NameCensus.

UK surname

Blow

An occupational surname referring to a person who operated a bellows.

In the 1881 census there were 1,108 people recorded with the Blow surname, ranking it #3,593 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,296, ranked #4,621, down from #3,593 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lincoln St Botolph, Newchurch and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include North East Lincolnshire, Rhondda Cynon Taf and West Lindsey.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Blow is 1,659 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 17.0%.

1881 census count

1,108

Ranked #3,593

Modern count

1,296

2016, ranked #4,621

Peak year

1911

1,659 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Blow had 1,108 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,593 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,296 in 2016, ranked #4,621.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,659 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Blow surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Blow surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Blow 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 740 #3,560
1861 historical 799 #3,436
1881 historical 1,108 #3,593
1891 historical 1,323 #3,286
1901 historical 1,447 #3,519
1911 historical 1,659 #2,943
1997 modern 1,330 #4,323
1998 modern 1,378 #4,328
1999 modern 1,394 #4,320
2000 modern 1,366 #4,381
2001 modern 1,344 #4,351
2002 modern 1,369 #4,371
2003 modern 1,308 #4,461
2004 modern 1,298 #4,490
2005 modern 1,291 #4,452
2006 modern 1,296 #4,458
2007 modern 1,285 #4,535
2008 modern 1,298 #4,517
2009 modern 1,323 #4,538
2010 modern 1,330 #4,600
2011 modern 1,301 #4,637
2012 modern 1,269 #4,673
2013 modern 1,286 #4,703
2014 modern 1,295 #4,692
2015 modern 1,294 #4,656
2016 modern 1,296 #4,621

Geography

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Where Blows are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lincoln St Botolph, Newchurch, London parishes and Stevenage. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to North East Lincolnshire, Rhondda Cynon Taf, West Lindsey and Blaby. 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 Lincoln St Botolph Lincolnshire
2 Newchurch Hampshire
3 London parishes London 3
4 Stevenage Hertfordshire
5 London parishes London 2

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 North East Lincolnshire 003 North East Lincolnshire
2 Rhondda Cynon Taf 014 Rhondda Cynon Taf
3 West Lindsey 011 West Lindsey
4 Blaby 008 Blaby
5 West Lindsey 002 West Lindsey

Forenames

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First names often paired with Blow

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Blow

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

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Blow is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Blow is most concentrated in decile 7 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.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Blow

The surname "BLOW" is of English origin and is believed to have emerged in the 13th century. It is thought to have derived from an Old English word "blæc," meaning "black" or "swarthy." This suggests that the name may have originally been a descriptive surname, referring to someone with a dark complexion or perhaps someone who worked with soot or charcoal.

In medieval England, surnames were often derived from physical characteristics, occupations, or locations. The earliest recorded instance of the surname "BLOW" can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire in 1273, where it appears as "Blowe."

Another possible origin of the name could be linked to the Old English word "blāwan," meaning "to blow" or "to puff." This could indicate that the name may have originally referred to someone who worked as a bellows operator or a glassblower.

The surname "BLOW" has been associated with several notable individuals throughout history. One of the earliest recorded bearers of this name was John Blow (1649-1708), an English composer and organist who served as a Gentleman of the Chapel Royal under James II and William III.

Another prominent figure was Richard Blow (1708-1784), an English engraver and cartographer known for his intricate maps and charts of various regions, including the West Indies and North America.

In the 19th century, Detmar Jennings Blow (1867-1939) was a British architect and designer who played a significant role in the Arts and Crafts movement. He is renowned for his work on several notable buildings, such as the Savile Club in London.

The name "BLOW" has also been associated with literary figures, such as Susan Blow (1843-1916), an American educator and pioneer of the kindergarten movement in the United States. She played a crucial role in establishing the first public kindergarten in St. Louis, Missouri.

More recently, Isabella Blow (1958-2007) was a British fashion editor and stylist known for her eccentric style and her role in discovering and mentoring designers like Alexander McQueen and Philip Treacy.

While the surname "BLOW" may have originated as a descriptive term or an occupational reference, it has since become a well-established surname with bearers from various backgrounds and professions throughout history.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Blow families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Blow 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. Lincolnshire leads with 362 Blows recorded in 1881 and an index of 20.74x.

County Total Index
Lincolnshire 362 20.74x
Hampshire 144 6.44x
Middlesex 94 0.86x
Yorkshire 79 0.73x
Hertfordshire 78 10.37x
Kent 74 1.99x
Surrey 68 1.28x
Lancashire 31 0.24x
Nottinghamshire 26 1.77x
Aberdeenshire 21 2.08x
Essex 19 0.88x
Glamorgan 17 0.89x
Berkshire 11 1.34x
Derbyshire 10 0.59x
Norfolk 10 0.60x
Bedfordshire 9 1.59x
Worcestershire 9 0.63x
Isle of Man 8 3.95x
Buckinghamshire 7 1.06x
Carmarthenshire 7 1.52x
Devon 6 0.26x
Sussex 4 0.22x
Cambridgeshire 3 0.43x
Durham 3 0.09x
Northamptonshire 3 0.29x
Royal Navy 3 2.31x
Warwickshire 3 0.11x
Cornwall 2 0.16x
Banffshire 1 0.44x
Cheshire 1 0.04x
Denbighshire 1 0.24x
Dorset 1 0.14x
Huntingdonshire 1 0.46x
Lanarkshire 1 0.03x
Shropshire 1 0.11x
Somerset 1 0.06x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Great Grimsby in Lincolnshire leads with 65 Blows recorded in 1881 and an index of 58.67x.

Place Total Index
Great Grimsby 65 58.67x
Greenwich 30 17.26x
Carisbrooke 24 77.27x
Welwyn 24 368.10x
St Peterat Gowts Lincoln 23 93.69x
Islington London 22 2.08x
Stevenage 22 188.52x
Peterhead 20 37.41x
Battersea 19 4.73x
Lewisham 18 9.06x
Northwood 18 56.50x
Brading 17 57.16x
St Albans St Peter 17 66.96x
Camberwell 16 2.29x
Ruskington 16 359.55x
St Botolph Lincoln 15 119.52x
Clapham 14 10.26x
Glentham 12 784.31x
Laceby 12 315.79x
Leeds 12 1.96x
Morton In Gainsborough 12 349.85x
Blyborough 11 1182.80x
Dunston 11 378.01x
Exbury 11 852.71x
Middle Rasen 11 331.33x
Cardiff St Mary 10 9.55x
New Sealford 10 278.55x
St George Hanover Square 10 5.20x
Chesterfield 9 14.05x
Hunstanton 9 158.73x
Lee 9 16.65x
Luton 9 9.20x
Severn Stoke 9 347.49x
Shorwell 9 393.01x
Apley 8 1126.76x
Deptford St Paul 8 2.78x
Lambeth 8 0.84x
Newport 8 65.90x
Onchan 8 13.70x
Spalford 8 1739.13x
St Pancras London 8 0.91x
St Swithin Lincoln 8 29.15x
Timberland 8 425.53x
West Ham 8 1.68x
Whippingham 8 47.23x
Ardwick 7 5.99x
Arreton 7 97.63x
Brightside Bierlow 7 3.30x
Knowsley 7 149.57x
Manchester 7 1.20x
Pembrey 7 33.08x
Penge 7 10.04x
Westminster St John 7 5.27x
Wolverton 7 51.24x
Cottingham 6 25.74x
Kimberworth 6 10.00x
Kirkby Cum Osgodby 6 428.57x
Kirton In Lindsey 6 86.71x
North South Anston 6 126.85x
Roath 6 6.95x
Sculcoates 6 3.50x
Billinghay 5 92.94x
Binbrooke 5 114.94x
Boston 5 9.44x
Bow London 5 3.60x
Bowling 5 4.67x
Cleethorpes 5 48.69x
Gillingham 5 6.51x
Gorton 5 4.11x
Layer Breton 5 458.72x
Newchurch 5 98.62x
Nocton 5 213.68x
Reading St Giles 5 6.22x
Saxelby With Ingleby 5 112.36x
Shadwell London 5 16.37x
St Albans 5 32.43x
St Albans St Michael 5 59.45x
St Maryle Wigford 5 36.87x
Swinderby 5 264.55x
Wyham With Cadeby 5 961.54x

Top female names

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

Name Count
John 71
William 68
George 48
Charles 39
Joseph 28
Thomas 26
Henry 21
Frederick 18
Alfred 15
James 13
Arthur 12
Edward 12
Robert 11
Fred 9
Samuel 8
Tom 6
Walter 6
David 5
Frank 5
Edwin 4
Ernest 4
Richard 4
Albert 3
Benjamin 3
Edgar 3
Fredrick 3
Harry 3
Herbert 3
Lewis 3
Louis 3
Mark 3
Sidney 3
Eli 2
Frederic 2
Isaac 2
Jabez 2
Jacob 2
Jellings 2
Leonard 2
Percy 2
Stephen 2
Thos.R. 2
Wm. 2
Alfd. 1
Aubrey 1
Augustus 1
Caroline 1
Delmar 1
Edmund 1
Young 1

FAQ

Blow surname: questions and answers

How common was the Blow surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,108 people were recorded with the Blow surname. That placed it at #3,593 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Blow surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,296 in 2016. That gives Blow a modern rank of #4,621.

What does the Blow surname mean?

An occupational surname referring to a person who operated a bellows.

What does the Blow map show?

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