NameCensus.

UK surname

Blum

A German and Jewish surname derived from the Middle High German word "bluome," meaning flower or blossom.

In the 1881 census there were 83 people recorded with the Blum surname, ranking it #21,808 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 225, ranked #18,105, up from #21,808 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to St Anne Soho, London parishes and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Barnet, Camden and Haringey.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Blum is 226 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 171.1%.

1881 census count

83

Ranked #21,808

Modern count

225

2016, ranked #18,105

Peak year

2014

226 bearers

Map years

5

1901 to 2016

Key insights

  • Blum had 83 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #21,808 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 225 in 2016, ranked #18,105.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 123 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Blum surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Blum surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Blum 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 27 #28,467
1861 historical 47 #28,023
1881 historical 83 #21,808
1891 historical 96 #24,559
1901 historical 104 #22,310
1911 historical 123 #20,128
1997 modern 201 #17,564
1998 modern 206 #17,796
1999 modern 213 #17,550
2000 modern 218 #17,246
2001 modern 202 #17,834
2002 modern 196 #18,535
2003 modern 200 #18,139
2004 modern 220 #17,129
2005 modern 202 #18,016
2006 modern 220 #17,204
2007 modern 214 #17,688
2008 modern 219 #17,597
2009 modern 218 #18,015
2010 modern 223 #18,096
2011 modern 218 #18,206
2012 modern 217 #18,184
2013 modern 216 #18,543
2014 modern 226 #18,088
2015 modern 223 #18,165
2016 modern 225 #18,105

Geography

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Where Blums are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around St Anne Soho, London parishes, Manchester and St John Hackney. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Barnet, Camden, Haringey and Lewes. 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 St Anne Soho London (Central Districts)
2 London parishes London 1
3 London parishes London 3
4 Manchester Lancashire
5 St John Hackney London (North Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Barnet 037 Barnet
2 Camden 008 Camden
3 Haringey 029 Haringey
4 Lewes 011 Lewes
5 Barnet 014 Barnet

Forenames

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First names often paired with Blum

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Blum

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Blum, 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 Blum surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Blum 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, Blum 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

Blum 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

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

Meaning and origin of Blum

The surname Blum originated in Germany, likely in the 13th century. It is derived from the German word "blume," meaning "flower." The name may have been given to someone who lived near a flower garden or meadow, or perhaps it was an occupational surname for a gardener or florist.

In medieval times, surnames were often descriptive, referring to a person's physical appearance, occupation, or place of residence. The name Blum could have been initially used as a nickname before becoming an established surname.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Blum can be found in the Württemberg tax records of 1359, where a certain Hans Blum is mentioned. In the 15th century, there is a record of a Konrad Blum in the city of Heidelberg.

The name Blum has been associated with several notable figures throughout history. Johann Friedrich Blumenbach (1752-1840) was a German anthropologist and naturalist who is considered one of the founders of scientific racism. Johann Blum (1798-1848) was a German revolutionary and republican who played a significant role in the Revolutions of 1848.

Robert Blum (1807-1848) was a German writer, poet, and politician who was executed by firing squad for his involvement in the Revolutions of 1848. His death sparked outrage across Germany and became a rallying cry for the revolutionary movement.

Robert Blum (1857-1903) was a German composer and music teacher known for his works for piano and chamber ensembles. He was also a respected music critic and writer on musical theory.

Walter Blum (1895-1964) was an American architect who designed several iconic buildings in New York City, including the Associated Press Building and the Museum of Modern Art's first permanent home.

These are just a few examples of notable individuals who have carried the surname Blum throughout history. The name's origins in Germany and its connection to the word "flower" have endured for centuries, making it a unique and distinctive surname with a rich cultural heritage.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Blum families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Blum 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 43 Blums recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.38x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 43 5.38x
Warwickshire 14 6.94x
Lancashire 10 1.05x
Yorkshire 4 0.50x
Staffordshire 3 1.11x
Kent 2 0.73x
Norfolk 2 1.63x
Surrey 2 0.51x
Sussex 2 1.48x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Hackney London in Middlesex leads with 12 Blums recorded in 1881 and an index of 26.76x.

Place Total Index
Hackney London 12 26.76x
St Anne Soho London 9 196.94x
Liverpool 6 10.41x
St George In East London 6 79.79x
Aston 5 9.00x
Leamington Priors 4 80.65x
Bethnal Green London 3 8.63x
Birmingham 3 4.46x
St George Bloomsbury 3 65.36x
St Pancras London 3 4.66x
Whitechapel London 3 38.07x
Alston 2 454.55x
Clerkenwell London 2 10.59x
Greenwich 2 15.71x
Stow Bardolph 2 540.54x
Bishopthorpe 1 666.67x
Burton Upon Trent 1 15.82x
Doncaster 1 17.27x
Eastbourne 1 16.10x
Edgbaston 1 16.00x
Handsworth 1 15.04x
Islington London 1 1.29x
Lambeth 1 1.43x
Leeds 1 2.23x
Moss Side 1 20.04x
Newhaven 1 90.91x
Sheffield 1 3.96x
St Marylebone London 1 2.34x
Stoke Upon Trent 1 3.49x
Toxteth Park 1 3.11x
Warwick St Nicholas 1 67.57x
Wimbledon 1 22.83x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Emily 3
Mary 3
Alice 2
Anne 2
Charlotte 2
Ellen 2
Florence 2
Louisa 2
Adolphine 1
Ann 1
Babette 1
Bertha 1
Betsy 1
Bridget 1
Catherine 1
Clara 1
Dinah 1
Dorothea 1
Edith 1
Elizabeth 1
Emaly 1
Emma 1
Ethel 1
Fanny 1
Fredericka 1
Harriet 1
Julie 1
Katerine 1
Margaret 1
Mina 1
Pauline 1
Philipine 1
Rebecca 1
Rossetta 1
Sarah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 4
William 3
Arthur 2
Henry 2
James 2
Julius 2
Samuel 2
Thomas 2
Al. 1
Alfred 1
Auguste 1
Cecil 1
Child 1
Edward 1
Ernest 1
Frederick 1
George 1
Gerry 1
Gustavius 1
Johannis 1
Jules 1
Ludwig 1
Max 1
Peter 1
Reinhard 1

FAQ

Blum surname: questions and answers

How common was the Blum surname in 1881?

In 1881, 83 people were recorded with the Blum surname. That placed it at #21,808 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Blum surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 225 in 2016. That gives Blum a modern rank of #18,105.

What does the Blum surname mean?

A German and Jewish surname derived from the Middle High German word "bluome," meaning flower or blossom.

What does the Blum map show?

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