NameCensus.

UK surname

Bloor

A surname possibly derived from an old English place name or topographical feature.

In the 1881 census there were 1,653 people recorded with the Bloor surname, ranking it #2,595 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 3,266, ranked #2,082, up from #2,595 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Prestbury, Wolstanton and Burslem. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Staffordshire Moorlands, Newcastle-under-Lyme and Stoke-on-Trent.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Bloor is 3,565 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 97.6%.

1881 census count

1,653

Ranked #2,595

Modern count

3,266

2016, ranked #2,082

Peak year

1998

3,565 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Bloor had 1,653 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,595 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 3,266 in 2016, ranked #2,082.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,615 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Bloor surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Bloor surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Bloor 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 960 #2,893
1861 historical 886 #3,132
1881 historical 1,653 #2,595
1891 historical 1,820 #2,525
1901 historical 2,279 #2,386
1911 historical 2,615 #1,965
1997 modern 2,698 #2,368
1998 modern 3,565 #1,893
1999 modern 3,560 #1,908
2000 modern 3,518 #1,928
2001 modern 3,432 #1,930
2002 modern 3,529 #1,922
2003 modern 3,420 #1,936
2004 modern 3,433 #1,928
2005 modern 3,334 #1,958
2006 modern 3,346 #1,949
2007 modern 3,353 #1,965
2008 modern 3,352 #1,993
2009 modern 3,423 #1,993
2010 modern 3,463 #2,014
2011 modern 3,439 #2,002
2012 modern 3,293 #2,047
2013 modern 3,357 #2,044
2014 modern 3,321 #2,081
2015 modern 3,299 #2,069
2016 modern 3,266 #2,082

Geography

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Where Bloors are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Prestbury, Wolstanton, Burslem, Manchester and Ashby-de-la-Zouch. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Staffordshire Moorlands, Newcastle-under-Lyme and Stoke-on-Trent. 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 Prestbury Cheshire
2 Wolstanton Staffordshire
3 Burslem Staffordshire
4 Manchester Lancashire
5 Ashby-de-la-Zouch Leicestershire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Staffordshire Moorlands 009 Staffordshire Moorlands
2 Newcastle-under-Lyme 012 Newcastle-under-Lyme
3 Newcastle-under-Lyme 010 Newcastle-under-Lyme
4 Newcastle-under-Lyme 014 Newcastle-under-Lyme
5 Stoke-on-Trent 003 Stoke-on-Trent

Forenames

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First names often paired with Bloor

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Bloor

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Bloor, 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 Bloor surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Bloor 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, Bloor 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

Bloor is most concentrated in decile 6 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.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Bloor

The surname Bloor has its origins in England, deriving from an Old English word "blær" meaning a person who lived on a hillside or bluff. The name can be traced back to the 13th century.

In medieval times, Bloor was a topographic name given to people who lived in areas known for their hills or bluffs. The earliest recorded example of the name dates back to 1273 in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire, where a person named Richard Blore is mentioned.

The name is also associated with several place names in England, such as Blore Heath in Staffordshire and Blore with Swinscoe in Derbyshire. These places likely contributed to the spread and adoption of the surname in those areas.

One notable historical figure with the surname Bloor was Thomas Bloor (1618-1678), an English politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Derby during the reign of Charles II.

Another prominent individual was Sir Robert Bloor (1857-1943), a British engineer and industrialist who played a significant role in the development of the automobile industry in the early 20th century.

In the literary realm, Anne Bloor (1766-1823) was an English novelist and poet, known for her works such as "The Gossip's Story" and "The Monastery."

Moving to more recent times, Edward Bloor (born 1950) is an American author best known for his young adult novels, including "Tangerine" and "London Calling."

Additionally, there was John Bloor (born 1936), an English entrepreneur and founder of the Bloor Holdings group, which owned the famous motorcycle brand Triumph Motorcycles.

The surname Bloor has a long and interesting history, originating from Old English and reflecting the geographical features of the areas where the name first emerged.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Bloor families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Bloor 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. Staffordshire leads with 851 Bloors recorded in 1881 and an index of 15.63x.

County Total Index
Staffordshire 851 15.63x
Derbyshire 187 7.41x
Cheshire 180 5.06x
Lancashire 126 0.66x
Yorkshire 54 0.34x
Middlesex 44 0.27x
Nottinghamshire 35 1.61x
Warwickshire 34 0.84x
Shropshire 32 2.30x
Denbighshire 27 4.43x
Kent 26 0.47x
Devon 15 0.45x
Leicestershire 9 0.50x
Surrey 7 0.09x
Brecknockshire 6 1.86x
Northumberland 4 0.17x
Worcestershire 4 0.19x
Berkshire 3 0.25x
Flintshire 2 0.46x
Hampshire 2 0.06x
Pembrokeshire 2 0.39x
Essex 1 0.03x
Royal Navy 1 0.52x
Wiltshire 1 0.07x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Stoke Upon Trent in Staffordshire leads with 209 Bloors recorded in 1881 and an index of 36.21x.

Place Total Index
Stoke Upon Trent 209 36.21x
Burslem 120 76.96x
Newcastle Under Lyme 107 111.10x
Wolstanton 58 35.09x
Macclesfield 32 20.23x
Wolstanton Knutton 28 84.26x
Cheddleton 27 237.05x
Aston 26 2.32x
Lower Withington 23 2613.64x
Bulwell 21 44.44x
Hartshorn 21 220.13x
Ipstones 21 268.54x
Stafford St Mary 20 25.96x
Burton Upon Trent 19 14.92x
Leek Lowe 19 26.24x
Shifnal 18 47.59x
Farnworth 17 14.83x
Manchester 17 1.98x
Ticknall 17 328.82x
Ilkeston 16 22.61x
Uttoxeter 16 57.43x
Ashton Under Lyne 15 3.59x
Audley 15 27.86x
Dilhorne 15 165.56x
Hulme 15 3.76x
Stone 15 21.55x
Church Gresley 14 34.85x
Islington London 14 0.90x
Keele 14 242.21x
Caverswall 13 45.95x
Newton 13 8.82x
Ockbrook 13 121.27x
St Luke London 12 4.64x
Trentham 12 25.92x
Kimberworth 11 12.40x
Stanley 11 235.55x
Cheadle 10 38.26x
Congleton 10 16.26x
Deptford St Paul 10 2.36x
Stowe 10 490.20x
Bollington In 9 28.41x
Derby St Alkmund 9 11.90x
Lee 9 11.27x
Newton Abbot St Mary 9 31.96x
Ruabon 9 10.75x
Stapenhill 9 23.95x
Tipton 9 5.40x
Titteworth 9 107.78x
Tranmere 9 6.88x
Walsall Foreign 9 3.20x
Derby St Werburgh 8 5.49x
Hurdsfield 8 36.53x
Mavesyn Ridware 8 306.51x
Sandbach 8 26.35x
Sheffield 8 1.57x
Wolverhampton 8 1.91x
Altofts 7 39.68x
Ashford 7 13.06x
Beeston 7 28.03x
Dale Abbey 7 311.11x
Ecclesall Bierlow 7 2.15x
Fairfield 7 41.47x
Haslington 7 69.93x
Madeley 7 51.58x
Nether Hallam 7 3.24x
Poplar London 7 2.30x
Sutton In Macclesfield 7 18.95x
Bovey Tracey 6 51.11x
Denbigh 6 24.54x
Leftwich 6 37.95x
Liverpool 6 0.52x
Llanelly 6 15.55x
Marthall Cum Warford 6 405.41x
Norton In Hales 6 291.26x
Penkridge 6 42.74x
Smallwood 6 188.09x
Whitmore 6 416.67x
Brymbo 5 23.57x
Everton 5 0.82x
Litchurch 5 4.92x

Top female names

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

Name Count
John 110
William 104
Thomas 69
George 61
James 54
Joseph 33
Charles 32
Samuel 31
Arthur 24
Henry 24
Albert 18
Richard 18
Frederick 16
Alfred 12
David 12
Edward 12
Daniel 10
Robert 10
Edwin 9
Harry 8
Elijah 7
Ernest 6
Herbert 6
Ralph 6
Walter 6
Fred 5
Peter 5
Thos. 5
Eli 4
Francis 4
Frank 4
Moses 4
Wm. 4
Aaron 3
Benjamin 3
Enoch 3
Ephraim 3
Jesse 3
Robt. 3
Tom 3
Anson 2
Isaac 2
Jas. 2
Levi 2
Louis 2
Mark 2
Saml. 2
Sampson 2
Samson 2
Stephen 2

FAQ

Bloor surname: questions and answers

How common was the Bloor surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,653 people were recorded with the Bloor surname. That placed it at #2,595 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Bloor surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 3,266 in 2016. That gives Bloor a modern rank of #2,082.

What does the Bloor surname mean?

A surname possibly derived from an old English place name or topographical feature.

What does the Bloor map show?

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