Find out how popular the last name Blades is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Blades.

Blades, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Blades surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Blades in America

Blades is the 7320th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Blades surname appeared 4,558 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 2 people would have the surname Blades.

We can also compare 2010 data for Blades to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Blades

The surname Blades is of English origin, deriving from the Old English word 'blæd', meaning a leaf or blade of grass. It likely originated as a descriptive surname, given to a person who lived near a prominent blade-shaped meadow or field.

The name can be traced back to the 13th century, with one of the earliest recorded instances being William Blades, mentioned in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire in 1273. These were ancient census records compiled during the reign of King Edward I.

The Blades surname is also found in the Domesday Book of 1086, a comprehensive record of landholdings across England commissioned by William the Conqueror. This early reference suggests the name had already been established by the 11th century.

In the 14th century, the name appeared in various forms, including Blade, Blad, and Blades, reflecting the fluidity of spelling conventions at the time. Several place names, such as Bladefield and Bladesworth, may have contributed to the development of the surname.

One notable bearer of the Blades surname was William Blades, a renowned English printer and bibliographer born in 1824. He made significant contributions to the study of early printing and typography, publishing works such as "The Life and Typography of William Caxton" and "The Enemies of Books."

Another prominent figure was Thomas Blades, an English clergyman and antiquarian born in 1670. He was the author of several works on ecclesiastical history and antiquities, including "A Catalogue of the Manuscripts in the Library of the Dean and Chapter of York."

In the 17th century, John Blades, a merchant and landowner from Gloucestershire, played a role in the English Civil War, supporting the Parliamentarian cause against King Charles I.

The Blades surname also has connections to the military, with Captain William Blades being a notable officer in the British Army during the late 18th century. He served in the American Revolutionary War and later wrote a memoir detailing his experiences.

Thomas Blades, born in 1808, was a prominent English architect who designed numerous buildings in London, including the iconic Royal Opera House in Covent Garden.

These are just a few examples of individuals who have borne the Blades surname throughout history, reflecting its enduring presence and significance across various fields and eras.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Blades

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Blades.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Blades was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Blades has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Blades was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Blades, please contact us.

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