.36x
Crumpsall 10 30.65x
Normanton 10 64.81x
Stone 10 19.85x
Wolverhampton 10 3.30x
Bilston 9 11.79x
Rocester 9 184.43x
Staveley 9 27.76x
Sutton St Edmunds 9 340.91x
Tipton 9 7.46x
Burton Upon Trent 8 8.68x
Formby 8 51.05x
Glossop Dale 8 9.35x
Heather 8 446.93x
Horninglow 8 43.13x
Hucknall Under 8 98.64x
Snelston 8 629.92x
Walsall Borough 8 26.17x
York All Sts Pavement 8 601.50x
Fulham London 7 4.14x
Gumley 7 752.69x
Islington London 7 0.62x
Leicester St Margaret 7 2.22x
Macclesfield 7 6.12x
Market Weighton Arras 7 93.21x
Nether Heyford 7 216.05x
Newbold Astbury 7 228.01x
Stapenhill 7 25.74x
Swansea St Thomas 7 34.30x
Wakefield 7 7.89x
Worsley 7 8.20x
Yarborough 7 642.20x
Alrewas Hays Orgreave 6 659.34x
Battersea 6 1.40x
Broughton In Salford 6 4.74x
Dringhoe Upton Brough 6 952.38x
Edgbaston 6 6.58x
Etwall 6 285.71x
Gorton 6 4.61x
Hampton In Arden 6 231.66x
Kibworth Beauchamp 6 133.93x
Kibworth Harcourt 6 333.33x
Odd Rode 6 47.02x
Oundle 6 48.90x
Snenton 6 9.71x
St Marylebone London 6 0.96x
St Pancras London 6 0.64x
Church Gresley 5 17.21x
Faversham 5 13.17x
Heaton Norris 5 6.35x
Leicester St Mary 5 4.78x
Pendleton In Salford 5 3.03x
Rodsley 5 925.93x
Wilne 5 119.62x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 95
John 66
Thomas 50
George 48
Joseph 29
Samuel 29
Charles 27
James 26
Robert 22
Henry 19
Frederick 18
Alfred 16
Arthur 12
Edward 8
Edwin 8
Herbert 8
Abraham 7
Daniel 7
Walter 6
Frank 5
Matthew 5
Richard 5
Harry 4
Isaac 4
Albert 3
Elijah 3
Francis 3
Reuben 3
Tom 3
Aaron 2
Adam 2
David 2
Fred 2
Infant 2
Jesse 2
Lewis 2
Lorenzo 2
Alban 1
Augustus 1
Ben 1
Bert 1
Eli 1
Emmanuel 1
Ernest 1
Felix 1
Foster 1
Issac 1
J.James 1
Jabez 1
Wm.Henry 1

FAQ

Blood surname: questions and answers

How common was the Blood surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,205 people were recorded with the Blood surname. That placed it at #3,350 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Blood surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,448 in 2016. That gives Blood a modern rank of #4,240.

What does the Blood surname mean?

An English surname derived from a nickname referring to a person with a ruddy or sanguine complexion.

What does the Blood map show?

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