NameCensus.

UK surname

Blower

A surname referring to someone who played wind instruments, particularly horns.

In the 1881 census there were 1,767 people recorded with the Blower surname, ranking it #2,449 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,696, ranked #2,490, down from #2,449 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Wolverhampton, London parishes and Hinckley (incl. Hydes Pastures). In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include South Staffordshire, North Warwickshire and Bridgend.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Blower is 2,865 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 52.6%.

1881 census count

1,767

Ranked #2,449

Modern count

2,696

2016, ranked #2,490

Peak year

1998

2,865 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Blower had 1,767 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,449 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,696 in 2016, ranked #2,490.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,440 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Young Families in Industrial Towns.

Blower surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Blower surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Blower 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 1,020 #2,740
1861 historical 1,078 #2,610
1881 historical 1,767 #2,449
1891 historical 1,775 #2,573
1901 historical 2,206 #2,450
1911 historical 2,440 #2,102
1997 modern 2,781 #2,315
1998 modern 2,865 #2,344
1999 modern 2,837 #2,368
2000 modern 2,836 #2,362
2001 modern 2,782 #2,357
2002 modern 2,814 #2,379
2003 modern 2,759 #2,372
2004 modern 2,779 #2,364
2005 modern 2,709 #2,385
2006 modern 2,683 #2,407
2007 modern 2,712 #2,405
2008 modern 2,722 #2,416
2009 modern 2,728 #2,449
2010 modern 2,765 #2,471
2011 modern 2,708 #2,486
2012 modern 2,676 #2,475
2013 modern 2,737 #2,468
2014 modern 2,758 #2,475
2015 modern 2,700 #2,491
2016 modern 2,696 #2,490

Geography

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Where Blowers are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Wolverhampton, London parishes, Hinckley (incl. Hydes Pastures), Mancetter and Walsall. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to South Staffordshire, North Warwickshire, Bridgend, Wolverhampton and Bolton. 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 Wolverhampton Staffordshire
2 London parishes London 3
3 Hinckley (incl. Hydes Pastures) Leicestershire
4 Mancetter Warwickshire
5 Walsall Staffordshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 South Staffordshire 001 South Staffordshire
2 North Warwickshire 003 North Warwickshire
3 Bridgend 001 Bridgend
4 Wolverhampton 005 Wolverhampton
5 Bolton 033 Bolton

Forenames

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First names often paired with Blower

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Blower

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Young Families in Industrial Towns

Nationally, the Blower surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Young Families in Industrial Towns, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Blower household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods house predominantly young, UK-born individuals identifying with a White ethnic group with dependent children. Long-term disability and unpaid care are prevalent, and religious affiliations are uncommon. Housing is terraced or semi-detached and social rented sector housing is the norm. Unemployment is above the Supergroup average, and employment is principally in elementary occupations, as process plant and machine operatives, or in caring and leisure services. Educational attainment is low. The group is scattered throughout former industrial towns in the Midlands and the South Wales Valleys.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Blower is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

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

Blower 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

Blower falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

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

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Blower

The surname Blower originated in England during the medieval era, derived from the occupational name for someone who blew on a fire to stoke it or operate a bellows in a smithy. The name likely comes from the Old English word "blāwan," meaning to blow or fan a flame.

The earliest known record of the Blower surname dates back to the 13th century, with a Walter le Blowere appearing in the Hundred Rolls of Norfolk in 1275. This early spelling, "le Blowere," illustrates the occupational origin of the name.

In the 14th century, the surname appeared in various forms, such as Blouere, Blowyere, and Blower, reflecting regional dialects and spelling variations. For instance, the Court Rolls of the Manor of Wakefield in Yorkshire mention a Johannes le Blowyere in 1317.

During the Tudor period, the Blower surname gained prominence, and several notable individuals bore this name. One of the earliest was John Blower, a merchant and alderman of London, who lived from around 1490 to 1555.

Another notable Blower was Sir John Blower, a prominent figure in the English Civil War. He was born in 1618 and served as a Colonel in the Parliamentarian army, playing a crucial role in the Siege of Bristol in 1645.

In the 18th century, the Blower surname continued to be well-represented, with individuals like Thomas Blower (1716-1789), an English clergyman and author who wrote several works on theology and philosophy.

The 19th century saw the rise of William Blower (1799-1878), a renowned English architect who designed numerous churches and public buildings, including St. Michael's Church in Coventry and the Royal Halifax Infirmary.

Another notable figure from this era was Samuel Blower (1809-1892), a British politician and businessman who served as a Member of Parliament for West Staffordshire from 1857 to 1865.

While the Blower surname originated as an occupational name, it eventually became hereditary and was widely distributed across various regions of England, with concentrations in counties like Norfolk, Yorkshire, and Staffordshire.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Blower families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Blower 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 266 Blowers recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.57x.

County Total Index
Staffordshire 266 4.57x
Lancashire 233 1.14x
Warwickshire 211 4.85x
Middlesex 191 1.11x
Shropshire 129 8.65x
Leicestershire 86 4.49x
Cheshire 78 2.05x
Norfolk 77 2.90x
Surrey 49 0.58x
Nottinghamshire 45 1.93x
Yorkshire 41 0.24x
Derbyshire 39 1.44x
Worcestershire 35 1.55x
Gloucestershire 34 1.00x
Devon 28 0.78x
Monmouthshire 25 2.00x
Kent 24 0.41x
Denbighshire 21 3.22x
Hampshire 21 0.59x
Buckinghamshire 16 1.53x
Hertfordshire 15 1.26x
Durham 14 0.27x
Northumberland 12 0.47x
Suffolk 12 0.57x
Essex 8 0.23x
Glamorgan 8 0.27x
Wiltshire 8 0.52x
Oxfordshire 7 0.66x
Berkshire 6 0.46x
Montgomeryshire 6 1.52x
Lincolnshire 4 0.15x
Merionethshire 3 0.95x
Radnorshire 3 2.15x
Bedfordshire 2 0.22x
Flintshire 2 0.43x
Lanarkshire 2 0.04x
Somerset 2 0.07x
Sussex 2 0.07x
Aberdeenshire 1 0.06x
Cornwall 1 0.05x
Herefordshire 1 0.14x
Northamptonshire 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. Wolverhampton in Staffordshire leads with 101 Blowers recorded in 1881 and an index of 22.55x.

Place Total Index
Wolverhampton 101 22.55x
Aston 44 3.67x
Walsall Foreign 44 14.62x
Worsley 38 30.11x
Birmingham 32 2.21x
Hinckley 28 61.70x
Hillingdon 26 47.26x
Atherstone 24 107.96x
Foleshill 24 52.42x
Mile End Old Town London 24 6.53x
Polesworth 22 106.49x
West Derby 20 3.34x
Islington London 19 1.14x
Liverpool 18 1.45x
Mancetter 18 143.77x
Camberwell 17 1.54x
Lambeth 17 1.13x
Little Hulton 17 50.13x
Plymouth St Andrew 16 5.78x
Radford 16 13.54x
Wednesfield 15 17.50x
Worksop 15 21.75x
Castle Northwich 14 111.02x
Harefield 14 157.66x
Paddington London 14 2.21x
Shrewsbury St Julian 14 37.96x
Stoke Upon Trent 14 2.27x
Farnworth 13 10.60x
Heigham 13 9.13x
Hugglescote 13 46.18x
Wednesbury 13 8.93x
Leicester St Margaret 12 2.57x
Newland 12 42.19x
Ruabon 12 13.39x
Shrewsbury Holy Cross 12 72.86x
Shrewsbury St Chad 12 22.94x
Tipton 12 6.73x
Toxteth Park 12 1.73x
West Bromwich 12 3.60x
West Walton 12 236.22x
Grendon 11 295.70x
Kings Norton 11 5.44x
Little Bolton 11 4.18x
Shrewsbury St Mary 11 18.70x
Ashill 10 258.40x
Leftwich 10 59.10x
Manchester 10 1.09x
Portsea 10 1.44x
Sedgley 10 4.62x
Alberbury 9 256.41x
Alfreton 9 10.96x
Brimington 9 43.88x
Iver 9 66.96x
Kidderminster Borough 9 6.82x
Saham Toney 9 125.70x
Stockport 9 4.59x
Wilnecote 9 72.12x
Barlestone 8 191.39x
Baschurch 8 78.43x
East Newchurch 8 336.13x
Ince In Makerfield 8 8.40x
Linton 8 112.52x
Monk Bretton 8 46.22x
Moulton 8 227.92x
Pendlebury 8 18.51x
St Luke London 8 2.89x
Tottenham 8 2.91x
Trowbridge 8 11.86x
Tyldesley Cum Shakerley 8 13.57x
Ansley 7 142.28x
Aylburton 7 181.82x
Hammersmith London 7 1.65x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 7 3.15x
Minsterley 7 127.27x
Norwich St Benedict 7 59.17x
Sileby 7 58.00x
St Pancras London 7 0.50x
Upper Penn 7 47.98x
Witton Cum Twambrooks 7 20.64x
Wrentham 7 120.07x

Top female names

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

Name Count
John 126
William 117
Thomas 84
George 64
James 44
Joseph 41
Henry 35
Samuel 32
Charles 25
Arthur 22
Robert 22
Edward 17
Frederick 17
Alfred 16
David 16
Richard 15
Albert 13
Harry 10
Walter 10
Benjamin 9
Daniel 9
Herbert 7
Wm. 6
Ernest 5
Edwin 4
Frank 4
Thos. 4
Edwd. 3
Enoch 3
Francis 3
Jas. 3
Moses 3
Elijah 2
Fred 2
Geo. 2
Isaac 2
Jos. 2
Martin 2
Philip 2
Ralph 2
Saml. 2
Sidney 2
Stephen 2
Tom 2
Claude 1
Clifford 1
Eli 1
Emily 1
Emmanuel 1
England 1

FAQ

Blower surname: questions and answers

How common was the Blower surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,767 people were recorded with the Blower surname. That placed it at #2,449 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Blower surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,696 in 2016. That gives Blower a modern rank of #2,490.

What does the Blower surname mean?

A surname referring to someone who played wind instruments, particularly horns.

What does the Blower map show?

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