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

Blanford, 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 Blanford surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Blanford in America

Blanford is the 16968th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Blanford surname appeared 1,675 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Blanford.

We can also compare 2010 data for Blanford 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 Blanford

The surname Blanford has its origins in England, with records dating back to the 11th century. It is believed to be derived from a place name, with the prefix "Blan-" potentially originating from the Old English word "blanden," meaning "to blend" or "to mix." This could suggest that the name refers to a location where different streams or rivers converged.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of landowners and properties across England commissioned by William the Conqueror. The entry mentions a landowner named Radulfus de Blanford, indicating the name's presence in the region during the Norman conquest.

In the 13th century, records show variations of the name, such as "Blaneford" and "Blaunford," used in various parts of England, particularly in the counties of Dorset and Somerset. These variations likely emerged due to regional dialects and the evolving nature of language over time.

One notable figure bearing the Blanford surname was Sir John Blanford (c. 1349 - 1418), a prominent English landowner and member of the gentry. He served as a Member of Parliament for Dorset and held significant estates in the region.

Another individual of historical significance was Thomas Blanford (c. 1570 - 1635), an English clergyman and scholar who served as the Dean of Winchester Cathedral in the early 17th century. He was known for his contributions to religious studies and his involvement in theological debates of the time.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the name Blanford was also found in various parish records and legal documents across England, indicating its presence in various communities and social strata.

One intriguing connection to the name Blanford is its potential link to the town of Blandford Forum in Dorset, which was once known as Blanford. This town's name is believed to have derived from the Old English words "blanden" and "ford," suggesting a ford or river crossing where streams converged.

Another notable figure was William Blanford (1766 - 1835), an English inventor and engineer who made significant contributions to the development of steam engines and industrial machinery during the Industrial Revolution.

Lastly, Elizabeth Blanford (1822 - 1892) was a prominent British philanthropist and social reformer who dedicated her efforts to improving the lives of the underprivileged and advocating for women's rights in the 19th century.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Blanford

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

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 Blanford 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 Blanford 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 Blanford was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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