NameCensus.

UK surname

Bly

An English locational surname derived from a place name meaning "farmstead or village near a bligh or bleak land."

In the 1881 census there were 251 people recorded with the Bly surname, ranking it #11,041 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 210, ranked #18,965, down from #11,041 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Fincham, Tring and Long Benton. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Broxtowe, Bury and Rochdale.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Bly is 301 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 16.3%.

1881 census count

251

Ranked #11,041

Modern count

210

2016, ranked #18,965

Peak year

1901

301 bearers

Map years

6

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Bly had 251 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #11,041 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 210 in 2016, ranked #18,965.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 301 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Bly surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Bly surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Bly 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 153 #12,721
1881 historical 251 #11,041
1901 historical 301 #11,627
1997 modern 253 #15,152
1998 modern 259 #15,320
1999 modern 247 #15,932
2000 modern 246 #15,914
2001 modern 236 #16,094
2002 modern 226 #16,939
2003 modern 214 #17,343
2004 modern 217 #17,276
2005 modern 223 #16,938
2006 modern 218 #17,297
2007 modern 219 #17,425
2008 modern 221 #17,495
2009 modern 225 #17,631
2010 modern 229 #17,805
2011 modern 230 #17,578
2012 modern 217 #18,184
2013 modern 220 #18,324
2014 modern 221 #18,412
2015 modern 213 #18,769
2016 modern 210 #18,965

Geography

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Where Blys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Fincham, Tring, Long Benton, Sheffield and Great Yarmouth. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Broxtowe, Bury, Rochdale, Kirklees and Flintshire. 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 Fincham Norfolk
2 Tring Hertfordshire
3 Long Benton Northumberland
4 Sheffield Yorkshire, West Riding
5 Great Yarmouth Norfolk

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Broxtowe 015 Broxtowe
2 Bury 004 Bury
3 Rochdale 020 Rochdale
4 Kirklees 059 Kirklees
5 Flintshire 017 Flintshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Bly

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Bly

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Bly, 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 Bly surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Bly 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

Central Connected Professionals and Managers

Group

City Support Workers

Within London, Bly is most associated with areas classed as City Support Workers, part of Central Connected Professionals and Managers. 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

Scattered throughout Inner London, these areas house relatively few workers in the most senior roles within organisations, and greater prevalence of administrative roles relative to the Supergroup mean. Residents are less likely to be of Chinese ethnicity and are more likely to have been born in Africa. Relative to the Supergroup average, residents are also more likely to live in social housing and live in overcrowded conditions.

Wider London pattern

Adult residents of these neighbourhoods are typically aged 25 to 44, working full-time in professional, managerial or associate professional occupations. There are few families with dependent children. The predominantly Inner London neighbourhoods have an international character, including many residents born elsewhere in Europe alongside high numbers of individuals identifying as of Chinese ethnicity. Many individuals are never married, childless and/or living alone. Above average numbers of individuals, likely to be full-time students, live in communal establishments. Elsewhere, privately rented flats are the dominant housing type. Residents of these areas are well-qualified, with a significant number holding Level 4 or above qualifications. There is a correspondingly high level of individuals employed full-time in professional, managerial and associated professional or technical occupations. Employing industries are financial, real estate, professional, administration, and, to a lesser degree, transport and communications. Unemployment is uncommon.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Bly is most concentrated in decile 4 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.

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Bly falls in decile 10 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.

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Bly

The surname Bly has its origins in England, dating back to the 11th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old English word "bly," meaning "cheerful" or "joyful." The name was initially used as a nickname for someone with a cheerful or jovial personality.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname Bly can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Blie" and "Blye." This suggests that the name was already well-established in various parts of England by the time of the Norman Conquest in 1066.

In the 13th century, the name Bly was closely associated with the village of Bly in Sussex, England. It is likely that some families adopted the surname based on their place of origin or residence in this area. The village name itself is thought to be derived from the Old English words "bly" and "leah," meaning "cheerful clearing" or "pleasant meadow."

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Bly was John Bly, who was mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Worcestershire in 1230. Another notable figure was William Bly, a merchant from London, who lived in the 14th century and was involved in trade with the Netherlands.

In the 16th century, the name Bly appeared in various forms, such as "Blye," "Bligh," and "Blie." One prominent individual from this period was Richard Bly, born in 1540 in Gloucestershire, who served as a Member of Parliament for Westbury during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.

During the 17th century, the Bly surname gained further prominence with individuals like John Bly (1601-1681), a Puritan minister and author from Dorset, and Edward Bly (1619-1687), a wealthy merchant and landowner from Somersetshire.

Other notable figures with the surname Bly include Robert Bly (born 1926), an American poet, author, and activist, and Nellie Bly (1864-1922), a pioneering American journalist and investigative reporter known for her record-breaking trip around the world in 72 days.

While the surname Bly has undergone various spelling variations over the centuries, its origins can be traced back to the Old English word "bly," reflecting the cheerful and joyful connotations associated with this name throughout its long history.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Bly families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Bly 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. Norfolk leads with 51 Blys recorded in 1881 and an index of 13.44x.

County Total Index
Norfolk 51 13.44x
Suffolk 31 10.31x
Lancashire 23 0.79x
Yorkshire 22 0.90x
Hertfordshire 21 12.35x
Cambridgeshire 13 8.32x
Surrey 11 0.91x
Hampshire 10 1.98x
Lincolnshire 10 2.53x
Sussex 10 2.40x
Northumberland 8 2.18x
Bedfordshire 7 5.48x
Kent 7 0.83x
Middlesex 6 0.24x
Warwickshire 6 0.96x
Cornwall 3 1.07x
Staffordshire 3 0.36x
Dorset 2 1.23x
Glamorgan 2 0.47x
Royal Navy 2 6.80x
Cheshire 1 0.18x
Derbyshire 1 0.26x
Durham 1 0.14x
Oxfordshire 1 0.66x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Lowestoft in Suffolk leads with 22 Blys recorded in 1881 and an index of 154.93x.

Place Total Index
Lowestoft 22 154.93x
Tring 21 462.56x
Fincham 18 2686.57x
Great Yarmouth 15 47.73x
West Derby 10 11.67x
Manchester 8 6.07x
Leominster 7 522.39x
Luton 7 31.65x
Newmarket All Sts 7 608.70x
Runham 7 921.05x
Southwark St George Martyr 7 14.10x
Boston 6 50.13x
Ecclesall Bierlow 6 12.06x
Edgbaston 6 31.09x
Portsea 6 6.05x
Wisbech St Peter 6 76.53x
Ecclesfield 5 27.89x
Gorleston 5 65.45x
Thornaby 5 54.70x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 4 17.56x
East Rudham 4 597.01x
Greenwich 4 10.18x
Longbenton 4 25.72x
Manaccan 3 1000.00x
North Meols 3 10.46x
Spalding 3 38.31x
Bromley 2 15.59x
Burton Extra 2 41.84x
Camberwell 2 1.27x
Cardiff St John 2 14.25x
Coulsdon 2 91.32x
Creeting St Peter 2 1000.00x
Everton 2 2.14x
Heacham 2 238.10x
North Shields 2 27.29x
Royal Navy 2 7.96x
Southampton St Mary 2 6.29x
Stow Bardolph 2 176.99x
Tibenham 2 377.36x
Alverstoke 1 5.46x
Amble 1 59.88x
Beaminster 1 55.56x
Blenkinsopp 1 161.29x
Bromley London 1 1.84x
Chelsea London 1 1.34x
Chesterfield 1 6.91x
Deptford St Paul 1 1.54x
Eastbourne 1 5.22x
Enfield 1 6.18x
Hendon 1 11.26x
Islington London 1 0.42x
Kimberworth 1 7.37x
Littlehampton 1 30.12x
Macclesfield 1 4.13x
Norwich St John Sepulchre 1 40.65x
Oulton 1 98.04x
Oxford St Giles 1 13.76x
Portland 1 11.48x
Portsmouth 1 8.58x
Preston 1 13.76x
Rotherham 1 7.25x
Rugeley 1 16.72x
St Pancras London 1 0.50x
Stockton On Tees 1 2.83x
Stonham Earl 1 188.68x
Swayfield 1 476.19x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 19
John 18
Thomas 13
James 11
Robert 7
Alfred 5
Charles 5
George 5
Walter 4
Frederick 3
Henry 3
Philip 3
Arthur 2
Edward 2
Francis 2
Hyram 2
Leonard 2
Michael 2
Abbert 1
Albert 1
Benjamin 1
David 1
Edgar 1
Edmund 1
Elmer 1
Ernest 1
Fredk. 1
Henery 1
Herbert 1
Jonathan 1
Joseph 1
Martin 1
Matthew 1
Owen 1
Patrick 1
Peed 1
Stephen 1
Taylor 1
Vulcan 1

FAQ

Bly surname: questions and answers

How common was the Bly surname in 1881?

In 1881, 251 people were recorded with the Bly surname. That placed it at #11,041 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Bly surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 210 in 2016. That gives Bly a modern rank of #18,965.

What does the Bly surname mean?

An English locational surname derived from a place name meaning "farmstead or village near a bligh or bleak land."

What does the Bly map show?

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