NameCensus.

UK surname

Bloom

An occupational surname referring to an iron worker or a person who worked with metal or armor.

In the 1881 census there were 1,018 people recorded with the Bloom surname, ranking it #3,848 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,158, ranked #2,998, up from #3,848 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Christ Church Spitalfields, London parishes and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Hertsmere, Westminster and Camden.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Bloom is 2,237 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 112.0%.

1881 census count

1,018

Ranked #3,848

Modern count

2,158

2016, ranked #2,998

Peak year

1998

2,237 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Bloom had 1,018 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,848 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,158 in 2016, ranked #2,998.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,113 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Bloom surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Bloom surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Bloom 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 563 #4,504
1861 historical 626 #4,275
1881 historical 1,018 #3,848
1891 historical 1,199 #3,573
1901 historical 1,697 #3,040
1911 historical 2,113 #2,366
1997 modern 2,173 #2,847
1998 modern 2,237 #2,877
1999 modern 2,212 #2,930
2000 modern 2,167 #2,960
2001 modern 2,085 #3,004
2002 modern 2,138 #2,996
2003 modern 2,157 #2,915
2004 modern 2,170 #2,908
2005 modern 2,083 #2,962
2006 modern 2,056 #3,011
2007 modern 2,080 #3,008
2008 modern 2,089 #3,016
2009 modern 2,125 #3,046
2010 modern 2,205 #3,006
2011 modern 2,150 #3,043
2012 modern 2,098 #3,049
2013 modern 2,143 #3,045
2014 modern 2,161 #3,039
2015 modern 2,159 #3,005
2016 modern 2,158 #2,998

Geography

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Where Blooms are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Christ Church Spitalfields, London parishes, Manchester and Haughley. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Hertsmere, Westminster, Camden, Harrow and Barnet. 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 Christ Church Spitalfields London (East Districts)
2 London parishes London 1
3 London parishes London 3
4 Manchester Lancashire
5 Haughley Suffolk

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Hertsmere 013 Hertsmere
2 Westminster 011 Westminster
3 Camden 004 Camden
4 Harrow 001 Harrow
5 Barnet 032 Barnet

Forenames

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First names often paired with Bloom

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Bloom

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

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Diverse Educated Urban Singles

Nationally, the Bloom surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Bloom 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 includes many never-married individuals not living with dependent children. Many were born in EU countries and are now aged between 25-44. This Group is characterised by its ethnic group diversity, although those identifying as Asian are not well represented. Affiliation with the Christian religion amongst residents is low. Reported disability rates are low. Neighbourhoods include some central locations in London and other major cities. Private renting is the norm, and there is some overcrowding. Many individuals are educated to degree level, and full-time employment is common, particularly in managerial and professional occupations.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Bloom is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, 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

These neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

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

Bloom is most concentrated in decile 10 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Bloom falls in decile 8 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

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

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Bloom 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 - Other

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

Meaning and origin of Bloom

The surname Bloom originated in England and has its roots traced back to the 13th century. It is derived from the Old English word 'blom', meaning a mass of metal or a lump, referring to a person living near a smelting area or forge. Some early spellings of the name include Blome, Bloome, and Blum.

The name Bloom is first recorded in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273, which list landowners and their properties. One of the earliest known bearers of the name was John Blome, who lived in Gloucestershire, England, during the late 13th century.

The Bloom surname has ties to various place names in England, such as Bloomfield and Bloomsbury. The latter was originally recorded as 'Blomesbury' in the Domesday Book of 1086, referring to a manor owned by a person named Blome.

Notable figures bearing the surname Bloom include:

1. Molly Bloom (1892-1964), a renowned American artist's model and actress, known for her involvement in the French Renaissance. 2. Harold Bloom (1930-2019), an influential American literary critic and Yale University professor, best known for his work 'The Western Canon'. 3. Orlando Bloom (born 1977), a renowned British actor famous for his roles in the 'Lord of the Rings' and 'Pirates of the Caribbean' film series. 4. Claire Bloom (born 1931), an English actress who has appeared in numerous stage, film, and television productions, including 'The King's Speech'. 5. John Bloom (1782-1855), an English writer and editor who co-founded the 'Quarterly Review' literary magazine.

Over the centuries, the Bloom surname has spread across various parts of the English-speaking world, with significant populations in the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Bloom families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Bloom 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. Norfolk leads with 201 Blooms recorded in 1881 and an index of 13.26x.

County Total Index
Norfolk 201 13.26x
Middlesex 183 1.86x
Yorkshire 92 0.94x
Suffolk 85 7.08x
Essex 67 3.44x
Surrey 52 1.08x
Lancashire 37 0.32x
Nottinghamshire 37 2.78x
Cambridgeshire 22 3.52x
Lincolnshire 22 1.40x
Hertfordshire 20 2.94x
Warwickshire 20 0.80x
Kent 17 0.51x
Shropshire 16 1.88x
Somerset 13 0.82x
Glamorgan 10 0.58x
Monmouthshire 10 1.40x
Hampshire 9 0.45x
Staffordshire 9 0.27x
Cumberland 8 0.94x
Northumberland 8 0.55x
Sussex 8 0.48x
Lanarkshire 7 0.22x
Northamptonshire 7 0.75x
Devon 6 0.29x
Gloucestershire 6 0.31x
Caernarfonshire 4 1.00x
Cheshire 4 0.18x
Derbyshire 4 0.26x
Dorset 4 0.62x
Wiltshire 4 0.46x
Bedfordshire 3 0.59x
Durham 3 0.10x
Pembrokeshire 3 0.96x
Worcestershire 3 0.23x
Buckinghamshire 2 0.34x
Angus 1 0.11x
Leicestershire 1 0.09x
Midlothian 1 0.08x
Perthshire 1 0.23x
Royal Navy 1 0.85x

Top districts and towns

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 33 Blooms recorded in 1881 and an index of 44.49x.

Place Total Index
Spitalfields London 33 44.49x
Hackney London 21 3.80x
Walton Le Soken 18 388.77x
Haughley 17 568.56x
Trunch 17 1118.42x
Lawford 15 528.17x
St Pancras London 15 1.89x
Aston 13 1.90x
Lambeth 13 1.51x
Paddington London 13 3.59x
Mile End New Town London 12 61.57x
Norwich St Martin At Oak 12 130.15x
Brightside Bierlow 11 5.74x
Great Yarmouth 11 8.76x
Hessle In Sculcoates 11 127.46x
Irstead 11 2200.00x
Nottingham St Mary 11 3.20x
Boston 10 20.90x
Southrepps 10 341.30x
St Botolph Aldgate London 10 49.24x
Trevethin 10 14.85x
Burwell 9 120.32x
East Markham 9 354.33x
Fordham 9 223.33x
Ipswich St Peter 9 55.66x
Keswick 9 1800.00x
Norwich St Mary At Coslany 9 207.37x
St Martin In Fields 9 15.24x
Stoke Newington London 9 11.72x
Stow Upland 9 227.85x
Wolverhampton 9 3.52x
Hainford 8 377.36x
Haverhill 8 74.98x
Heigham 8 9.83x
Holy Trinity 8 3.40x
Liverpool 8 1.13x
Ludford 8 512.82x
Mitcham 8 26.34x
Preston Quarter 8 33.63x
Swansea Town 8 5.68x
Wivenhoe 8 103.49x
Baldock 7 109.55x
Birmingham 7 0.84x
Burlingham St Andrew 7 1166.67x
Buxton 7 370.37x
Cantley 7 769.23x
Glasgow 7 1.24x
Hitchin 7 22.82x
Liversedge 7 16.09x
Ludlow St Lawrence 7 41.30x
Rufford 7 625.00x
Walcot 7 8.28x
Bermondsey 6 2.04x
Bethnal Green London 6 1.40x
Burgh 6 810.81x
Castle Acre 6 133.04x
East Bergholt 6 149.63x
Elmswell 6 233.46x
Huddersfield 6 4.21x
Idle 6 13.24x
Newcastle On Tyne St 6 7.89x
Norwich St George Colegate 6 108.70x
Stansted Mountfitchet 6 121.95x
Sutton In Ashfield 6 20.80x
West Derby 6 1.75x
Wooldale 6 36.19x
Woolpit 6 171.92x
Wreningham 6 363.64x
Brampton 5 819.67x
Cheltenham 5 3.35x
Cheshunt 5 21.04x
Crawley 5 328.95x
Great Melton 5 471.70x
Islington London 5 0.52x
Mile End Old Town London 5 2.38x
Mortimer West End 5 384.62x
Newington 5 18.58x
Newington 5 1.37x
St George In East London 5 5.39x
West Ham 5 1.16x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 56
John 48
James 31
George 27
Robert 26
Thomas 25
Henry 20
Joseph 16
Charles 15
Alfred 12
Edward 12
Arthur 10
Ernest 9
Samuel 9
Abraham 8
Frederick 8
Isaac 8
Albert 6
Francis 6
Herbert 6
Jacob 6
Walter 6
Daniel 5
Lewis 5
Benjamin 4
Fred 4
Harris 4
Richard 4
Fredrick 3
Harry 3
Lazarus 3
Wm. 3
Barnett 2
Emanuel 2
Frank 2
Hyman 2
Job 2
Levi 2
Paul 2
Percy 2
Phillip 2
Simon 2
Amous 1
Benjiman 1
Carl 1
Elijah 1
Farin 1
Fishel 1
Hens 1
Woolfe 1

FAQ

Bloom surname: questions and answers

How common was the Bloom surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,018 people were recorded with the Bloom surname. That placed it at #3,848 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Bloom surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,158 in 2016. That gives Bloom a modern rank of #2,998.

What does the Bloom surname mean?

An occupational surname referring to an iron worker or a person who worked with metal or armor.

What does the Bloom map show?

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