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

Blem, 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 Blem surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Blem in America

Blem is the 134712th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Blem surname appeared 125 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Blem.

We can also compare 2010 data for Blem 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 Blem

The surname BLEM has its origins in England, with the earliest records dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old English word "blaemen," which means "to blaspheme" or "to revile." This suggests that the name may have been given as a nickname to someone who had a tendency to use profane or offensive language.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name BLEM can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1275, where a certain John Blem is mentioned. This suggests that the name was already well-established in the West Midlands region of England by that time.

In the 14th century, the name BLEM appears in several historical documents, including the Court Rolls of the Manor of Wakefield in Yorkshire from 1315, which mention a Robert Blem. Additionally, the Poll Tax Returns of Gloucestershire from 1379 record a Thomas Blem.

During the 15th century, the name BLEM began to spread to other parts of England. The Court Rolls of the Manor of Scotter in Lincolnshire from 1424 mention a William Blem, while the Lay Subsidy Rolls of Suffolk from 1479 record a John Blem.

One notable individual with the surname BLEM was Sir Robert Blem, a knight who lived in the late 14th and early 15th centuries. He served as a member of Parliament for Worcestershire in 1397 and 1402.

Another prominent figure with the name BLEM was John Blem (1560-1625), an English clergyman who served as the Archdeacon of Stow from 1615 until his death. He was also the rector of several parishes in Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire.

In the 16th century, the name BLEM also appeared in various parish registers and court records. For example, the Parish Registers of St. Michael's, Cornhill in London mention a Thomas Blem who was baptized in 1587.

The 17th century saw the emergence of several notable individuals with the surname BLEM. One such person was William Blem (1620-1692), an English merchant and landowner who lived in Gloucestershire. Another was Richard Blem (1645-1723), a clergyman who served as the Rector of Stratford-upon-Avon from 1701 until his death.

In the 18th century, the name BLEM can be found in various historical records, such as the Parish Registers of St. Mary's, Islington in London, which mention a John Blem who was buried in 1765. Additionally, the Musters and Petty Sessions Records of Gloucestershire from 1782 mention a Robert Blem.

Throughout its history, the surname BLEM has been associated with various place names and locations in England, particularly in the counties of Worcestershire, Gloucestershire, and Lincolnshire. However, it is important to note that the name has since spread to other parts of the world due to migration and immigration.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Blem

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

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

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

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