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

Blanton, 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 Blanton surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Blanton in America

Blanton is the 1478th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Blanton surname appeared 24,154 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 8 people would have the surname Blanton.

We can also compare 2010 data for Blanton 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 Blanton

The surname Blanton has its origins in England, tracing back to the 12th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "blaec" and "tun," which translate to "black" and "enclosure" or "farmstead," respectively. This suggests that the name may have initially referred to someone who resided in a settlement with a dark or blackened enclosure.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire, dated 1191, where it appears as "Blakenton." This variant spelling reinforces the connection between the name and the Old English words for "black" and "enclosure."

The Blanton surname is particularly associated with the counties of Gloucestershire and Worcestershire in the West Midlands region of England. It is possible that the name originated in one of these areas before gradually spreading throughout the country.

In the 13th century, the name appeared in various forms, including "Blakenton," "Blauntone," and "Blauntun." These spellings reflect the linguistic evolution of the name over time, as well as regional variations in pronunciation and orthography.

One notable figure bearing the Blanton surname was Sir John Blount (or Blount of Soddington), born around 1349, who served as a Member of Parliament for Gloucestershire and held various positions of authority during the reigns of Richard II and Henry IV.

Another prominent individual was Sir Walter Blount (c. 1420-1474), a soldier and supporter of the House of York during the Wars of the Roses. He played a significant role in the Battle of Towton in 1461, which secured the throne for Edward IV.

In the 16th century, the surname was recorded as "Blaunton" in the Subsidy Rolls for Worcestershire in 1524. This spelling variation further illustrates the fluid nature of surnames during that era.

James Blanton (c. 1600-1670), an early settler in Virginia, was among the first recorded individuals with this surname in the American colonies. He arrived in Virginia around 1635 and established a plantation in what is now Prince George County.

During the 18th century, the surname appeared in various forms, such as "Blaunton," "Blauntoun," and "Blauntown." One notable figure from this period was Joseph Blount (1717-1766), a colonial American merchant and landowner in North Carolina.

As the surname spread across the English-speaking world, it continued to evolve and adapt to local dialects and preferences. While the exact origins of the name may be obscured by the passage of time, its historical significance lies in its connection to the linguistic roots of Old English and its enduring presence in various regions and contexts throughout history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Blanton

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

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

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

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