NameCensus.

UK surname

Bluett

Of Old French and Anglo-Norman origin, meaning someone with a dark complexion or blue-dyed clothing.

In the 1881 census there were 274 people recorded with the Bluett surname, ranking it #10,362 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 404, ranked #11,793, down from #10,362 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), London parishes and St Pancras. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cornwall, St Edmundsbury and Forest of Dean.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Bluett is 422 in 2002. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 47.4%.

1881 census count

274

Ranked #10,362

Modern count

404

2016, ranked #11,793

Peak year

2002

422 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Bluett had 274 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #10,362 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 404 in 2016, ranked #11,793.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 396 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Bluett surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Bluett surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Bluett 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 214 #9,898
1861 historical 175 #13,409
1881 historical 274 #10,362
1891 historical 317 #10,611
1901 historical 396 #9,539
1911 historical 328 #10,714
1997 modern 407 #10,869
1998 modern 414 #11,073
1999 modern 410 #11,246
2000 modern 414 #11,127
2001 modern 413 #10,962
2002 modern 422 #11,002
2003 modern 414 #10,980
2004 modern 388 #11,539
2005 modern 363 #12,037
2006 modern 371 #11,916
2007 modern 375 #11,955
2008 modern 381 #11,918
2009 modern 387 #12,021
2010 modern 399 #12,018
2011 modern 381 #12,300
2012 modern 388 #11,996
2013 modern 401 #11,890
2014 modern 404 #11,906
2015 modern 398 #11,949
2016 modern 404 #11,793

Geography

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Where Bluetts are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), London parishes, St Pancras, East Dean, Little Dean, Flaxley, Abinghall, Weston-under-Penyard (Ross, Herefordshire), Lea (Ross, H and St Marylebone. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cornwall, St Edmundsbury, Forest of Dean and Blair Atholl, Strathardle and Glenshee. 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 Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos) Glamorganshire
2 London parishes London 1
3 St Pancras London (North Districts)
4 East Dean, Little Dean, Flaxley, Abinghall, Weston-under-Penyard (Ross, Herefordshire), Lea (Ross, H Gloucestershire
5 St Marylebone London (North Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cornwall 003 Cornwall
2 Cornwall 002 Cornwall
3 St Edmundsbury 003 St Edmundsbury
4 Forest of Dean 004 Forest of Dean
5 Blair Atholl, Strathardle and Glenshee Perth and Kinross

Forenames

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First names often paired with Bluett

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Bluett

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

Bluett is most concentrated in decile 5 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.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Bluett falls in decile 4 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.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Bluett

The surname Bluett is of English origin and dates back to the 13th century. It is derived from the Old English word "blo", meaning "blue", and was likely a nickname given to someone with blue eyes or a fondness for the color blue.

The earliest recorded spelling of the name is found in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire in 1273, where it appears as "Bluet". This document was a census taken at the time of King Edward I.

In the 14th century, the name is found in various records from the county of Somerset, including the Lay Subsidy Rolls of 1327. This suggests that the Bluett family was well-established in that region during the medieval period.

The Bluetts were also landowners in the county of Wiltshire, as evidenced by the mention of a John Bluett in the Feet of Fines for Wiltshire in 1521. This record documents the transfer of property ownership.

One of the earliest notable bearers of the name was Sir Edward Bluett (c. 1560-1609), who served as a Member of Parliament for Lyme Regis in Dorset during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.

Another prominent figure was Sir John Bluett (1647-1718), a wealthy landowner and Tory politician who represented Honiton in Devon in the English Parliament.

In the 18th century, the Bluett family was well-established in the county of Cornwall. A notable member was Sir Benjamin Bluett (1712-1795), who served as the High Sheriff of Cornwall in 1765.

The name Bluett is also associated with the village of Holcombe Rogus in Devon, where the Bluett family owned a manor house for several generations. A notable member from this branch was John Bluett (1644-1712), who served as the Member of Parliament for Tiverton in Devon.

Other notable individuals with the surname Bluett include Sir Walter Bluett (1597-1642), a Royalist soldier during the English Civil War, and Sir John Bluett (1669-1726), who served as the Governor of St. Helena from 1714 to 1718.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Bluett families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Bluett 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. Middlesex leads with 67 Bluetts recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.50x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 67 2.50x
Cornwall 62 20.42x
Devon 27 4.84x
Gloucestershire 23 4.37x
Kent 18 1.97x
Lancashire 10 0.31x
Durham 9 1.13x
Lanarkshire 9 1.04x
Essex 8 1.51x
Glamorgan 8 1.71x
Buckinghamshire 6 3.70x
Bedfordshire 4 2.88x
Surrey 4 0.31x
Wiltshire 4 1.69x
Derbyshire 2 0.48x
Herefordshire 2 1.82x
Hertfordshire 2 1.08x
Suffolk 2 0.61x
Worcestershire 2 0.57x
Dorset 1 0.57x
Norfolk 1 0.24x
Northumberland 1 0.25x
Royal Navy 1 3.13x
Somerset 1 0.23x
Staffordshire 1 0.11x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. St Pancras London in Middlesex leads with 28 Bluetts recorded in 1881 and an index of 12.97x.

Place Total Index
St Pancras London 28 12.97x
Westbury On Severn East 12 100.93x
Hackney London 11 7.31x
Lanteglos 11 785.71x
Lee 9 67.72x
Werrington 9 1500.00x
Jacobstow 8 2051.28x
Scilly Islands St Mary 8 672.27x
Toxteth Park 8 7.42x
St Mary Magdalene 7 313.90x
Great Marlow 6 136.99x
Newnham 6 444.44x
Paignton 6 141.18x
Sittingbourne 6 82.99x
St Marylebone London 6 4.19x
West Ham 6 5.13x
Westminster St Margaret 6 46.37x
Govan 5 2.33x
Altarnun 4 377.36x
Biggleswade 4 87.91x
Bow London 4 11.71x
Clerkenwell London 4 6.32x
Cockerton 4 156.25x
Glasgow 4 2.60x
Melksham 4 97.09x
St Thomas Apostle 4 425.53x
Tresmeer 4 2500.00x
Warbstowe 4 2500.00x
Burlescombe 3 394.74x
Clifton 3 11.28x
Deptford St Paul 3 4.25x
Exeter St Leonard 3 196.08x
Monkwearmouth 3 39.27x
Neath 3 31.58x
Plymouth St Andrew 3 6.98x
St Martins 3 909.09x
Swansea Town 3 7.83x
Tottenham 3 7.02x
Birkdale 2 24.84x
Cheltenham 2 4.93x
Clase 2 11.51x
Mullion 2 357.14x
Plymouth Charles The 2 8.13x
Polstead 2 263.16x
Poplar London 2 3.95x
Redruth 2 23.28x
Stanway 2 215.05x
Watford 2 13.96x
Camberwell 1 0.58x
Chesterfield 1 6.35x
Croydon 1 1.38x
Derby St Peter 1 7.47x
Finchley 1 9.73x
Garway 1 204.08x
Great Malvern 1 13.68x
Hornsey 1 2.95x
Illogan 1 12.44x
Islington London 1 0.38x
Kyo 1 26.60x
Lambeth 1 0.43x
Lezant 1 147.06x
Llanwarne 1 294.12x
Marytavy 1 121.95x
Mundford 1 384.62x
Newcastle On Tyne St 1 4.83x
Oldbury 1 5.80x
Portland 1 10.56x
Royal Navy 1 3.66x
St Austell 1 9.63x
St Blazey 1 37.45x
St Tudy 1 208.33x
Tooting Graveney 1 27.47x
Walsall Foreign 1 2.14x
Whitworth 1 17.12x
Wiveliscombe 1 41.49x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 14
Elizabeth 9
Jane 8
Annie 6
Sarah 6
Eliza 5
Emma 5
Agnes 4
Edith 4
Frances 4
Maria 4
Ellen 3
Margaret 3
Ada 2
Ann 2
Catherine 2
Harriet 2
Laura 2
Rhoda 2
Selina 2
Susan 2
Violet 2
Adela 1
Amelia 1
Beatrice 1
Bertha 1
Caroline 1
Charlotte 1
E.F. 1
Ella 1
Elvira 1
Emily 1
Ester 1
Esther 1
Ethel 1
Florance 1
Georgina 1
Grace 1
Ida 1
Isabel 1
Isable 1
Jemima 1
Jennie 1
Judith 1
Kathleen 1
L.E. 1
Lavinia 1
Lucy 1
Mabel 1
Winnefred 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 27
Henry 10
John 10
Charles 9
George 8
Frederick 7
James 5
Francis 4
Edward 3
Richard 3
Thomas 3
Walter 3
Alfred 2
Edgar 2
Ernest 2
Joseph 2
Reginald 2
Samuel 2
Amos 1
Arthur 1
Augustus 1
Bernard 1
Christopher 1
Clement 1
Edmonds 1
Edmund 1
Edwin 1
Eric 1
F. 1
Fred 1
Fredrick 1
Gylbert 1
Harold 1
Herbert 1
Hugh 1
Lionel 1
Mary 1
Nathaniel 1
Peter 1
Robert 1
Stephen 1
Tom 1
Will 1
Wm. 1
Wm.J.G. 1

FAQ

Bluett surname: questions and answers

How common was the Bluett surname in 1881?

In 1881, 274 people were recorded with the Bluett surname. That placed it at #10,362 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Bluett surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 404 in 2016. That gives Bluett a modern rank of #11,793.

What does the Bluett surname mean?

Of Old French and Anglo-Norman origin, meaning someone with a dark complexion or blue-dyed clothing.

What does the Bluett map show?

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