NameCensus.

UK surname

Blurton

A surname derived from a place name referring to someone from a town or village called Blurton.

In the 1881 census there were 226 people recorded with the Blurton surname, ranking it #11,889 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 474, ranked #10,385, up from #11,889 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Wolstanton, St Werburgh and Stoke-on-Trent, Bucknell-cum-Bagnall, Caverswall. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Derby and East Staffordshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Blurton is 490 in 2000. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 109.7%.

1881 census count

226

Ranked #11,889

Modern count

474

2016, ranked #10,385

Peak year

2000

490 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Blurton had 226 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #11,889 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 474 in 2016, ranked #10,385.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 371 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Blurton surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Blurton surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Blurton 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 205 #10,223
1861 historical 153 #15,032
1881 historical 226 #11,889
1891 historical 255 #12,552
1901 historical 325 #11,017
1911 historical 371 #9,830
1997 modern 398 #11,051
1998 modern 478 #9,940
1999 modern 468 #10,160
2000 modern 490 #9,772
2001 modern 469 #9,927
2002 modern 459 #10,264
2003 modern 456 #10,179
2004 modern 459 #10,137
2005 modern 451 #10,197
2006 modern 458 #10,109
2007 modern 450 #10,335
2008 modern 453 #10,345
2009 modern 467 #10,372
2010 modern 469 #10,533
2011 modern 471 #10,418
2012 modern 465 #10,422
2013 modern 474 #10,421
2014 modern 486 #10,309
2015 modern 477 #10,369
2016 modern 474 #10,385

Geography

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Where Blurtons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Wolstanton, St Werburgh, Stoke-on-Trent, Bucknell-cum-Bagnall, Caverswall, Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars and Stone. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Derby and East Staffordshire. 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 Wolstanton Staffordshire
2 St Werburgh Derbyshire
3 Stoke-on-Trent, Bucknell-cum-Bagnall, Caverswall Staffordshire
4 Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars Leicestershire
5 Stone Staffordshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Derby 007 Derby
2 East Staffordshire 002 East Staffordshire
3 East Staffordshire 003 East Staffordshire
4 Derby 006 Derby
5 Derby 003 Derby

Forenames

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First names often paired with Blurton

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Blurton

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

Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living

Nationally, the Blurton surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Blurton household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Families with resident dependent children (but not students) are common. Established family groups and White ethnicity predominate, as do individuals born in the UK. They are more likely than the Supergroup average to have been resident in their terraced, semi-detached, or detached houses for more than one year. Levels of multiple car ownership are high. Properties are owned and typically have surplus living space. Associate professionals and administrative occupations are prevalent, and parents are likely to be in middle age or approaching retirement. Educational attainment is above the Supergroup average. Scattered developments and concentrations are found in many small towns.

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Blurton 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

Blurton is most concentrated in decile 9 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.

9
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Blurton falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Blurton is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Blurton, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Blurton

The surname BLURTON is of English origin, tracing its roots back to the medieval period. It is believed to have originated from a place name in Staffordshire, England, possibly derived from the Old English words "blær" meaning "mud" or "clay," and "tun" signifying a farm or settlement. This suggests that the name may have initially referred to someone who lived in or near a muddy or clay-rich area.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the BLURTON name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Staffordshire from the year 1195, where it appears as "Bloreton." This spelling variation highlights the fluidity of surnames during that era, often adapting to local dialects and scribal interpretations.

In the 13th century, the name is referenced in the Assize Rolls of Staffordshire, specifically in the year 1274, as "Blurton." This provides evidence of the surname's continued presence and evolution in the region.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, several notable individuals bore the BLURTON surname. One such figure was John BLURTON, a landowner and prominent citizen in the village of Tittensor, Staffordshire, who lived in the mid-1500s. Another was William BLURTON, a merchant and freeman of the City of London, who was born in 1612.

Moving into the 18th century, the BLURTON name appears in various historical records, including parish registers and legal documents. One noteworthy individual was Richard BLURTON, a renowned clockmaker from Staffordshire, who lived from 1720 to 1795 and crafted intricate timepieces that are now highly prized by collectors.

In the 19th century, the BLURTON name continued to be associated with various professions and occupations. One prominent figure was Joseph BLURTON, a successful industrialist and manufacturer born in 1812 in Stoke-on-Trent, who played a significant role in the region's pottery industry.

Another individual worth mentioning is Elizabeth BLURTON, a writer and poet from Staffordshire, who was born in 1839 and published several volumes of poetry that explored themes of nature and rural life.

Throughout its history, the BLURTON surname has maintained a strong connection to its Staffordshire roots, with many families and individuals bearing the name continuing to reside in the region or tracing their ancestry back to its origins.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Blurton families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Blurton 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 131 Blurtons recorded in 1881 and an index of 17.60x.

County Total Index
Staffordshire 131 17.60x
Derbyshire 31 8.98x
Leicestershire 16 6.55x
Middlesex 12 0.54x
Yorkshire 12 0.55x
Hampshire 5 1.11x
Cheshire 4 0.82x
Surrey 4 0.37x
Warwickshire 3 0.54x
Denbighshire 2 2.40x
Herefordshire 2 2.21x
Lancashire 2 0.08x
Gloucestershire 1 0.23x
Sussex 1 0.27x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Stoke Upon Trent in Staffordshire leads with 35 Blurtons recorded in 1881 and an index of 44.35x.

Place Total Index
Stoke Upon Trent 35 44.35x
Uttoxeter 20 524.93x
Derby St Werburgh 16 80.28x
Wolstanton 13 57.52x
Stone 12 126.05x
Wolstanton Oldcott 12 444.44x
Leicester St Leonard 10 432.90x
Abbots Bromley 9 818.18x
Caverswall 9 232.56x
Derby St Alkmund 9 87.04x
Mexborough 7 161.29x
Doveridge 6 1132.08x
Leicester St Mary 6 30.38x
Islington London 5 2.34x
Portsea 5 5.65x
Birmingham 3 1.62x
Gratwich 3 6000.00x
Hyde 3 20.89x
Kingsley 3 215.83x
Bramshall 2 1818.18x
Chelsea London 2 3.01x
Chirk 2 121.95x
Codsall 2 188.68x
Fradswell 2 1333.33x
Hanbury 2 487.80x
Kingswood 2 689.66x
Leigh Field 2 952.38x
Lichfield St Michael 2 85.47x
Normanton 2 30.49x
St Clement Danes London 2 43.86x
St George Bloomsbury 2 15.81x
Walford 2 222.22x
Wetherby 2 140.85x
Wolstanton Chesterton 2 52.63x
Brighton 1 1.33x
Broughton In Salford 1 4.18x
Camberwell 1 0.71x
Clifford Cum Boston 1 51.02x
Clifton 1 4.57x
Dodcott Cum Wilkesley 1 200.00x
Draycott In Clay 1 294.12x
Farnham 1 11.98x
Hornsey 1 3.59x
Rusholme 1 14.33x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 14
Elizabeth 10
Ann 7
Martha 6
Sarah 5
Alice 4
Annie 4
Hannah 4
Harriet 4
Anne 3
Eliza 3
Ellen 3
Sophia 3
Agnes 2
Emma 2
Georgiana 2
Gertrude 2
Jane 2
Lizzie 2
Lucy 2
Ada 1
Alica 1
Anna 1
Barbara 1
Caroline 1
Catherine 1
Charlotte 1
D. 1
Edith 1
Eliz. 1
Esther 1
Ethel 1
Fannie 1
Florence 1
Frances 1
Gate 1
Grace 1
Harriett 1
Laura 1
Maria 1
Maude 1
May 1
Minnie 1
Prudence 1
Ruth 1
Selina 1
Susanah 1
Thomas 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 20
John 13
George 11
Charles 7
Joseph 5
Richard 5
Walter 5
Edward 4
Henry 4
James 4
Thomas 4
Albert 2
Arthur 2
Benjamin 2
David 2
Edwin 2
Herbert 2
Job 2
Robert 2
Alfred 1
Clement 1
Edmund 1
Ernest 1
Francis 1
Frank 1
Frederick 1
Fredk. 1
Fredrick 1
Leah 1
Luke 1
Montfort 1
Rupert 1
Samuel 1
Stafford 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Blurton surname: questions and answers

How common was the Blurton surname in 1881?

In 1881, 226 people were recorded with the Blurton surname. That placed it at #11,889 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Blurton surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 474 in 2016. That gives Blurton a modern rank of #10,385.

What does the Blurton surname mean?

A surname derived from a place name referring to someone from a town or village called Blurton.

What does the Blurton map show?

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