NameCensus.

UK surname

Blunden

A surname originally referring to someone with a light complexion or blonde hair.

In the 1881 census there were 1,000 people recorded with the Blunden surname, ranking it #3,904 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,424, ranked #4,290, down from #3,904 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Broadwater (incl. Worthing), Nuthurst, London parishes and Waltham, North. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Horsham, Basingstoke and Deane and Waverley.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Blunden is 1,692 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 42.4%.

1881 census count

1,000

Ranked #3,904

Modern count

1,424

2016, ranked #4,290

Peak year

1999

1,692 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Blunden had 1,000 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,904 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,424 in 2016, ranked #4,290.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,320 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Blunden surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Blunden surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Blunden 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 657 #3,951
1861 historical 569 #4,629
1881 historical 1,000 #3,904
1891 historical 1,097 #3,851
1901 historical 1,289 #3,863
1911 historical 1,320 #3,614
1997 modern 1,624 #3,649
1998 modern 1,685 #3,661
1999 modern 1,692 #3,675
2000 modern 1,676 #3,689
2001 modern 1,627 #3,716
2002 modern 1,643 #3,748
2003 modern 1,598 #3,770
2004 modern 1,570 #3,842
2005 modern 1,475 #4,019
2006 modern 1,482 #4,007
2007 modern 1,499 #3,999
2008 modern 1,487 #4,066
2009 modern 1,500 #4,120
2010 modern 1,518 #4,154
2011 modern 1,495 #4,169
2012 modern 1,462 #4,170
2013 modern 1,484 #4,184
2014 modern 1,486 #4,200
2015 modern 1,457 #4,235
2016 modern 1,424 #4,290

Geography

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Where Blundens are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Broadwater (incl. Worthing), Nuthurst, London parishes, Waltham, North and Banstead. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Horsham, Basingstoke and Deane, Waverley, Wealden and Hambleton. 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 Broadwater (incl. Worthing), Nuthurst Sussex
2 London parishes London 1
3 London parishes London 3
4 Waltham, North Hampshire
5 Banstead Surrey

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Horsham 013 Horsham
2 Basingstoke and Deane 014 Basingstoke and Deane
3 Waverley 018 Waverley
4 Wealden 006 Wealden
5 Hambleton 009 Hambleton

Forenames

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First names often paired with Blunden

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Blunden

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Blunden is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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 concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Blunden is most concentrated in decile 3 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

3
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Blunden falls in decile 9 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.

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Blunden

The surname Blunden originated in England, with its roots tracing back to the Middle Ages. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "blunden," meaning "to confuse" or "to mix up." This suggests that the name may have initially referred to someone who was easily confused or had a tendency to mix things up.

The earliest recorded instances of the Blunden surname can be found in various historical documents from the 13th and 14th centuries. One notable reference is in the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire, dating back to 1273, where the name appears as "Blundene." This spelling variation reflects the evolution of the name over time.

In the late 14th century, the Blunden surname appears in the Court Rolls of the Manor of Wakefield in Yorkshire, indicating its presence in different regions of England during that period.

Among the earliest known individuals with the Blunden surname was John Blunden, who was born in the late 15th century and served as a member of the Parliament of England in 1491.

Another notable figure was Edmund Blunden, a renowned English poet, critic, and scholar born in 1896. He is best known for his works reflecting on the First World War, in which he served as an officer. Blunden passed away in 1974, leaving behind a significant literary legacy.

In the 17th century, the Blunden surname can be found in various parish records across England, particularly in counties such as Oxfordshire, Berkshire, and Gloucestershire.

One prominent individual from this era was Sir John Blunden, a wealthy merchant and landowner who lived from 1590 to 1657. He served as the Sheriff of London and was knighted by King Charles I in 1635.

The Blunden surname has also been associated with certain place names in England, such as Blunden Hall in Suffolk and Blunden's Wood in Oxfordshire. These locations may have derived their names from individuals bearing the Blunden surname who had significant connections to those areas.

Throughout the centuries, the Blunden surname has been carried by many notable figures, including authors, academics, and military personnel, contributing to the diverse tapestry of English history and culture.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Blunden families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Blunden 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. Sussex leads with 238 Blundens recorded in 1881 and an index of 14.47x.

County Total Index
Sussex 238 14.47x
Hampshire 206 10.30x
Middlesex 179 1.83x
Surrey 171 3.60x
Kent 75 2.25x
Essex 42 2.18x
Berkshire 25 3.41x
Lancashire 11 0.10x
Suffolk 11 0.93x
Hertfordshire 9 1.34x
Dorset 6 0.94x
Devon 4 0.20x
Northamptonshire 4 0.44x
Worcestershire 4 0.31x
Cambridgeshire 3 0.49x
Warwickshire 3 0.12x
Bedfordshire 2 0.40x
Staffordshire 2 0.06x
Yorkshire 2 0.02x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.17x
Leicestershire 1 0.09x
Perthshire 1 0.23x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Basingstoke in Hampshire leads with 43 Blundens recorded in 1881 and an index of 186.96x.

Place Total Index
Basingstoke 43 186.96x
Banstead 35 271.74x
Lambeth 28 3.29x
Battersea 27 7.52x
Cocking 23 1191.71x
Islington London 22 2.33x
Binsted 20 262.47x
Limehouse London 19 17.74x
North Waltham 19 1366.91x
Brighton 18 5.42x
Kensington London 17 3.13x
St Giles In Fields London 17 35.52x
Reading St Giles 16 22.27x
St Pancras London 16 2.04x
Burnham 14 196.91x
Pulborough 14 231.79x
Rogate 14 424.24x
Broadwater 13 34.46x
East Malling 13 163.52x
St George Hanover Square 13 7.56x
Subdeanery 13 104.17x
Bermondsey 12 4.13x
Hammersmith London 12 4.99x
Tonbridge 12 10.00x
Cove 11 419.85x
Overton 11 230.13x
Burwash 10 131.06x
Reigate Foreign 10 19.43x
Bepton 9 1000.00x
Buriton 9 233.77x
St Marylebone London 9 1.73x
Sutton 9 26.17x
Chithurst 8 714.29x
Eartham 8 1538.46x
East Bedfont 8 165.29x
Farnham 8 21.65x
Kingston On Thames 8 7.01x
Kirby Le Soken 8 288.81x
Rochester St Margaret 8 22.79x
Ashe 7 1060.61x
Climping 7 777.78x
Durrington 7 1147.54x
Manchester 7 1.34x
Portsea 7 1.79x
South Malling 7 286.89x
Southampton St Mary 7 5.57x
Boxgrove 6 252.10x
Greenwich 6 3.86x
Hackney London 6 1.10x
Lewisham 6 3.38x
North Chapel 6 226.42x
Ockley 6 285.71x
Sheet 6 277.78x
St Maurice Winchester 6 72.20x
Tottenham 6 3.86x
Twickenham 6 14.34x
West Ham 6 1.41x
Chiswick 5 9.38x
Elsted 5 724.64x
Froyle 5 196.08x
Hamworthy 5 224.22x
Hastings St Mary In The 5 14.25x
Heyshott 5 333.33x
Ightham 5 119.62x
Kingsclere 5 54.76x
Leominster 5 94.34x
Little Waldingfield 5 359.71x
Littlehampton 5 38.08x
Northwood 5 17.56x
Shenley 5 112.87x
Broad Clist 4 57.06x
Broxbourne 4 30.01x
Dudley 4 2.58x
Frindsbury 4 31.90x
Hythe St Leonard 4 34.01x
Northampton All Sts 4 12.85x
Rotherwick 4 261.44x
Southwark St George Martyr 4 2.04x
Tortington 4 727.27x
Worplesdon 4 69.81x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 53
Elizabeth 31
Alice 29
Sarah 25
Jane 19
Eliza 18
Ellen 18
Emily 17
Ann 16
Charlotte 16
Caroline 15
Annie 14
Edith 13
Louisa 13
Fanny 12
Florence 11
Kate 9
Emma 8
Harriet 8
Anne 7
Hannah 7
Esther 6
Frances 6
Harriett 6
Margaret 6
Agnes 5
Maria 5
Amy 4
Elizh. 4
Lucy 4
Minnie 4
Rose 4
Ruth 4
Ada 3
Catherine 3
Clara 3
Grace 3
Helen 3
Lily 3
Sophia 3
Susan 3
Beatrice 2
Ethel 2
Georgina 2
Laura 2
Leah 2
Lilly 2
Martha 2
Nelly 2
Rosa 2

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 59
George 43
John 41
James 37
Charles 32
Henry 32
Alfred 31
Thomas 23
Albert 12
Frederick 11
Arthur 9
Edward 9
Joseph 9
Richard 9
Robert 9
Edwin 8
Walter 8
David 5
Edmund 4
Frank 4
Fredrick 4
Herbert 4
Jesse 4
Samuel 4
Daniel 3
Francis 3
Clement 2
Fred 2
Fredk 2
Harry 2
Jacob 2
Jas. 2
Lewis 2
Michael 2
Stephen 2
Bertie 1
Bingham 1
Chas. 1
Frederic 1
Gustaf 1
Henery 1
Horace 1
Jim 1
Jno.T. 1
Leonard 1
Louis 1
Luke 1
Mark 1
Mary 1
Wm.Francis 1

FAQ

Blunden surname: questions and answers

How common was the Blunden surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,000 people were recorded with the Blunden surname. That placed it at #3,904 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Blunden surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,424 in 2016. That gives Blunden a modern rank of #4,290.

What does the Blunden surname mean?

A surname originally referring to someone with a light complexion or blonde hair.

What does the Blunden map show?

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